At IU basketball, sophomore guard Gabe Cupps faced a significant setback when he underwent successful surgery on Wednesday to address a preexisting, nagging injury in his lower body. As per the program's news release, he will be out for an indefinite period. This injury has indeed hampered the start of his second season at IU.

"Gabe Cupps' Injury Struggle and the Team's Response at IU Basketball"

Injuries and Early Season Impact

In the Hoosiers' first two regular-season games, Gabe Cupps played a total of 14 minutes. However, he then sat out three out of the next five games. During Indiana's appearance in the Battle 4 Atlantis, he played just 10 minutes, six against Louisville, and four against Providence while dealing with an unspecified injury. Since returning from The Bahamas, he has not appeared in any of the Hoosiers' three games.This injury setback has not been an isolated case. Just this week, transfer Kanaan Carlyle returned from another unspecified issue that had sidelined him for three games.

The Impact of Transfers and Emerging Players

The arrival of transfers Myles Rice and Kanaan Carlyle, along with the emergence of freshman Bryson Tucker from the bench, has provided coach Mike Woodson with the necessary depth to manage without Cupps. Fifth-year senior Anthony Leal has also been a part of Woodson's rotation at times recently. This shows the team's ability to adapt and continue performing despite the absence of key players due to injuries.

Looking Ahead to the Big Ten Schedule

IU finishes the December portion of its Big Ten schedule on Friday night at Nebraska with a scheduled tipoff at 8 p.m. ET. The team will be looking to bounce back and make a strong finish to the month. With the various challenges they have faced due to injuries, this upcoming game will be an important one for the Hoosiers.They have shown resilience in the face of adversity and will be hoping to carry that forward as they continue their season. Listen to Mind Your Banners, their IU Athletics-centric podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts to stay updated on all things IU basketball.