Kaleb Banks has patiently waited for minutes. Indiana sophomore is earning them now.

NEW YORK — Minimal production from small forwards has plagued Indiana this season. It’s the reason IU coach Mike Woodson elected to close the first two games with three guards on the floor.

The team hasn’t been able to trust its young wing players to consistently perform on either end of the court. Reckless shot selection, poor defensive communication and rotations, and general inexperience have caused instability at small forward for IU.

In the Hoosiers’ 74-66 defeat of Louisville on Monday, Kaleb Banks provided enough to erase a seven-point deficit.

When starting small forward Mackenzie Mgbako picked up two fouls in the game’s first two minutes, Banks was the first player off Indiana’s bench. The sophomore from Hampton, Ga., averaged only 5.6 minutes per game in his 24 appearances off the bench in his freshman campaign.

In the first four games of this season, Banks played 33 total minutes. But with Indiana (4-1) starting the year with three wins that were closer than they should’ve been and a 20-point loss to No. 4 UConn, Woodson needed to make adjustments.

Banks didn’t light the scoreboard up by any means, but he made the little plays that inched IU toward a victory in the third-place game of the Empire Classic. He deflected an alley-oop late while Louisville still led, grabbed key rebounds (which the Hoosiers have struggled doing) and distributed well as a secondary playmaker.

“Everybody can’t score,” Woodson said. “If it was that easy to score, we’d be running away with games. … I tip my hat off to him because he's patiently been waiting to play probably more minutes, and probably played more minutes tonight than he's played since he's been here.”

Banks had four points, scoring on only a pair of free throws and an assisted dunk. But he also tallied eight rebounds, three assists, three blocks and three steals in his career-high 25 minutes. With the game in the balance, Banks closed the game alongside four of IU’s starters.

“Just doing the little things like playing defense, rebounding, (getting) blocks,” Banks said of his approach. “We’ve been having trouble in the past with rebounding and defending the 3-point line, so my mindset coming in (was) just like if I can do those things, I can maybe find my way staying on the floor.”

Banks’ 6-8 frame came in handy when Woodson called for IU to play a 2-3 zone late in the second half. His big steal was a result of that zone that turned the game back in IU’s favor.

Indiana hasn’t shown it can win shootouts. So although Banks isn’t much of a scoring threat, the defense and rebounding he provided was needed. He gave this team quality play it hasn’t gotten at the small forward, and his +9 +/- was proof.

“For a guy not to play as much before coming in this game to show what he did today, I’m really proud of him," senior point guard Xavier Johnson said.

Banks closed over Mgbako, who was limited to nine minutes Monday. Mgbako didn’t return in the first half after his pair of early fouls. He returned with the other starters to begin the second half but stayed on the bench for the final 12:36.

Mgbako — who played high school basketball at Roselle Catholic, a New Jersey school about 23 miles from Madison Square Garden — hasn’t had the ideal start to his college career. The McDonald’s All American was brought in to provide an answer on the wing for IU, but uninspired defense and rough shooting have restricted his playing time.

“All of you guys expect him to be this great player right now because he's got this five-star tag,” Woodson said of Mgbako. “I think that's bullshit. Bottom line is he's still young. He's trying to learn the college game, and I thought he played well. … He’ll be fine.”

Until Mgbako actualizes his potential, the spot for the fifth player in Indiana’s closing lineup is up for grabs. In Indiana’s four close games, it’s been three different players.

Against Florida Gulf Coast and Army, Gabe Cupps got the nod in a three-guard lineup. Against Wright State, Mgbako played well enough to close. On Monday, Banks was the best option, so he was the man in that spot.

With the lack of experience and consistency on the roster, pushing the right buttons will continue to be vital for Woodson and his staff. Against Louisville, IU needed the play of Kaleb Banks, who is stepping into a more solidified role in his second season.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IU basketball: Kaleb Banks brings energy boost off Hoosiers bench