Indiana University Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Indiana vs. Rutgers
1/24/2021 2:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Indiana vs. Rutgers
Postgame Quotes
Jan. 24, 2021
Indiana Head Coach Archie Miller
Opening Statement
I'm disappointed for our guys. Like I told them after the game, I'm not disappointed in the results, I'm disappointed for them. I think the attitude; work ethic and the togetherness has been as good as its every been here. The workload going into Iowa was exactly the same coming from Iowa. Every single game in this league requires you to play, not only hard and tough and all that stuff, smart, but you have to play well too. You have to play well to be in these games. Rutgers is a great team and they have had a great season. They have had some trouble coming in, battling some injuries and they are a bonafide big time team, just like Iowa was. We were able to be successful and crack the Iowa game with our defense. Today, Rutgers did a really good job with dribble penetration. We had a hard time keeping them off the bounce, in particular on the perimeter. Offensively, to start the second half, the game really changed with five turnovers in the first four or five minutes. We had three turnovers at halftime, finished with 12. Ended up having nine turnovers in the second half, which to me was the big difference in the game. We could have made more layups. We didn't finish around the basket very well. Finishing the game with 12 turnovers after having three at the half is a big difference in the complexion of the game. For 40 minutes defensively, they gave us a hard time guarding the ball. It is one of 20, like the Iowa game was, like I told them after the Iowa game. Everyone is going to talk about how great it was, but the bottom line is Rutgers is just as good and the next one is going to be just as good and they all count the same. I just want our guys to to believe in how much room we continue to have to grow. You can see it in our bench. You can see it in our young guys coming in. They are playing better. Jerome is playing better, Anthony, Khristian, Jordan are playing better. We are getting a lot of contribution, we just need to get a little more consistency.
On field goal percentage…
The two-point percentage was really dictated by how we played. I thought they dropped back with their size. Especially at the center position, they kept him in between the rim and players. It kind of made it like a two on two game. You are able to get down there, but you are not able to get some clean ones. We missed some good ones. I think Trayce probably left four or five shot attempts that you would take over again. I don't think we got him the ball enough tonight. I don't think he did a good job of being physical around the basket. I have to watch the film, but Trayce didn't have his best offensive performance in and around the rim. Us being able to get him the ball. Our guards didn't finish. The ones that they had good looks they didn't finish. Two-point field goal percentage in this league, that was a by-product of how Rutgers chose to play. We did go 10-of-16 for three, everyone says we can't shoot and we end up going 10-of-16 from three. If we make 10 threes in the game that is usually pretty good, so the telling sign for me was we either turned it over or we didn't guard. In the second half we did turn it over and we had a hard time guarding all game.
On if Rutgers did anything that surprised him
No. Coming into the game talking about what we needed to do in the game and how we worked into the game there weren't any surprises. I thought them changing their lineup but Baker in much more primary role. Young has been way more primary with the ball in his hands. I thought Baker had a really good day. McConnell played a lot more today. Mulcahy played a lot more today. In general, I thought they got a lot of contributions from a lot of players that have been playing for them. There wasn't a whole lot of secrets. They did what they did. I thought we had a difficult time keeping the ball in front.
On the play of Trayce Jackson-Davis
I'm not real sure. I will say this that Myles Johnson is one of the best interior defenders in the country. I have been saying that since he was a young guy. He has unbelievable instincts in stealing the ball as a big guy; around the shoulders of the post guys, elbow catches, deflected passes. He has quick hands and unbelievable length. The thing is he does a great job at doing it. He can stay between you and the basket with his size, but he also has unbelievable timing when he blocks shots. I think early in the game it takes a while to get used to, playing against a guy like him because its not easy. As the game went on, you can tell how he impacted the game with his defensive plays. Trayce didn't get as many clean ones. You couldn't get it to him as much. It is a by-product of their team in general. Defensively, they are always known for their stickiness, but he definitely impacts the game on a defensive front. Obviously, we play them later in the year, and we have to do a better job at getting him established like we do in every game. This wasn't one his best offensive performances, and you have to give Rutgers credit for that.
On how to change the struggles on guarding on the perimeter…
It was an effort thing. Part of it was that we had some break downs today in terms of communication. Every team is different. It's not like every team runs the same plays when you are guarding the ball. Rutgers is a driving team. They have terrific offense with one-on-one players. It's how they play. When Harper Jr. is at the four, it is a tough match up for anybody. Between Baker, Young, McConnell, Mathis, those guys are all hard attacking, driving guys. We got whipped straight on, we also had some real break downs in communication on execution of switches and on execution of switching up certain types of coverages. I thought we were bad in the execution of our system. That has been a part of our problem. We were much better against Iowa in being able to execute, we weren't as good today in being able to communicate and talk and keep the ball in front. But Rutgers is a good driving team. I thought our defensive would be tighter and it wasn't. They got us in some rotations too that shouldn't have happened. We didn't need to be in as many rotations as that.
On handling the uncertainty of the Big Ten schedule…
I don't know. It seems to me that our league in general is starting to get hit with some new stuff. It's not all bad. You don't have to jam 132 games in just to get them in. I think the players in general have been going strong here for a long time. If there are some layoffs, maybe the layoffs are beneficial. It is hard to go like they have been going. I think there are plenty of options on the table. Some teams are being impacted; they have availability to schedule a game a flip it around. Maybe that is something they can do. They can take a longer pause, that isn't all bad either. We are rolling with the punches here at that point like we did a week ago. Whatever happens, happens. You have to be ready to go when it gets turned around. If the next one is Illinois at home, that is the one we have to lock in on. If they change the schedule and say 'hey would you like to flip some things around and like to play'. I think all of our guys would love to play than have eight or nine off or nine to 10 days off. I think the biggest thing is making sure we are doing what is best for the guys. Hopefully, the Michigan situation isn't crazy serious and that everybody can get back at it when they can get back at it. There are going to be adjustments like this through whenever the NCAA tournament ends. We are going to be dealing with a lot of those.
Indiana sophomore Armaan Franklin
On Rutgers getting points in transition…
FRANKLIN: We came into the game knowing that this was a guard the ball game for us. I think their guards, they did a good job penetrating the paint. Getting looks for themselves and getting looks for their teammates. So, we have just got to be better at on the ball defense.
On coming back late in the game…
FRANKLIN: Yeah, I think we got some good looks. Unfortunately, some of them did not go down but when we made our runs they came back with some big plays and we were not able to match them, and obviously you see they played more desperately than we did. We have just got to pick it up for the next one.
On struggling to find consistency…
FRANKLIN: In this league I do not think it is anything about momentum. It is just, you play a good team every night. Some games go your way, some games do not. The ball bounce your way, sometimes it does not. So, I think with this one it just did not bounce our way and they made enough plays at the end for us, to put themselves in a position to win.
On Rutgers containing Trayce in the game…
FRANKLIN: We knew Myles Johnson, he is a big post player and we know he has good hands, and likes to reach around and can get steals. So, it is always tough trying to feed Trayce the ball just because he garners so much attention and he is a dominate player. So, we just have to find different ways to try to give him the ball and then we just have just go to put it in there for him.
On not getting 2's from the floor…
FRANKLIN: I mean they have good size. At the end of the day when we get to the rim we have just got to lock in and concentrate. We have just got to focus in you know. Take our time and finish.
On his health…
FRANKLIN: I will be fine. I mean I stepped in the guy's foot you know. Just walk it off you know. Get treatment, I will be alright.
On the mood in the locker room…
FRANKLIN: Just disappointed for each other. We put in the work all last week, all this week and when you put in that much work and you work so hard it is just, when that final buzzer rings and you are not winning, and you do not win it is just, everybody is upset. So, we just take this and move forward for the next one.
Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Opening Statement
PIKIELL: Hey guys, thanks for being on. As always, Indiana is really good. To win here on the road against a really well coached team, and a team that has been playing great. I thought our guys had to fight through a lot of adversity today. I was proud of them. They stuck together. But Indiana is really good. Archie does a great job. They are tough, talented and we were connected today. I love the fact that we out rebounded. I like the fact that everyone got in made valuable contributions. Our bench was great, and we are on to Michigan State in three days. It is going to be another tough challenge ahead.
Q. On the changes to the starting lineup…
PIKIELL: I liked how we played. It helped us on the backboards. I liked how the guys came off the bench and responded. You make changes when you feel like there is a need for it, and we were not getting off to good starts at the beginning of games. But we were real connected today. The credit to our guys and their griding through a tough time and figuring out a way to win in a place we have not had any success here on the road.
Q. On Geo Baker's game…
PIKIELL: Geo is a good player. Again, I thought really everyone had great numbers today. We have not been rebounding well, a huge stat for us. And Geo has been very involved. Could not take him off the court at a couple points. We needed some breaks but I thought we were, again, real connected. I was not just him. I thought Miles did an unbelievable job, Trayce Jackson-Davis, one of the best players in players in the country averages 20 points a game and had had 30s in games, did a really good job on him as best as you can do. Myles (Johnson) stepped up, Paul (Mulcahy) does all the things you need him to do. I thought Caleb (McConnell) gave us great energy. Jacob (Young) gave us great energy off the bench. Cliff (Omoruyi) was a real bright spot in the first half, and Ron Harper the whole game was very involved vocally, and to grab 12 rebounds was huge life for us.
Postgame Quotes
Jan. 24, 2021
Indiana Head Coach Archie Miller
Opening Statement
I'm disappointed for our guys. Like I told them after the game, I'm not disappointed in the results, I'm disappointed for them. I think the attitude; work ethic and the togetherness has been as good as its every been here. The workload going into Iowa was exactly the same coming from Iowa. Every single game in this league requires you to play, not only hard and tough and all that stuff, smart, but you have to play well too. You have to play well to be in these games. Rutgers is a great team and they have had a great season. They have had some trouble coming in, battling some injuries and they are a bonafide big time team, just like Iowa was. We were able to be successful and crack the Iowa game with our defense. Today, Rutgers did a really good job with dribble penetration. We had a hard time keeping them off the bounce, in particular on the perimeter. Offensively, to start the second half, the game really changed with five turnovers in the first four or five minutes. We had three turnovers at halftime, finished with 12. Ended up having nine turnovers in the second half, which to me was the big difference in the game. We could have made more layups. We didn't finish around the basket very well. Finishing the game with 12 turnovers after having three at the half is a big difference in the complexion of the game. For 40 minutes defensively, they gave us a hard time guarding the ball. It is one of 20, like the Iowa game was, like I told them after the Iowa game. Everyone is going to talk about how great it was, but the bottom line is Rutgers is just as good and the next one is going to be just as good and they all count the same. I just want our guys to to believe in how much room we continue to have to grow. You can see it in our bench. You can see it in our young guys coming in. They are playing better. Jerome is playing better, Anthony, Khristian, Jordan are playing better. We are getting a lot of contribution, we just need to get a little more consistency.
On field goal percentage…
The two-point percentage was really dictated by how we played. I thought they dropped back with their size. Especially at the center position, they kept him in between the rim and players. It kind of made it like a two on two game. You are able to get down there, but you are not able to get some clean ones. We missed some good ones. I think Trayce probably left four or five shot attempts that you would take over again. I don't think we got him the ball enough tonight. I don't think he did a good job of being physical around the basket. I have to watch the film, but Trayce didn't have his best offensive performance in and around the rim. Us being able to get him the ball. Our guards didn't finish. The ones that they had good looks they didn't finish. Two-point field goal percentage in this league, that was a by-product of how Rutgers chose to play. We did go 10-of-16 for three, everyone says we can't shoot and we end up going 10-of-16 from three. If we make 10 threes in the game that is usually pretty good, so the telling sign for me was we either turned it over or we didn't guard. In the second half we did turn it over and we had a hard time guarding all game.
On if Rutgers did anything that surprised him
No. Coming into the game talking about what we needed to do in the game and how we worked into the game there weren't any surprises. I thought them changing their lineup but Baker in much more primary role. Young has been way more primary with the ball in his hands. I thought Baker had a really good day. McConnell played a lot more today. Mulcahy played a lot more today. In general, I thought they got a lot of contributions from a lot of players that have been playing for them. There wasn't a whole lot of secrets. They did what they did. I thought we had a difficult time keeping the ball in front.
On the play of Trayce Jackson-Davis
I'm not real sure. I will say this that Myles Johnson is one of the best interior defenders in the country. I have been saying that since he was a young guy. He has unbelievable instincts in stealing the ball as a big guy; around the shoulders of the post guys, elbow catches, deflected passes. He has quick hands and unbelievable length. The thing is he does a great job at doing it. He can stay between you and the basket with his size, but he also has unbelievable timing when he blocks shots. I think early in the game it takes a while to get used to, playing against a guy like him because its not easy. As the game went on, you can tell how he impacted the game with his defensive plays. Trayce didn't get as many clean ones. You couldn't get it to him as much. It is a by-product of their team in general. Defensively, they are always known for their stickiness, but he definitely impacts the game on a defensive front. Obviously, we play them later in the year, and we have to do a better job at getting him established like we do in every game. This wasn't one his best offensive performances, and you have to give Rutgers credit for that.
On how to change the struggles on guarding on the perimeter…
It was an effort thing. Part of it was that we had some break downs today in terms of communication. Every team is different. It's not like every team runs the same plays when you are guarding the ball. Rutgers is a driving team. They have terrific offense with one-on-one players. It's how they play. When Harper Jr. is at the four, it is a tough match up for anybody. Between Baker, Young, McConnell, Mathis, those guys are all hard attacking, driving guys. We got whipped straight on, we also had some real break downs in communication on execution of switches and on execution of switching up certain types of coverages. I thought we were bad in the execution of our system. That has been a part of our problem. We were much better against Iowa in being able to execute, we weren't as good today in being able to communicate and talk and keep the ball in front. But Rutgers is a good driving team. I thought our defensive would be tighter and it wasn't. They got us in some rotations too that shouldn't have happened. We didn't need to be in as many rotations as that.
On handling the uncertainty of the Big Ten schedule…
I don't know. It seems to me that our league in general is starting to get hit with some new stuff. It's not all bad. You don't have to jam 132 games in just to get them in. I think the players in general have been going strong here for a long time. If there are some layoffs, maybe the layoffs are beneficial. It is hard to go like they have been going. I think there are plenty of options on the table. Some teams are being impacted; they have availability to schedule a game a flip it around. Maybe that is something they can do. They can take a longer pause, that isn't all bad either. We are rolling with the punches here at that point like we did a week ago. Whatever happens, happens. You have to be ready to go when it gets turned around. If the next one is Illinois at home, that is the one we have to lock in on. If they change the schedule and say 'hey would you like to flip some things around and like to play'. I think all of our guys would love to play than have eight or nine off or nine to 10 days off. I think the biggest thing is making sure we are doing what is best for the guys. Hopefully, the Michigan situation isn't crazy serious and that everybody can get back at it when they can get back at it. There are going to be adjustments like this through whenever the NCAA tournament ends. We are going to be dealing with a lot of those.
Indiana sophomore Armaan Franklin
On Rutgers getting points in transition…
FRANKLIN: We came into the game knowing that this was a guard the ball game for us. I think their guards, they did a good job penetrating the paint. Getting looks for themselves and getting looks for their teammates. So, we have just got to be better at on the ball defense.
On coming back late in the game…
FRANKLIN: Yeah, I think we got some good looks. Unfortunately, some of them did not go down but when we made our runs they came back with some big plays and we were not able to match them, and obviously you see they played more desperately than we did. We have just got to pick it up for the next one.
On struggling to find consistency…
FRANKLIN: In this league I do not think it is anything about momentum. It is just, you play a good team every night. Some games go your way, some games do not. The ball bounce your way, sometimes it does not. So, I think with this one it just did not bounce our way and they made enough plays at the end for us, to put themselves in a position to win.
On Rutgers containing Trayce in the game…
FRANKLIN: We knew Myles Johnson, he is a big post player and we know he has good hands, and likes to reach around and can get steals. So, it is always tough trying to feed Trayce the ball just because he garners so much attention and he is a dominate player. So, we just have to find different ways to try to give him the ball and then we just have just go to put it in there for him.
On not getting 2's from the floor…
FRANKLIN: I mean they have good size. At the end of the day when we get to the rim we have just got to lock in and concentrate. We have just got to focus in you know. Take our time and finish.
On his health…
FRANKLIN: I will be fine. I mean I stepped in the guy's foot you know. Just walk it off you know. Get treatment, I will be alright.
On the mood in the locker room…
FRANKLIN: Just disappointed for each other. We put in the work all last week, all this week and when you put in that much work and you work so hard it is just, when that final buzzer rings and you are not winning, and you do not win it is just, everybody is upset. So, we just take this and move forward for the next one.
Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Opening Statement
PIKIELL: Hey guys, thanks for being on. As always, Indiana is really good. To win here on the road against a really well coached team, and a team that has been playing great. I thought our guys had to fight through a lot of adversity today. I was proud of them. They stuck together. But Indiana is really good. Archie does a great job. They are tough, talented and we were connected today. I love the fact that we out rebounded. I like the fact that everyone got in made valuable contributions. Our bench was great, and we are on to Michigan State in three days. It is going to be another tough challenge ahead.
Q. On the changes to the starting lineup…
PIKIELL: I liked how we played. It helped us on the backboards. I liked how the guys came off the bench and responded. You make changes when you feel like there is a need for it, and we were not getting off to good starts at the beginning of games. But we were real connected today. The credit to our guys and their griding through a tough time and figuring out a way to win in a place we have not had any success here on the road.
Q. On Geo Baker's game…
PIKIELL: Geo is a good player. Again, I thought really everyone had great numbers today. We have not been rebounding well, a huge stat for us. And Geo has been very involved. Could not take him off the court at a couple points. We needed some breaks but I thought we were, again, real connected. I was not just him. I thought Miles did an unbelievable job, Trayce Jackson-Davis, one of the best players in players in the country averages 20 points a game and had had 30s in games, did a really good job on him as best as you can do. Myles (Johnson) stepped up, Paul (Mulcahy) does all the things you need him to do. I thought Caleb (McConnell) gave us great energy. Jacob (Young) gave us great energy off the bench. Cliff (Omoruyi) was a real bright spot in the first half, and Ron Harper the whole game was very involved vocally, and to grab 12 rebounds was huge life for us.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballIUWBB Highlights vs. UIC
Saturday, November 08
IUBB Postgame Press Conference
Wednesday, November 05
Darian DeVries Postgame Press Conference
Wednesday, November 05
MBB: Postgame Press Conference - Alabama A&M (11/5/25)
Wednesday, November 05