Indiana University Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Indiana vs. Northern Illinois
11/12/2021 10:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Postgame Quotes
Indiana vs. Northern Illinois
Nov. 12, 2021
MIKE WOODSON | INDIANA HEAD COACH
Q. What were you pleased with, especially keeping them off the 3-point line…
WOODSON: We were solid right from the start. I thought we did a great job on their perimeter play because they're so good in terms of penetrating the basketball and making plays off the bounce. I thought we did a great job in moving our feet and keeping them in front of us. We did it for 40 minutes and that was kind of nice to see.
Q. How good did you think it was tonight…
WOODSON: It was great all the way through for 40 minutes. I thought we played 28 minutes the other night. We were up 20 with 12 on the clock, I believe it was, the other night. Then we got comfortable, and they were able to get back into the game. I thought tonight we just sustained it all the way through.
Q. Talk about your team's shot-blocking performance and defense in the paint…
WOODSON: Well, again, I mean Race and Trayce has a lot to do with that. I think Trayce had about seven blocks tonight. They were just being active and we're going to need that. I mean, big Mike, having him back tonight, he's a good shot blocker as well. Geronimo, as athletic as he is, he's capable of blocking shots, too. I just thought tonight was a total team effort. I thought everybody that played tonight gave us effort and did exactly what we asked them to do which was kind of nice to see.
Q. Talk about the players that came off the bench…
WOODSON: A lot of that is the work. You've got to give them credit because they've been working over these last six months that we've been together. Our defense has always been a little bit ahead of our offense, but it's just nice to see. I can't promise minutes to anybody, but I always tell these guys whatever minutes you get you make it the most important minutes to help us win basketball games. And that's what they're doing right now.
Q. On Trayce Jackson Davis' blocking and rebounding…
WOODSON: Again, it goes all the way back to the beginning when we sat down, and he decided that he was going to stay on board. I showed him a lot of the things that I thought he could, the areas that I thought he could be better. He's really been working in those areas. I mean, he's improved a lot. He really has. And a lot of it is when you're coaching young players, they think that they play hard. And I've always thought this, there's always another level that a player can get to. And from a coaching standpoint that's what we're trying to push these guys to continue to play at a high level and play harder.
Q. Talk about the guys who scored in double figures…
WOODSON: Again, we scored 85 points tonight, and everybody had their hand in that, which is all right with me. We don't have a team that I can sit here and tell you guys that this guy's going to get 30 tonight and this guy's going to get 20. We're not built like that. It's got to be a total team effort across the board on both ends of the floor.
Q. What do you like about that lineup, and what do you think they did well together when they were out there together…
WOODSON: They haven't spent a lot of time together. This is Mike's first game back. He's probably been practicing probably now a week and a half coming back. And Tamar too. He hadn't been out there very much this season. But what I did like, they were poised and from a defensive standpoint they stayed the course in terms of our coverages. And when you do that, that lets me know that you listened and you're doing all the necessary things to help us win and offensively they shared the ball. I mean, it was kind of nice to see how they played offense which was kind of nice.
Q. Talk about the tempo on the court…
WOODSON: It was better tonight. Again, we didn't have that moment where we just went stale. I thought the ball moved. They forced our hand a little bit by pressing. So it gave us an opportunity to push the ball and get quick strikes that way, which I'm fine with that as well. But I thought tonight we really did a pretty good job executing in the half-court game.
Q. Was there reinforcement or reminder in the locker room about strong defense…
WOODSON: We talked about it, you can rest assured. That was probably the main topic in terms of how we played the first game. And I just told them, we can't have that letdown. When you've got somebody down you've got to consistently play the way you've got the lead and I thought we did that.
Q. Xavier and Robbie, two guys that bring different things to the table but complement each other at some points. Does that give you flexibility in the game…
WOODSON: It does because we can play them both together when teams play small ball with smaller guards. Both guys can defend. Both guys can initiate our offense. So that's a bonus for me. And then I've got Khristian Lander over there that I have faith in too if I've got to throw him in as well because he's coming in as well.
TREY GALLOWAY | INDIANA GUARD FORWARD & JORDAN GERONIMO | INDIANA
Q. Talk about protecting the three-point line…
GALLOWAY: Going into the game we knew they can shoot it and they've been shooting it well. In the game against Washington we knew they were going to take a lot of 3s. That was one of our main focuses was collectively covering up the 3-point line and getting out to their shooters. I think we did a great job on that as a team.
Q. What did you like about how you guys played together as the units that were out there…
GERONIMO: Yeah, so that's something we do a lot in practice. Just scrambling and getting a body on a body. That's something that we practice on, which is defense, obviously. So I feel like that just showed today on the court because in practice we do it all the time. So it just showed.
Q. On what made your defense was so good tonight…
GALLOWAY: I think that just comes with preparation. And it's not -- I mean most of it is in the game but it's before the game and the day before the games and kind of locking in and knowing our scout and knowing what we've got to do to be able to stop them and also communication. I think that's the other thing that we've really tried to have a focal point on, just being able to talk to each other and be comfortable with each other out there. That's one thing we're growing on and I think we'll keep growing on it.
Q. How have Trayce improved in the offseason…
GERONIMO: Yeah, Trayce has always been playing hard, practice, in the game. It's like he's always that kind of guy that wants to prove that, prove to people that he's the player that he is. We all know the kind of player he is. He's always out there working and working hard. And it shows on the court.
GALLOWAY: He's our leader, too. Him and Race are our captains. He knows what to do. If he brings it every day we're all going to bring it. And I think that's one thing he's focused this year is really bringing it every day in practice not just the games but in practice too. I think that's helped him out a lot and it showed tonight. I mean those two, they really benefit off of each other really well. They both can do so many things. And I think those are some of the things we need this year because we want to get out and run the guys could push it those two specifically can get out lead our offense and they're going to benefit off each other and keep going and I think it's going to work out for us.
Q. Jordan we saw the back door for you last game Trayce had that inbounds play tonight almost the emphasis on creating some of those opportunities at the rim..
GERONIMO: All that stuff happens, like you said, naturally. It's not, like, no set plays for that kind of stuff. But just knowing each other, our tendencies and knowing how we play and what we do. And that's the chemistry we have. Trayce knows I like the back door lob. He seeks it out there, like the last game you saw. And today also I called lob from Trayce. That's the stuff that he knows I do. And that's just me and him. You know what I mean. But there's different combinations from different players. We all know the stuff that we like to do.
Q. What is the difference in the offensive system compared to last season…
GERONIMO: I feel like it's just confidence. That's really all it was, to be honest. I feel I was able to do all the things I was able to do this year, but last year. Just like I could do it more efficiently because I have more confidence this year because Coach Woodson was able to talk to me and just mentally get me right for the season. I was able to contribute.
Q. How have you been able to connect with the newcomers so easily…
GALLOWAY: Like you said, we've been dealing with some injuries. Guys have been in and out of the rotation in the preseason. And I think it's been like the next guy who's ready. And we're all staying ready; we've all got to stay ready because never know when your jersey is going to be called. I think Mike's been battling with, obviously, knee injury. And he's been preparing to get back and it was just great to have him back tonight. And obviously tomorrow, getting back in the groove of things, he's been great. But I think the guys just staying prepared and just really knowing what we've got to do to get back on the court.
Q. Talk about protecting the rim…
GERONIMO: It's going to be the same thing, really. Just being -- showing intensity on the defensive end, just challenging shots. One thing coach says, no layups. Don't give them easy shots. Even if you're like, you know, in a position where you can't even contest, just show effort at least. That's something he emphasizes a lot. And I feel like it doesn't matter if it's this team or if it's, like, a top-10 team in the country, we're still going to play hard and still show our things on defense.
RASHON BURNO | NORTHERN ILLINOIS HEAD COACH
Opening statement…
BURNO: A little disappointed. Indiana is a strong, senior leaded team. I thought the physicality really changed the momentum after the first T.V. timeout. My guys competed, but we ran into a team that, you know coach had them ready to go out and compete for forty minutes. We've got to make some adjustments but hats off to Indiana. They played a phenomenal game on the defensive end. We've got to get better. We ran into a better team. We've got a lot to learn, so I'm happy. Will get a chance to watch film, make some adjustments, get ready for Thursday.
Q. On how Indiana guarded Trendon Hankerson…
BURNO: Just the physicality. I think coming from Washington who played a predominantly all zone for that game. Trendon had an opportunity to get some early looks that didn't go in and they homed in on him and we didn't do a good job setting screens, getting him open. But this is a veteran team, unbelievable coaching staff with Coach Woodson. So, we'll take our hats off. But we'll get better from this game.
Q. On what was impressive from Indiana…
BURNO: Just overall, the size and physicality. They're a big team, strong team, and they know what they want to do on offense. They know where they want to get the ball for the most part, and that's getting it to Jackson-Davis and playing it off of him. They've got decent shooters around the perimeter, guarding is okay, but their five man is pretty tough. He's a really good player.
Q. On what made Trayce Jackson-Davis an offensive threat…
BURNO: The way he caught the ball. They run good sets to get the ball exactly in his sweet spots. He's a physical specimen. He can block shots, he can run. He's just a really good college player. Coach Woodson did a really good job of putting him in spaces where he can take advantage of us."
Indiana vs. Northern Illinois
Nov. 12, 2021
MIKE WOODSON | INDIANA HEAD COACH
Q. What were you pleased with, especially keeping them off the 3-point line…
WOODSON: We were solid right from the start. I thought we did a great job on their perimeter play because they're so good in terms of penetrating the basketball and making plays off the bounce. I thought we did a great job in moving our feet and keeping them in front of us. We did it for 40 minutes and that was kind of nice to see.
Q. How good did you think it was tonight…
WOODSON: It was great all the way through for 40 minutes. I thought we played 28 minutes the other night. We were up 20 with 12 on the clock, I believe it was, the other night. Then we got comfortable, and they were able to get back into the game. I thought tonight we just sustained it all the way through.
Q. Talk about your team's shot-blocking performance and defense in the paint…
WOODSON: Well, again, I mean Race and Trayce has a lot to do with that. I think Trayce had about seven blocks tonight. They were just being active and we're going to need that. I mean, big Mike, having him back tonight, he's a good shot blocker as well. Geronimo, as athletic as he is, he's capable of blocking shots, too. I just thought tonight was a total team effort. I thought everybody that played tonight gave us effort and did exactly what we asked them to do which was kind of nice to see.
Q. Talk about the players that came off the bench…
WOODSON: A lot of that is the work. You've got to give them credit because they've been working over these last six months that we've been together. Our defense has always been a little bit ahead of our offense, but it's just nice to see. I can't promise minutes to anybody, but I always tell these guys whatever minutes you get you make it the most important minutes to help us win basketball games. And that's what they're doing right now.
Q. On Trayce Jackson Davis' blocking and rebounding…
WOODSON: Again, it goes all the way back to the beginning when we sat down, and he decided that he was going to stay on board. I showed him a lot of the things that I thought he could, the areas that I thought he could be better. He's really been working in those areas. I mean, he's improved a lot. He really has. And a lot of it is when you're coaching young players, they think that they play hard. And I've always thought this, there's always another level that a player can get to. And from a coaching standpoint that's what we're trying to push these guys to continue to play at a high level and play harder.
Q. Talk about the guys who scored in double figures…
WOODSON: Again, we scored 85 points tonight, and everybody had their hand in that, which is all right with me. We don't have a team that I can sit here and tell you guys that this guy's going to get 30 tonight and this guy's going to get 20. We're not built like that. It's got to be a total team effort across the board on both ends of the floor.
Q. What do you like about that lineup, and what do you think they did well together when they were out there together…
WOODSON: They haven't spent a lot of time together. This is Mike's first game back. He's probably been practicing probably now a week and a half coming back. And Tamar too. He hadn't been out there very much this season. But what I did like, they were poised and from a defensive standpoint they stayed the course in terms of our coverages. And when you do that, that lets me know that you listened and you're doing all the necessary things to help us win and offensively they shared the ball. I mean, it was kind of nice to see how they played offense which was kind of nice.
Q. Talk about the tempo on the court…
WOODSON: It was better tonight. Again, we didn't have that moment where we just went stale. I thought the ball moved. They forced our hand a little bit by pressing. So it gave us an opportunity to push the ball and get quick strikes that way, which I'm fine with that as well. But I thought tonight we really did a pretty good job executing in the half-court game.
Q. Was there reinforcement or reminder in the locker room about strong defense…
WOODSON: We talked about it, you can rest assured. That was probably the main topic in terms of how we played the first game. And I just told them, we can't have that letdown. When you've got somebody down you've got to consistently play the way you've got the lead and I thought we did that.
Q. Xavier and Robbie, two guys that bring different things to the table but complement each other at some points. Does that give you flexibility in the game…
WOODSON: It does because we can play them both together when teams play small ball with smaller guards. Both guys can defend. Both guys can initiate our offense. So that's a bonus for me. And then I've got Khristian Lander over there that I have faith in too if I've got to throw him in as well because he's coming in as well.
TREY GALLOWAY | INDIANA GUARD FORWARD & JORDAN GERONIMO | INDIANA
Q. Talk about protecting the three-point line…
GALLOWAY: Going into the game we knew they can shoot it and they've been shooting it well. In the game against Washington we knew they were going to take a lot of 3s. That was one of our main focuses was collectively covering up the 3-point line and getting out to their shooters. I think we did a great job on that as a team.
Q. What did you like about how you guys played together as the units that were out there…
GERONIMO: Yeah, so that's something we do a lot in practice. Just scrambling and getting a body on a body. That's something that we practice on, which is defense, obviously. So I feel like that just showed today on the court because in practice we do it all the time. So it just showed.
Q. On what made your defense was so good tonight…
GALLOWAY: I think that just comes with preparation. And it's not -- I mean most of it is in the game but it's before the game and the day before the games and kind of locking in and knowing our scout and knowing what we've got to do to be able to stop them and also communication. I think that's the other thing that we've really tried to have a focal point on, just being able to talk to each other and be comfortable with each other out there. That's one thing we're growing on and I think we'll keep growing on it.
Q. How have Trayce improved in the offseason…
GERONIMO: Yeah, Trayce has always been playing hard, practice, in the game. It's like he's always that kind of guy that wants to prove that, prove to people that he's the player that he is. We all know the kind of player he is. He's always out there working and working hard. And it shows on the court.
GALLOWAY: He's our leader, too. Him and Race are our captains. He knows what to do. If he brings it every day we're all going to bring it. And I think that's one thing he's focused this year is really bringing it every day in practice not just the games but in practice too. I think that's helped him out a lot and it showed tonight. I mean those two, they really benefit off of each other really well. They both can do so many things. And I think those are some of the things we need this year because we want to get out and run the guys could push it those two specifically can get out lead our offense and they're going to benefit off each other and keep going and I think it's going to work out for us.
Q. Jordan we saw the back door for you last game Trayce had that inbounds play tonight almost the emphasis on creating some of those opportunities at the rim..
GERONIMO: All that stuff happens, like you said, naturally. It's not, like, no set plays for that kind of stuff. But just knowing each other, our tendencies and knowing how we play and what we do. And that's the chemistry we have. Trayce knows I like the back door lob. He seeks it out there, like the last game you saw. And today also I called lob from Trayce. That's the stuff that he knows I do. And that's just me and him. You know what I mean. But there's different combinations from different players. We all know the stuff that we like to do.
Q. What is the difference in the offensive system compared to last season…
GERONIMO: I feel like it's just confidence. That's really all it was, to be honest. I feel I was able to do all the things I was able to do this year, but last year. Just like I could do it more efficiently because I have more confidence this year because Coach Woodson was able to talk to me and just mentally get me right for the season. I was able to contribute.
Q. How have you been able to connect with the newcomers so easily…
GALLOWAY: Like you said, we've been dealing with some injuries. Guys have been in and out of the rotation in the preseason. And I think it's been like the next guy who's ready. And we're all staying ready; we've all got to stay ready because never know when your jersey is going to be called. I think Mike's been battling with, obviously, knee injury. And he's been preparing to get back and it was just great to have him back tonight. And obviously tomorrow, getting back in the groove of things, he's been great. But I think the guys just staying prepared and just really knowing what we've got to do to get back on the court.
Q. Talk about protecting the rim…
GERONIMO: It's going to be the same thing, really. Just being -- showing intensity on the defensive end, just challenging shots. One thing coach says, no layups. Don't give them easy shots. Even if you're like, you know, in a position where you can't even contest, just show effort at least. That's something he emphasizes a lot. And I feel like it doesn't matter if it's this team or if it's, like, a top-10 team in the country, we're still going to play hard and still show our things on defense.
RASHON BURNO | NORTHERN ILLINOIS HEAD COACH
Opening statement…
BURNO: A little disappointed. Indiana is a strong, senior leaded team. I thought the physicality really changed the momentum after the first T.V. timeout. My guys competed, but we ran into a team that, you know coach had them ready to go out and compete for forty minutes. We've got to make some adjustments but hats off to Indiana. They played a phenomenal game on the defensive end. We've got to get better. We ran into a better team. We've got a lot to learn, so I'm happy. Will get a chance to watch film, make some adjustments, get ready for Thursday.
Q. On how Indiana guarded Trendon Hankerson…
BURNO: Just the physicality. I think coming from Washington who played a predominantly all zone for that game. Trendon had an opportunity to get some early looks that didn't go in and they homed in on him and we didn't do a good job setting screens, getting him open. But this is a veteran team, unbelievable coaching staff with Coach Woodson. So, we'll take our hats off. But we'll get better from this game.
Q. On what was impressive from Indiana…
BURNO: Just overall, the size and physicality. They're a big team, strong team, and they know what they want to do on offense. They know where they want to get the ball for the most part, and that's getting it to Jackson-Davis and playing it off of him. They've got decent shooters around the perimeter, guarding is okay, but their five man is pretty tough. He's a really good player.
Q. On what made Trayce Jackson-Davis an offensive threat…
BURNO: The way he caught the ball. They run good sets to get the ball exactly in his sweet spots. He's a physical specimen. He can block shots, he can run. He's just a really good college player. Coach Woodson did a really good job of putting him in spaces where he can take advantage of us."
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