Tuesday, November 23
Bloomington, Ind.
7:00 PM
Indiana University
5-0,0-0Big Ten
70
vs
35
Jackson State
0-5,0-0SWAC
1
2
F
Jackson St.
17
18
35
Indiana
34
36
70
Indiana Men's Basketball Defeats Jackson State, 70-35
11/23/2021 9:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosies.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Jordan Geronimo was lonely.
Well, not lonely, but by himself under the Jackson State basket.
For Indiana on Tuesday night, this was a very good thing.
For Jackson State, not so much.
Geronimo, an IU sophomore forward, was so open in this second-half moment, you could have driven a bus between him and the closest Tiger defender.
Time seemed to stop. The Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall crowd gasped. Would the Hoosiers see him?
Center Michael Durr did. He tossed him the ball, Geronimo dunked and a ruthless Indiana basketball onslaught continued to a 70-35 conclusion.
For the record, it was not the lowest-scoring game by an opponent in arena history. Notre Dame had 29 in 1971.
Eleven Hoosiers played and 10 scored. They all defended.
"We have a team that if you're called upon to play," coach Mike Woodson said, "you have to produce. We're getting that.
"Ours starters were playing pretty well. The second unit played well. That's the team we're going to have to be in the long run, especially as we make this run in the Big Ten. We've got to be deep and ready to play when called upon."
IU (5-0) turned Jackson State's offense into a myth. It blocked eight shots, four by Trayce Jackson-Davis. The Tigers spent most of the game shooting less than 20 percent from the field. They finished at 21 percent while committing 11 turnovers.
Surprised?
Don't be. Indiana entered the game leading the nation in three-point defense -- opponents shot 33.3 percent against it. It has held three opponents to less than 50 points.
"That's what Coach harps on us about the most," forward Miller Kopp said about the defense. "Every practice starts with defense. That's what we focus on. When he first got here, what he talked to all of us the most was guarding."
Jackson State (0-5 with every loss by at least 12 points) managed just 17 first-half points. It had scoring droughts of five-plus minutes in the first 20 minutes, and eight-plus minutes in the second half.
For the season, the Hoosiers allow an average of less than 20 first-half points. The most they have given up is 27 against St. John's.
"I like everything about how we're defending," Woodson said. "We're getting after it.
"I mentioned to these guys early on we had to establish some kind of identity, and it had to start on the defensive end.
"That's held true. It's got us wins. It's kept us in games. It's pushed us out in games. Our defense has been solid."
He got no argument from Jackson State coach Wayne Brent.
"Indiana has a really good team. They're so big and strong. Defensively, they are really good. Just the length they have and blocking shots.
"With their length, they pushed us out further than we wanted. They have a really good team."
The Hoosier catalyst was point guard Xavier Johnson. He totaled 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists while avoiding foul trouble.
Two nights after committing four turnovers (and hearing about it from Woodson), he only had one.
"Keep composed and be available for my team so we can win," he said.
"My mindset every game is to be aggressive. I didn't get into foul trouble. Today I was available. No fouls. We came out on top.
Added Woodson: "We brought him here to run the ballclub. He can't do it sitting next to me.
"I'm demanding of our point guards. They've got to run the team while still doing the things they're capable of.
"A lot of things come with it. We're all in a learning stage."
Miller Kopp had 12 points for the second straight game. Jackson-Davis added 11 (six below his average), but only took seven shots (he made five).
"A lot of it had to do with zone," Woodson said. "He will be trapped a lot. He made great passes, but sometimes he will have to beat the trap. Sometimes you have to sacrifice the ball for the good of the team, but he has to get more touches than that. That's on me."
IU only committed 11 turnovers after committing 27 two nights earlier against Louisiana. Woodson has the Hoosiers run if they get more than 12.
"I have to run, too," Woodson said. "I was shaking at halftime when we had 8. We finished with 11, so we're right where we need to be."
IU handled Jackson State's zone, shooting 47 percent overall and making six three-pointers. It was early preparation for what it will face next week at Syracuse.
At one point, Woodson said, "I asked our coaches, 'Is that how Syracuse extends their zone?' I made the adjustment by going overload. Parker (Stewart) came out of it to hit a big three.
"I don't see a lot of zones in the NBA. This is new for me. For the most part we executed pretty well."
Despite a turnover on its first possession, and then three more on long passes that weren't there, IU built a 26-9 lead.
Johnson, Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson were the offensive catalysts, while a stingy defense kept Jackson State out of synch.
Then the Hoosiers' offense got stagnant. Jackson State closed to within 11. Woodson called a timeout and it led to Stewart's second three-pointer, and a Tigers' shot-clock violation.
"We have to move and get open looks, get the ball in the middle of the zone and make plays from there," Kopp said.
Just before halftime, Kopp was fouled on a three-point attempt. He made all three free throws for a 34-17 Hoosier lead. Kopp and Johnson each had eight points. Johnson had five rebounds.
IU opened the second half on a 13-0 run -- completing a 16-0 surge -- to end any hopes of a Jackson State comeback.
The Hoosiers will wrap up the Indiana Classic with Saturday night's game against Marshall.
One goal – improve offensive production.
"We've got to get our offense up to speed," Woodson said. "I want our offense to be easier. We're not there yet."
IUHoosies.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Jordan Geronimo was lonely.
Well, not lonely, but by himself under the Jackson State basket.
For Indiana on Tuesday night, this was a very good thing.
For Jackson State, not so much.
Geronimo, an IU sophomore forward, was so open in this second-half moment, you could have driven a bus between him and the closest Tiger defender.
Time seemed to stop. The Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall crowd gasped. Would the Hoosiers see him?
Center Michael Durr did. He tossed him the ball, Geronimo dunked and a ruthless Indiana basketball onslaught continued to a 70-35 conclusion.
For the record, it was not the lowest-scoring game by an opponent in arena history. Notre Dame had 29 in 1971.
Eleven Hoosiers played and 10 scored. They all defended.
"We have a team that if you're called upon to play," coach Mike Woodson said, "you have to produce. We're getting that.
"Ours starters were playing pretty well. The second unit played well. That's the team we're going to have to be in the long run, especially as we make this run in the Big Ten. We've got to be deep and ready to play when called upon."
IU (5-0) turned Jackson State's offense into a myth. It blocked eight shots, four by Trayce Jackson-Davis. The Tigers spent most of the game shooting less than 20 percent from the field. They finished at 21 percent while committing 11 turnovers.
Surprised?
Don't be. Indiana entered the game leading the nation in three-point defense -- opponents shot 33.3 percent against it. It has held three opponents to less than 50 points.
"That's what Coach harps on us about the most," forward Miller Kopp said about the defense. "Every practice starts with defense. That's what we focus on. When he first got here, what he talked to all of us the most was guarding."
Jackson State (0-5 with every loss by at least 12 points) managed just 17 first-half points. It had scoring droughts of five-plus minutes in the first 20 minutes, and eight-plus minutes in the second half.
For the season, the Hoosiers allow an average of less than 20 first-half points. The most they have given up is 27 against St. John's.
"I like everything about how we're defending," Woodson said. "We're getting after it.
"I mentioned to these guys early on we had to establish some kind of identity, and it had to start on the defensive end.
"That's held true. It's got us wins. It's kept us in games. It's pushed us out in games. Our defense has been solid."
He got no argument from Jackson State coach Wayne Brent.
"Indiana has a really good team. They're so big and strong. Defensively, they are really good. Just the length they have and blocking shots.
"With their length, they pushed us out further than we wanted. They have a really good team."
The Hoosier catalyst was point guard Xavier Johnson. He totaled 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists while avoiding foul trouble.
Two nights after committing four turnovers (and hearing about it from Woodson), he only had one.
"Keep composed and be available for my team so we can win," he said.
"My mindset every game is to be aggressive. I didn't get into foul trouble. Today I was available. No fouls. We came out on top.
Added Woodson: "We brought him here to run the ballclub. He can't do it sitting next to me.
"I'm demanding of our point guards. They've got to run the team while still doing the things they're capable of.
"A lot of things come with it. We're all in a learning stage."
Miller Kopp had 12 points for the second straight game. Jackson-Davis added 11 (six below his average), but only took seven shots (he made five).
"A lot of it had to do with zone," Woodson said. "He will be trapped a lot. He made great passes, but sometimes he will have to beat the trap. Sometimes you have to sacrifice the ball for the good of the team, but he has to get more touches than that. That's on me."
IU only committed 11 turnovers after committing 27 two nights earlier against Louisiana. Woodson has the Hoosiers run if they get more than 12.
"I have to run, too," Woodson said. "I was shaking at halftime when we had 8. We finished with 11, so we're right where we need to be."
IU handled Jackson State's zone, shooting 47 percent overall and making six three-pointers. It was early preparation for what it will face next week at Syracuse.
At one point, Woodson said, "I asked our coaches, 'Is that how Syracuse extends their zone?' I made the adjustment by going overload. Parker (Stewart) came out of it to hit a big three.
"I don't see a lot of zones in the NBA. This is new for me. For the most part we executed pretty well."
Despite a turnover on its first possession, and then three more on long passes that weren't there, IU built a 26-9 lead.
Johnson, Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson were the offensive catalysts, while a stingy defense kept Jackson State out of synch.
Then the Hoosiers' offense got stagnant. Jackson State closed to within 11. Woodson called a timeout and it led to Stewart's second three-pointer, and a Tigers' shot-clock violation.
"We have to move and get open looks, get the ball in the middle of the zone and make plays from there," Kopp said.
Just before halftime, Kopp was fouled on a three-point attempt. He made all three free throws for a 34-17 Hoosier lead. Kopp and Johnson each had eight points. Johnson had five rebounds.
IU opened the second half on a 13-0 run -- completing a 16-0 surge -- to end any hopes of a Jackson State comeback.
The Hoosiers will wrap up the Indiana Classic with Saturday night's game against Marshall.
One goal – improve offensive production.
"We've got to get our offense up to speed," Woodson said. "I want our offense to be easier. We're not there yet."
Team Stats
JSU
IND
FG%
.207
.471
3FG%
.158
.400
FT%
.727
.615
RB
33
44
TO
11
11
STL
5
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Center
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's BasketballForward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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