Indiana University Athletics
Tuesday, November 30
Syracuse, N.Y.
7:00 PM
Indiana University
at
Syracuse
‘Make Shots’ – Indiana Faces Syracuse and its Zone
11/30/2021 3:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Here comes Syracuse and its vaunted 2-3 zone and Indiana coach Mike Woodson, for just a second, flashes back to his Cream 'n Crimson playing days.
"When I played," he says, "I licked my chops when I saw zones."
Given he's one of the best scorers ever at IU with more than 2,000 career points, Woodson's chops licking came against every defense.
No current Hoosier can match that zone-busting prowess -- although forward Trayce Jackson-Davis made a Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall-record 43-point run against Marshall Saturday night -- as the Hoosiers (6-0) head to Syracuse (3-3) Tuesday night as part of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge.
Beating the zone is crucial for an IU victory. It comes down to one key element.
"Obviously," Jackson-Davis says, "it's just hitting shots."
It's more than that, Woodson adds.
"The zone is what it is. We can't run from it.
"I know we've got to make shots. I know we've got to make plays inside."
Syracuse's zone has forced opponents into taking 51 percent of their shots from three-point range.
Big deal, Woodson says.
"You've got to make shots whoever you play against. It might be man, zone.
"We're going against a 2-3 zone. That's what it is. You've got to make shots on the perimeter and make them inside. That's the nature of basketball.
"We can't change the way we play because these guys are playing a zone. If you've got an outside makeable shot, shoot it and let's see if you can put it in the hole. That's what it's about."
IU could have an edge in point guard Xavier Johnson, who faced Syracuse seven time as a Pitt Panther before joining the Hoosiers. He averaged 12 points and 5.9 assists against the Orange.
Jackson-Davis says Johnson has been texting him insight.
"Xavier has stepped up in his leadership role," Jackson-Davis says. "He's been texting me about opportunities against their zone and what we're going to do. He's really locked in and ready to take on this moment."
Offensively, Syracuse has five players averaging at least 11.8 points, led by Buddy Boeheim's 20 a game.
"That's a concern," Woodson says. "This is the first team we've faced that does that, and it's because they only go eight deep. The three guys off the bench don't get a high volume of shots.
"All of them can score, so we're going to have matchups all over the floor where you can't take (the night) off."
While much of the pre-game focus is on Syracuse's defense, it's the IU defense that might be the difference maker, forward Race Thompson says.
"If we lock in on defense, everything is going to be fine."
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim has won 985 games and a national title by using the 2-3 zone, which features long, athletic players who, at the highest level, can force teams into contested perimeter shots.
In 2013, the top-ranked, cold-shooting Hoosiers fizzled in the Sweet Sixteen against the Syracuse zone.
"He is a hell of a coach," Woodson says. "I've watched him. I've had some communications with him when he was with the Olympic team."
Two of Woodson's NBA players, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler, played on a U.S. Olympic team with Boeheim as an assistant coach. Boeheim also coached Anthony at Syracuse.
"I have nothing but respect for Coach Boeheim," Woodson says. "He has won a lot of games. He has been successful. He has won national titles.
"I've seen him on the recruiting trail. He's a great coach."
After beating Syracuse 74-73 for the 1987 national title, IU has lost five straight to the Orange. A lack of a perimeter game against the zone was the biggest reason.
"This is Boeheim's way of coaching," Woodson says. "He has done it for years. I think we'll be ready. It's going to be interesting to see how we fair against a great team, great coach."
Woodson says he's faced 2-3 zones in the NBA, but not for an entire game.
"(In the pros), you can't sit in the lane on the backside. In college, you can camp there."
Johnson will play a big role beyond texting Jackson-Davis. He was huge against Marshall on Saturday night with 20 points, including a couple of three-pointers
"He played well," Woodson says. "Khristian (Lander) struggled a little bit (three turnovers), so I rode Xavier."
Veteran guard Rob Phinisee has missed the last couple of games. His availability for Tuesday night is uncertain.
"He went a little bit (Sunday in practice)," Woodson says. "I don't know where he is right now.
"If Rob can't play, Khristian has to be ready to go."
Jackson-Davis' 43-point performance still generates buzz. It came as Marshall chose not to double or triple team him early, as so many opponents do.
"I go into every game knowing Trayce is going to get trapped," Woodson says. "He's our best player. He's our best low-post player. So we design things knowing he is going to get trapped from different spots on the floor.
"When (Marshall) didn't trap early, I just utilized him. If they're not going to trap him, I don't think anyone on the floor could guard him on the block. So we just kept spoon-feeding him."
Then, when Marshall finally did trap him, Jackson-Davis beat it.
"He beat a couple of traps with quick moves," Woodson says. "There were holes all over the place because he made passes out of traps across court, up top, back to the guy that passed to him.
"He is learning to read. We go through practice where I have the second unit trap him to see how he fairs. Can he find open people? Can he make plays before the trap gets there? He did a lot of that against Marshall."
Jackson-Davis will get his chance to do it against Syracuse. If he does it well, the Hoosiers will set themselves up for a special night.
The Orange seem vulnerable, especially against full-court pressure. They gave up 100 points to Colgate in a loss. The last time they started 3-3 was during the 1996-97 season. They have never started 3-4 under Boeheim.
This is IU's first road game of the season. It is one of four unbeaten Big Ten teams, joining Purdue (6-0), Iowa (6-0) and Minnesota (5-0).
As Woodson told the Hoosiers, according to Jackson-Davis, "Great teams win on the road."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Here comes Syracuse and its vaunted 2-3 zone and Indiana coach Mike Woodson, for just a second, flashes back to his Cream 'n Crimson playing days.
"When I played," he says, "I licked my chops when I saw zones."
Given he's one of the best scorers ever at IU with more than 2,000 career points, Woodson's chops licking came against every defense.
No current Hoosier can match that zone-busting prowess -- although forward Trayce Jackson-Davis made a Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall-record 43-point run against Marshall Saturday night -- as the Hoosiers (6-0) head to Syracuse (3-3) Tuesday night as part of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge.
Beating the zone is crucial for an IU victory. It comes down to one key element.
"Obviously," Jackson-Davis says, "it's just hitting shots."
It's more than that, Woodson adds.
"The zone is what it is. We can't run from it.
"I know we've got to make shots. I know we've got to make plays inside."
Syracuse's zone has forced opponents into taking 51 percent of their shots from three-point range.
Big deal, Woodson says.
"You've got to make shots whoever you play against. It might be man, zone.
"We're going against a 2-3 zone. That's what it is. You've got to make shots on the perimeter and make them inside. That's the nature of basketball.
"We can't change the way we play because these guys are playing a zone. If you've got an outside makeable shot, shoot it and let's see if you can put it in the hole. That's what it's about."
IU could have an edge in point guard Xavier Johnson, who faced Syracuse seven time as a Pitt Panther before joining the Hoosiers. He averaged 12 points and 5.9 assists against the Orange.
Jackson-Davis says Johnson has been texting him insight.
"Xavier has stepped up in his leadership role," Jackson-Davis says. "He's been texting me about opportunities against their zone and what we're going to do. He's really locked in and ready to take on this moment."
Offensively, Syracuse has five players averaging at least 11.8 points, led by Buddy Boeheim's 20 a game.
"That's a concern," Woodson says. "This is the first team we've faced that does that, and it's because they only go eight deep. The three guys off the bench don't get a high volume of shots.
"All of them can score, so we're going to have matchups all over the floor where you can't take (the night) off."
While much of the pre-game focus is on Syracuse's defense, it's the IU defense that might be the difference maker, forward Race Thompson says.
"If we lock in on defense, everything is going to be fine."
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim has won 985 games and a national title by using the 2-3 zone, which features long, athletic players who, at the highest level, can force teams into contested perimeter shots.
In 2013, the top-ranked, cold-shooting Hoosiers fizzled in the Sweet Sixteen against the Syracuse zone.
"He is a hell of a coach," Woodson says. "I've watched him. I've had some communications with him when he was with the Olympic team."
Two of Woodson's NBA players, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler, played on a U.S. Olympic team with Boeheim as an assistant coach. Boeheim also coached Anthony at Syracuse.
"I have nothing but respect for Coach Boeheim," Woodson says. "He has won a lot of games. He has been successful. He has won national titles.
"I've seen him on the recruiting trail. He's a great coach."
After beating Syracuse 74-73 for the 1987 national title, IU has lost five straight to the Orange. A lack of a perimeter game against the zone was the biggest reason.
"This is Boeheim's way of coaching," Woodson says. "He has done it for years. I think we'll be ready. It's going to be interesting to see how we fair against a great team, great coach."
Woodson says he's faced 2-3 zones in the NBA, but not for an entire game.
"(In the pros), you can't sit in the lane on the backside. In college, you can camp there."
Johnson will play a big role beyond texting Jackson-Davis. He was huge against Marshall on Saturday night with 20 points, including a couple of three-pointers
"He played well," Woodson says. "Khristian (Lander) struggled a little bit (three turnovers), so I rode Xavier."
Veteran guard Rob Phinisee has missed the last couple of games. His availability for Tuesday night is uncertain.
"He went a little bit (Sunday in practice)," Woodson says. "I don't know where he is right now.
"If Rob can't play, Khristian has to be ready to go."
Jackson-Davis' 43-point performance still generates buzz. It came as Marshall chose not to double or triple team him early, as so many opponents do.
"I go into every game knowing Trayce is going to get trapped," Woodson says. "He's our best player. He's our best low-post player. So we design things knowing he is going to get trapped from different spots on the floor.
"When (Marshall) didn't trap early, I just utilized him. If they're not going to trap him, I don't think anyone on the floor could guard him on the block. So we just kept spoon-feeding him."
Then, when Marshall finally did trap him, Jackson-Davis beat it.
"He beat a couple of traps with quick moves," Woodson says. "There were holes all over the place because he made passes out of traps across court, up top, back to the guy that passed to him.
"He is learning to read. We go through practice where I have the second unit trap him to see how he fairs. Can he find open people? Can he make plays before the trap gets there? He did a lot of that against Marshall."
Jackson-Davis will get his chance to do it against Syracuse. If he does it well, the Hoosiers will set themselves up for a special night.
The Orange seem vulnerable, especially against full-court pressure. They gave up 100 points to Colgate in a loss. The last time they started 3-3 was during the 1996-97 season. They have never started 3-4 under Boeheim.
This is IU's first road game of the season. It is one of four unbeaten Big Ten teams, joining Purdue (6-0), Iowa (6-0) and Minnesota (5-0).
As Woodson told the Hoosiers, according to Jackson-Davis, "Great teams win on the road."
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