Indiana University Athletics
New Indiana Era Includes Woodson Return, ‘Special’ Jackson-Davis
11/9/2021 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A new Indiana basketball era begins Tuesday night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall against Eastern Michigan.
What can we expect under coach Mike Woodson?
"It's all about these players and trying to get them to play at a high level, compete at a high level, and win," he says.
For specifics, All-America forward Trayce Jackson-Davis offers insight.
Offensively, Jackson-Davis says, "His style is pushing the pace. It's transition offense. Try to get the ball out. It's less systematic, more motion oriented where guys are playing different positions and going to difference places on the floor. It's like position-less basketball.
"It's a big adjustment for me. It's catching the ball and being able to make plays rather than dribble and hand it off. We've gotten used to it."
Specifically, Woodson's NBA-style, four-out, one-in offense will open things up for everybody.
It's a great fit, sophomore forward Jordan Geronimo adds.
"It gives us a lot of opportunities. It's not like, 'Do this, do that.' It's more free flowing. Play the game. Be free. Those were things I wasn't able to do last year."
Defensively, Jackson-Davis says, it's about pressure, awareness, attention to detail and locking in on your man.
Woodson says IU's identity right now is defense; that it's ahead of the offense.
"I want to make sure that our defense stays on par in terms of where it's been," he says. "Offensively, we can continue to grow. I don't think we're where we need to be offensively yet. But we're getting there."
Jackson-Davis is the 6-9 catalyst, a potential double-double force with improved leadership a top priority.
"My freshman year I held my tongue," he says. "Last year, I did it better, not to the best of my ability, but I spoke up more.
"This year I'm full fledge of trying to lead guys, especially the young guys to do the right things. Let them know they can come to me with stuff. Try to be a good teammate and lead by example."
Leadership was Woodson's early message to Jackson-Davis.
"When Coach Woodson called me in the office (during their first meeting last spring), the first thing he told me was you're the team captain. He was already entrusting me with that. He said he needs me to be a leader for us to be successful. He came up to me a few weeks later and asked if there was anyone else who could also do it? I said Race (Thompson).
"It will be big for us, trying to lead by example. It's not complicated. It's simple stuff. Getting guys on the right spot. Make sure no one is late. If guys have issues, they can come to me if they don't want to go to Coach."
Beyond leadership, look for Jackson-Davis to put up Alan Henderson-like numbers. He was close last year by averaging 19.1 and 9.0 rebounds. He shot 51.7 percent from the field, 65.5 percent from the line and never took a three-pointer.
In fact, he has never taken a three-pointer in his first two college seasons.
As Woodson told BTN's Andy Katz, "He averaged 19 and nine, and never scratched the surface of where he can be. He never used his right hand or shot a jump shot. If he improves in those areas, he can really be special."
Jackson-Davis pushes to do just that.
"I worked on my perimeter skills. I can handle the ball. I can shoot it. At the same time, I was effective inside."
Jackson-Davis says he could have shown that skill set last season, but was forced into a center role with the back injury to Joey Brunk.
"With Joey getting hurt, I had to play the 5. That was fine. I'll do whatever I can to help the team win.
"I want to show those other aspects of my game. I would have handled the ball more and shot it more if Joey was on the floor."
As far as rebounding, Jackson-Davis aims to average in double figures.
"It's like Dennis Rodman said, you have to have a knack for the ball. Anticipate where the ball is going. With the shape that I'm in, I can grab it. It's instinct.
"(Associate head coach) Dane Fife says I should get 12 to 14 rebounds a game. That's his goal for me."
Anticipation is a big key.
"If a guy shoots from the right wing," Jackson-Davis says, "it's probably going to go to the left side. It's not very complicated."
A big Hoosier key will be getting him the ball. That burden falls primarily to the point guards, including Pitt transfer Xavier Johnson along with returning veterans Rob Phinisee and Khristian Lander.
Johnson made a major impact at Pitt. In three seasons, he totaled 1,152 points, 415 assists, 311 rebounds and 124 steals.
"Xavier has been great because he changes the game with his speed," Woodson says. "He can make shots. He can get in the paint and create.
"I'm trying to get him to be a better point guard and involve his teammates in terms of running our offense.
"There's no doubt he's got to be good on the defensive end because that's where we'll be a better team if we're defending at a high level. That will put us in position to win games."
Expect bigger things from the 6-6, 225-pound Geronimo, who averaged 2.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 8.0 minutes in a limited freshman role last season. He was 4-for-10 beyond the arc.
Woodson mentions Geronimo as having made noticeable improvement over the last few months. Geronimo says his role will include, "Taking shots and shooting the three. You'll see more of that. Getting more rebounds. Be that kind of guy."
Woodson wants a team that could go 10-deep, although with center Michael Durr and guard Tamar Bates banged up, that might not happen against Eastern Michigan.
"I'd love to build a team where you can go as deep as ten because then you don't burn guys out and about time you get to the Big Ten everybody's fresh and feeling good about themselves," he says.
As for Eastern Michigan, the Golden Eagles were picked to finish 11th in the 12-team Mid-American Conference. None of their players received preseason all-conference recognition. They finished 6-12 last season.
Mostly, this is about Woodson's return -- the former IU All-America and Big Ten MVP expects a lot of friends, family and former teammates to be there ("To be able to step back out on that floor, I'm looking forward to that, but it's all about getting these guys to play at a high level") -- and how good the Hoosiers can become.
How good are they now?
"It's hard to gauge," Woodson says. "They go after each other in practice, and practice has been so competitive, man. But it's hard to gauge it until you actually play an opponent."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A new Indiana basketball era begins Tuesday night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall against Eastern Michigan.
What can we expect under coach Mike Woodson?
"It's all about these players and trying to get them to play at a high level, compete at a high level, and win," he says.
For specifics, All-America forward Trayce Jackson-Davis offers insight.
Offensively, Jackson-Davis says, "His style is pushing the pace. It's transition offense. Try to get the ball out. It's less systematic, more motion oriented where guys are playing different positions and going to difference places on the floor. It's like position-less basketball.
"It's a big adjustment for me. It's catching the ball and being able to make plays rather than dribble and hand it off. We've gotten used to it."
Specifically, Woodson's NBA-style, four-out, one-in offense will open things up for everybody.
It's a great fit, sophomore forward Jordan Geronimo adds.
"It gives us a lot of opportunities. It's not like, 'Do this, do that.' It's more free flowing. Play the game. Be free. Those were things I wasn't able to do last year."
Defensively, Jackson-Davis says, it's about pressure, awareness, attention to detail and locking in on your man.
Woodson says IU's identity right now is defense; that it's ahead of the offense.
"I want to make sure that our defense stays on par in terms of where it's been," he says. "Offensively, we can continue to grow. I don't think we're where we need to be offensively yet. But we're getting there."
Jackson-Davis is the 6-9 catalyst, a potential double-double force with improved leadership a top priority.
"My freshman year I held my tongue," he says. "Last year, I did it better, not to the best of my ability, but I spoke up more.
"This year I'm full fledge of trying to lead guys, especially the young guys to do the right things. Let them know they can come to me with stuff. Try to be a good teammate and lead by example."
Leadership was Woodson's early message to Jackson-Davis.
"When Coach Woodson called me in the office (during their first meeting last spring), the first thing he told me was you're the team captain. He was already entrusting me with that. He said he needs me to be a leader for us to be successful. He came up to me a few weeks later and asked if there was anyone else who could also do it? I said Race (Thompson).
"It will be big for us, trying to lead by example. It's not complicated. It's simple stuff. Getting guys on the right spot. Make sure no one is late. If guys have issues, they can come to me if they don't want to go to Coach."
Beyond leadership, look for Jackson-Davis to put up Alan Henderson-like numbers. He was close last year by averaging 19.1 and 9.0 rebounds. He shot 51.7 percent from the field, 65.5 percent from the line and never took a three-pointer.
In fact, he has never taken a three-pointer in his first two college seasons.
As Woodson told BTN's Andy Katz, "He averaged 19 and nine, and never scratched the surface of where he can be. He never used his right hand or shot a jump shot. If he improves in those areas, he can really be special."
Jackson-Davis pushes to do just that.
"I worked on my perimeter skills. I can handle the ball. I can shoot it. At the same time, I was effective inside."
Jackson-Davis says he could have shown that skill set last season, but was forced into a center role with the back injury to Joey Brunk.
"With Joey getting hurt, I had to play the 5. That was fine. I'll do whatever I can to help the team win.
"I want to show those other aspects of my game. I would have handled the ball more and shot it more if Joey was on the floor."
As far as rebounding, Jackson-Davis aims to average in double figures.
"It's like Dennis Rodman said, you have to have a knack for the ball. Anticipate where the ball is going. With the shape that I'm in, I can grab it. It's instinct.
"(Associate head coach) Dane Fife says I should get 12 to 14 rebounds a game. That's his goal for me."
Anticipation is a big key.
"If a guy shoots from the right wing," Jackson-Davis says, "it's probably going to go to the left side. It's not very complicated."
A big Hoosier key will be getting him the ball. That burden falls primarily to the point guards, including Pitt transfer Xavier Johnson along with returning veterans Rob Phinisee and Khristian Lander.
Johnson made a major impact at Pitt. In three seasons, he totaled 1,152 points, 415 assists, 311 rebounds and 124 steals.
"Xavier has been great because he changes the game with his speed," Woodson says. "He can make shots. He can get in the paint and create.
"I'm trying to get him to be a better point guard and involve his teammates in terms of running our offense.
"There's no doubt he's got to be good on the defensive end because that's where we'll be a better team if we're defending at a high level. That will put us in position to win games."
Expect bigger things from the 6-6, 225-pound Geronimo, who averaged 2.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 8.0 minutes in a limited freshman role last season. He was 4-for-10 beyond the arc.
Woodson mentions Geronimo as having made noticeable improvement over the last few months. Geronimo says his role will include, "Taking shots and shooting the three. You'll see more of that. Getting more rebounds. Be that kind of guy."
Woodson wants a team that could go 10-deep, although with center Michael Durr and guard Tamar Bates banged up, that might not happen against Eastern Michigan.
"I'd love to build a team where you can go as deep as ten because then you don't burn guys out and about time you get to the Big Ten everybody's fresh and feeling good about themselves," he says.
As for Eastern Michigan, the Golden Eagles were picked to finish 11th in the 12-team Mid-American Conference. None of their players received preseason all-conference recognition. They finished 6-12 last season.
Mostly, this is about Woodson's return -- the former IU All-America and Big Ten MVP expects a lot of friends, family and former teammates to be there ("To be able to step back out on that floor, I'm looking forward to that, but it's all about getting these guys to play at a high level") -- and how good the Hoosiers can become.
How good are they now?
"It's hard to gauge," Woodson says. "They go after each other in practice, and practice has been so competitive, man. But it's hard to gauge it until you actually play an opponent."
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