Postgame Quotes: Indiana vs. Eastern Michigan
11/9/2021 8:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Indiana vs. Eastern Michigan
Nov. 9, 2021
MIKE WOODSON | INDIANA HEAD COACH
Q. First of all, you built a 21-point lead and then it really goes away there. What did you feel were the biggest issues when the lead slipped away?
WOODSON: Again, this is a team that we've assembled that we're trying to learn how to win. I thought when we built the lead, we stopped playing the way we got the lead. Until we get enough games under us, with our ball club, this is the first test with this team. And, again, I was happy that we didn't crack down the stretch and we made winning basketball plays down the stretch to secure the game and that's a good sign. We have got to go back and break this film down and talk about how we built the lead and how we can extend the lead going forward, because I didn't think we handled that part of it very well tonight.
Q. You started out, I think they were 3-for-14, might have missed their first 10 or 11 shots. Was that the key defensively what you're looking for from your team?
WOODSON: Yeah, I mean, again, I've been saying it all along, our defense is really good. When I look at the three exhibition games that we played, this is kind of how we played defense. I expected that coming out tonight.
We had a good offensive display in one of the games in the Bahamas. And then against Belmont, we had, we were really good offensively, I thought, the way we moved the ball and made shots. We're missing a lot of wide-open 3s right now. We've got to get better in that area because these same guys have been making them in practice and they just gotta feel comfortable taking them in the game and making them. We'll get to that point. I like the way we started the ball game based on our defense because, I keep saying it, if we can build a defensive foundation here, we'll be in every ball game and give ourselves a chance to win.
Q. I was going to ask you about the 3s and maybe also the ball movement. There were times when it really hopped and there were times it didn't. How did you feel that aspect in terms of what you were trying to do with the pick-and-roll?
WOODSON: The few times, when it did hop, it looked pretty good. Trayce is going to get double-teamed, we know that. So when the ball comes out of there on the first pass, that shot is a lot of times open. We had good looks at it with Xavier Johnson and Rob Phinese and whoever was in that spot. We just didn't knock them down. Again, we've got to keep shooting them because it's a part of the game. We do have to play inside/out and get better ball movement and that's on me. I've got to get them to that point.
Q. What's going on in your head, I guess, in that moment coming out on the court with your family there, just that moment, kind of your first time being introduced as IU's head coach?
WOODSON: Again, it's good to be back home. The fan base here is like no other fan base. They stay in the game all the way from the beginning to the end. That's helpful and that's healthy for our young team as we grow. We're going to need our fan base. So it was good to be back, but in a different. I played here many, many years ago. Those were good times. Trying to get this team where that was back in the day. It would be kind of nice.
Q. I know you were focused on the game and everything, but was there any points in the game where you just took a step back and looked up and kind of appreciated everything and being back?
WOODSON: Sure. I mean when I walked on the floor, I appreciated the fact that I had spent my career here as a young basketball player and this team allowed me to go into the NBA and having a successful career in the NBA. Now I'm back. It's a special time for me. Again, guys, this is not about me, man. This is about 17 guys that are wearing this uniform that we're trying to get these guys back on top and teach them how to win basketball games.
Q. Talking about the 3-point shooting, is there almost an element, you're not wanting guys to be reckless, but saying, listen, you've got to keep shooting. Even if they're not going in, don't get shy about shooting them?
WOODSON: I would never give -- I want them to have confidence in shooting them. But I thought there were about three or four that were just unnecessary. And those are the ones that you gotta milk time on the clock and try to get a better shot. And again this team is learning. But it's my job to make sure they know what the hell they're doing. And I thought we had a lot of dry moments offensively, and that we've got to go back to the drawing board and fix.
Q. You guys only had eight turnovers tonight and four of those came in the first six minutes of the game. Only four the final 34. For the first game out were you happy with that part of it in regards to protecting the ball the way they did?
WOODSON: I was very happy with that. We set goals coming in this season. 12 or less turnovers is our goal. If we get over that, then I gotta punish them a little bit. We've been pretty good in that area in the three exhibition games. Tonight was eight turnovers, that's pretty good.
Q. Defensively you guys gave up only 19 in the first half, but 43 in the second half. What did you feel the biggest issues were on defense the last 20 minutes?
WOODSON: Again, I thought our switching was pretty good for the most part. But you still have to challenge shots. And I thought they pulled the trigger on a few of our switches where we just didn't contest hard enough, where in the first half we were contesting everything and we were kind of up in them defensively. I thought we got soft. We were comfortable, put it that way, with the lead. Then it changed drastically. So these are just things we've got to learn from. It's my job to make sure that we learn from them. When we're in that situation again, maybe we can just push it a little bit higher than the 20.
Q. You guys only outrebounded them by one. You had only five offensive rebounds. Looked like on paper you had a size advantage. Are those numbers that you're disappointed in the effort or how do you explain those?
WOODSON: I'm not disappointed. Again, Trayce and Race will get rebounds. We've got to get guys picking up the scraps. When we get Mike back, he's been known to rebound the ball, too, as well. He'll help in that regard. But, again, guys, I mean, I'm not highly disappointed. I like the way we played in spurts. And the fact that we made the plays coming down the stretch. A team that hadn't been together a long time that's been challenged, because in the three exhibition games we weren't really challenged. And we was challenged tonight coming down the homestretch and our guys stepped up and did what they needed to do.
Q. Are you keeping the game ball as a souvenir? And how much better does it feel to be 1-0 than 0-1?
WOODSON: It feels good to be 1-0. We have a long way to go, gentlemen, but yes, I will keep that ball as a souvenir.
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS | INDIANA FORWARD & XAVIER JOHNSON | INDIANA GUARD
Q. Trayce, it's early, but are there things that you kind of didn't connect on offense/defense in the second half or you just couldn't quite get some things come into place on both ends of the floor?
JACKSON-DAVIS: I really think it was just big big -- Farrakhan, down the stretch, started hitting shots and sometimes a player gets hot. We were up by 20 with about 12, 10 minutes left. We just didn't step on their throats when we should have. Just simple things we've got to fix, like just switching and stuff of that nature. But it's just good to get a dub. First dub, so we'll take it.
Q. Xavier, one of the big questions coming in was shooting the 3. Do you feel like tonight's an aberration or do you look for 4-for-24 and go, hey, man, we've still got work to do in that area?
JOHNSON: We've still got work to do. I ain't going to lie. Our last practice on Sunday, our last scrimmage, that little set up, we shot the same percentage, 4-for-24. Coach said you've got to get in the gym. And that's what we're going to do, keep grinding and get back in the gym tomorrow.
Q. Trayce, you talked about yesterday how you were in the best shape of your life. Got a double-double tonight. Is that something you can see yourself doing night in and night out this season?
JACKSON-DAVIS: Yeah, that's one of the biggest thing that Woody told me coming in, Coach Woodson. He said I'll have to be one of the leaders on the team, bring it every night because if I don't bring it we're not going to go.
I'm going to take that do what I can but I felt like I played pretty good. Missed some free throws but at the same time they're not always going to fall. But I think I played the whole second half. So that's just another thing with my conditioning just be able to stay on the floor because my team needs me.
Q. Xavier, I think Farrakhan had zero points in the first half and then 18 or so in the second half. What do you feel the difference was between the first half and second half? Was he doing something different or was it the way you guys were guarding him?
JOHNSON: I mean, I think he shot 5-for-21. He just heated up. You take 21 shots I hope you're gonna make one. That's what he did.
Q. Could you talk a little bit about the atmosphere tonight of playing in front of people again? And also what it was like to give Coach Woodson his first victory at IU for him?
JACKSON-DAVIS: Most definitely, just having the fans back. I know dang near more than half of our team has never experienced an Assembly Hall crowd. So, just being able to be in front of people in front of fans again, it really helped us and I think they got them out of their rhythm, too, in certain stages of the game, like when we needed a bucket or stop they started getting loud. It's something that's going to help us and they're our 6 man. So, thank you, to the fans, honestly.
Q. Trayce, Farrakhan cuts it to one, and then you really demanded the ball with two minutes to go. Was that something you should have done earlier? And you found Race twice in a row there.
JACKSON-DAVIS: Most definitely. I think in the first half I was a little bit stagnant, letting it come to me and not just trying to take over.
I feel like in the second half, from the get-go, Coach Woody and Coach Hun in the locker room told me, you need to get it rolling. That's what I did. Especially down the stretch I was looking for my teammates or get an easy buckets. I saw Race twice, and he did what he had to do to get the necessary shots to score.
Q. Trayce, that one play where you had the block on one end, sprinted down and then had the dunk, is that sort of a good symbol for that extra conditioning and the extra work you've put in to do something on both ends to get down on the floor beat a couple guys down?
JACKSON-DAVIS: Most definitely. That's a big thing. Those are called energy plays for our team. Especially when you're at home just getting the block and seeing X run and I know he's going to throw it up to me if I get open. Sprinting the floor as hard as I can, just doing that trying to get the crowd and everyone amped up. I thought he made a great pass. And the rest is the rest, I guess. But I feel like my conditioning has really helped with that.
Q. You took 24 of your 62 field goal tips from 3. Is that what you guys want? Is that what Coach Woodson wanted you guys to do?
JOHNSON: We have shooters. Parker still is a great shooter. Miller Kopp is a great shooter. We just gotta find them shots. Every guard coming off the bench, Scoot, Rob everybody coming off the bench is a good shooter. Just gotta knock down shots.
Q. You had three early turnovers. How did you settle in after that stretch? You went to the bench and you came back in, and what kind of calmed you down, do you think?
JOHNSON: I mean, just Coach told me stop being so cool with the ball. That's what I did. In the second half, when I went back in, that's what I did. I just played my game and just went to work.
Q.On the second half comeback
HEATH: I am mixed. I am disappointed we got down by 20. We were not playing the way I felt like we could play, but finally when we started playing a lot better, moving and sharing it, getting better shots, that is what ignited our comeback. That is a very good team out there and we are still trying to figure some things out as a group. We showed that we are going to fight, and we are going to compete, and I am proud about that.
Q. On what got them down 17 at the half
HEATH: We missed some shots. We got a little bit anxious and started forcing a lot of actions, which created some bad shots and turnovers. We get some things execution wise against Trayce Jackson-Davis, we did not handle him the way we wanted to in the first half. Combination of those three things really got them going and kind of dug a hole for us.
Q. On the feeling of playing close at the end with Indiana
HEATH: I am grateful that we had the opportunity to play here at Indiana and our guys got to experience something like this. We haven't played in front of a big crowd, probably no one has with COVID. To play in front of a crowd like this, the energy in the building, Mike is going to do a fantastic job here. He is already putting his stamp on the program. We could not even score the first eight minutes of the game, so defensively you are seeing what those guys can do. We are grateful we had the opportunity, but a little disappointed we came up a little short.
