Postgame Quotes: Indiana vs. Northern Kentucky

Postgame Quotes
Indiana vs. Northern Kentucky
December 22, 2021

MIKE WOODSON | INDIANA HEAD COACH

Q. On playing close to Christmas…
WOODSON: Well, I don't think it's any differently. If you've got your team in position, you're playing for something, and in the pros, we were always trying to play to make the playoffs.
So, every game is important regardless of the time of season it is, and that's what I'm expressing to these guys. You know, I mean, wish Darrin at the Big Ten, you know, after our next game coming back after this break, and every game that we play is important.

I mean, you can't take any nights off you know what I mean, and I truly believe any team in college basketball can beat you if you're not prepared and ready to play.

So, this was a good win for our ballclub going into the break, but they get the two days off. I hope they have a great time with their family. But Sunday, it's going to be back to work.

Q. On the defense in the second half…
WOODSON: Well, I've got to go back and look at the tape but it wasn't pretty, I'll tell you that. I thought defensively we did everything right the first half in terms of our coverages, our switches. We were up touching guys. Nobody we're getting -- pulling up with dare shots, and it was totally the opposite the second half.

You know, I made that known before we broke huddle tonight that that can't happen. You won't win a lot of games in the Big Ten doing that.

Q. On Anthony Leal getting the start…
WOODSON: Listen, five guys can start. It's all you can start in a game. Parker didn't start tonight. Anthony started. I thought he played well.

You know, but again, everybody that plays on this team, I feel good about playing. So, I mean, somebody's got to start and somebody's got to come off the bench and somebody's got to finish the game. It's just a part of basketball. I thought he played well as a starter. He did a good job for us tonight.

Q. On Race Thompson…
WOODSON: Well, again, he's a senior, man. He's been around. So, you know, I went through the system as a college player. I think as you grow in college as a ballplayer, you expect things -- you expect the older guys to do things at a higher level. He's been around awhile.

So, you know, when I took this job, he was one of the first guys I sat down and told him what I expected. The fact that he had played, you know, a number of years in college, hey, expectations are high. You know, he's got to be held a lot higher from accountability standpoint.

I mean, I expect a lot from Race and Trayce, and Race, he's come through, man. I mean, he's doing a lot of wonderful things for this ballclub. Things that some people thought he couldn't do, you know, when I got here and he's gotten better because he's put in the work and that's a testament to him.

Q. On the learning curve of the team…
WOODSON: Well, again, I think as we go game-by-game, practice by practice, there's always going to be a learning curve. You know, I mean, these guys haven't been together that long, and surely, they hadn't been together long with me, and vice versa. So, you know, it's a learning process for me every day, you know, dealing with this unit, and I don't mean that in a negative way. I mean, they have done everything I've asked them to do. You know, I've been pushing and yelling and patting them here and there, and hey, it's just a part of what we do as coaches.
But I'm excited about where we are as a team, knowing that there's still a long way to go when we're talking about the big picture.

Q. On turnovers…
WOODSON: I think their zone is kind of unique because it's a 2-3 matchup. You know, they will switch a point guard onto our big guys, and then try to pass them off.

You know, sometimes it's confusing -- and I'm not making excuses. I mean, I thought when we got the ball in the interior of the defense, we tried to make plays that just weren't there, and that's how they catch teams.

You know, we just, again, we're starting to see more zones. You think back to the St. John when they pretty much pressed us the whole game, and threw all kinds of zones at us in the half court, we are starting to see more of them, and we just got to continue to work and get comfortable with them because I think teams will continue to play some zone and trap. It's just part of college basketball.

Q. On chemistry between Race Thompson and Trayce Jackson-Davis…
WOODSON: It's been great. I saw a little bit of that last year. And they know each other's movement inside, and they read each other really well, which is great. I always talk about "buddy ball" with our bigs, and you know, they are really good buddies when it comes to playing buddy ball, especially inside the zone.

So that's something that's got to continue. You know, I've got to get Geronimo and Big Mike more in play in that area, and just see what happens as we move forward.

Q. On offensive catching up to the defense…
WOODSON: I mean, when I look at the point differential, we've got a big plus based on how we're scoring the ball and how we're defending our opponents.

So, you know in, that regard, I'm happy. But again, I'm not overly happy where we are from an offensive standpoint because I just think there's so much more to give, you know, and we just got to keep working, man. I mean, I knew the defense would be ahead of the offense, and you know, we are doing some good things offensively but we are just not there yet as far as I'm concerned. But it's still a work-in-progress; put it that way.

Q. On what makes Race Thompson so efficient on offense…
WOODSON: I think the fact that we are delivering the ball to him in areas where he can be effective, and you know, he's been working on his little floaters, you know, little jumpshots and things of that nature.

Again, he stepped out and shot a three tonight. I don't -- I don't mind him shooting threes. I mean, he's just got to get comfortable shooting them and making them.

But he's been so effective for us around the bucket, and the fact that we work on it every day in terms of delivering the ball down low to all our bigs, because that's where our strength as a team is.

So, I'm just happy for him, man, because he's worked and like I said, there were a lot of things when I got here that, you know, people said he couldn't do, and he's defeating all the odds. He's doing a lot of great things for our ballclub, he really is.

Q. On Race Thompson moving without the ball…
WOODSON: I think the unique thing, I'm letting Race bring the ball up the court and make plays in that regard. I didn't box him in a box when I got here. You know, I tried to make everybody comfortable. He's got to be that way because you're going to get caught throughout the course of a ballgame where you've got to make a play with the basketball.

And he's comfortable in that area.

And he's comfortable in making plays, you know, around the rim. I mean, you saw that again tonight. So again, I can't praise him enough. He's just got to continue to work and hopefully he'll grow and get even better. I mean, that's how you get better as an individual player in terms of helping us win ballgames. I'm pleased with what he's done.

Happy holidays.

TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS | INDIANA FORDWARD & ANTHONY LEAL | INDIANA GUARD

Q. On the play of Race Thompson…
JACKSON-DAVIS: I think Race is someone that just he brings it every day. He's the glue guy. He's the glue of our team. He holds our team together.
And even last year, you saw a few games where he was just on the boards relentless and I think this year he's just doing more of that. He's just trying to attack the glass and just be more a complete player honestly.
Coach Woodson at the beginning of the year, he would be shy and not shoot and shoot shots, and Coach Woodson was like, "You've got to do that. You've got to be a scorer for us. I think he took that to heart and he's been playing well ever since.

Q. On getting the start…
LEAL: I think it was Sunday or Monday. I think it was Monday. And I mean, it's a blessing for sure. Obviously when they first told me, I was in shock, but I just tried to focus on making the most of it and following the scout and making sure that we got off to a good start, that kind of stuff. Staying true to what I do and trusting myself.

Q. On walking on the floor…
LEAL: Very special. I couldn't really stop smiling. I didn't tell my parents because I wanted it to be a surprise for them. I had my sister make sure my grandparents and everybody was here to make sure they could experience it with me.

It was special and hopefully the first of many.

Q. On NKU run in the second half…
JACKSON-DAVIS: Can't really complain about it. They were just hitting shots really. That's what Coach Woodson always says; when you come in, you have to be ready to play. And so, the second group just had a little slippage there, but at the same time we could have probably trusted them to finish out the game. I think the game was pretty well in hand. But Coach Woodson doesn't take chances, so he put us back in to make sure we sealed the deal.

Q. On Race Thompson…
JACKSON-DAVIS: I think Race does a little bit of everybody. I think you're right. He's not really a 100 percent stretch forward, but I think he can still hit a three if he needs to.

But at the same time, I think me and him complement each other very well. We seem to always know where we're going to be on offense, and the double teams come from his guy and I'm able to hit him and he's vice-versa.

But I think the biggest thing with both of us is we are unselfish and we pass out of the post, especially if we are doubled.

Q. On the duo of yourself and Race…
JACKSON-DAVIS: I think it's really tough to prepare for because you never know. You try to take something away and then you have to counter another thing. Like you have got him, Anthony, Parker, Miller guys like that shooting threes. So, you can't prepare for both of us and stop both of us because we have so many pieces on our team.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

DARRIN HORN | NORTHERN KENTUCKY HEAD COACH
On their play in the second half…
HORN: I think we just settled down offensively and played with a greater deal of confidence. We moved the ball better in the second half. I think we let how physical they are, much bigger and stronger than we are really bother us in the first half. I thought the second half we cut harder and were much more aggressive on the offensive end."

On what a game that this does for them moving forward…
HORN: Hopefully, you take away 47 points in a half against anybody is really good and against a Big Ten team that has a great record and has an All-American and hopefully that is something we can build on in terms of how we are capable of playing. Honestly, I thought we were pretty solid defensively for the most part, we just don't have an answer for Trayce Jackson-Davis."

On what IU did to make it difficult for them…
HORN: I think the biggest thing is that we weren't aggressive enough on him (Trayce Jackson-Davis) when he caught the ball. We really wanted to double him and not allow him to pass to the other side of the floor. We gave up too many of those too easy in the first half. Some of it is the kid is just a terrific player. Everyone that is played and prepared for him has tried to stop him and that is why he is averaging 20 points a game."

Players Mentioned

Trayce Jackson-Davis

Anthony Leal

Race Thompson

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