Indiana University Athletics
DIPRIMIO: ‘Enjoy the Moment’ – Hoosiers Turn Focus to Minnesota
2/17/2021 6:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The grind has always been there, when January becomes February and grueling Big Ten games add up.
The pandemic has made it worse, which is why, Indiana forward Race Thompson said via Tuesday Zoom opportunity, perspective is everything.
"Mentally, this year is one of the toughest things we've had to deal with. We're not allowed to do much. We pretty much practice, take online classes and go back to our rooms.
"We can only be around each other. We don't get to see our families very often, so we're spending time with each other and trying to make the most out of it. With the pandemic, be grateful for what we have and not what we don't have. Playing and enjoying it as much as we can, even if it's tough sometimes."
The 6-8 Thompson has made it tough on the opposition, and hopes to continue that Wednesday night when Minnesota (13-8 overall, 6-8 in the Big Ten) comes to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
The redshirt junior is having a career year, starting with scoring (9.9 points), rebounding (6.5) and shooting (53.1 percent), which is well above last year's numbers of 3.7, 3.9 and 46.3. He's second on the team in blocks (27) and steals (18).
Thompson said he's most proud of his offensive improvement, and that, "The biggest thing was gaining confidence on the court."
"I put in a lot of work in the off-season and my offensive game has gotten better. It's due to the confidence I have in myself. The coaches believe in me and my teammates give me the ball where I can score."
It helps to have Trayce Jackson-Davis in the frontcourt. The 6-9 sophomore averages 19.6 points and 9.4 rebounds. He's dominated Minnesota in two meetings, averaging 22.5 points and 13.0 rebounds while shooting 70.4 percent from the field.
"I'm the kind of player who tries to make other players the best they can be," Thompson says. "Trayce is just a great player. Pretty much anybody he plays with, he complements. He gets the attention of the defense. I get a lot of one-on-one matchups."
The Thompson-Jackson-Davis combination works so well, coach Archie Miller said, because each feeds off the other.
"It starts with Race understanding how to play, how to move the ball, how to play off another guy. He does a great job at creating action for us. That contributes to him being a guy that plays well with another front court player."
Thompson's contributions go well beyond a two-man game.
"He also plays well with our team," Miller said. "Race is a big cog in our wheel in terms of making us go. He takes a lot of pressure off of Trayce to create all the offense.
"I think as Race has evolved through the course of this season, he has been a much more confident player. Our team has confidence in Race."
Thompson is the ultimate unselfish player, Miller added.
"He does what you ask him to do, and he plays off of other people and makes them better. This year, he has been more of a primary guy for us in terms of being able to help with the scoring and rebounding load. Whoever he plays with, he can make you better with how he attacks his role."
Thompson grew up near the Minnesota campus. His father, Darrell, is the Gophers' career rushing leader with 4,815 yards and is now a radio analyst for Minnesota.
Yes, Thompson says, this game provides extra motivation.
"It means a little more," he said.
IU (11-9, 6-7) seeks a fast finish to boost its Big Ten tourney standings and NCAA Tourney prospects.
"These games are starting to get a heavyweight feel," Miller told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during his Monday night radio show. "The stakes go up each game."
Minnesota's giant-killer home status -- 13-1 with victories over Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa, Purdue and Michigan State -- crashes against a 0-7 road record.
"Minnesota has had some of the most impressive wins in this league," Miller told Fischer, "but they've struggled on the road.
"They are very explosive. We have to keep them out of transition."
The Gophers have one of the Big Ten's best point guards in Marcus Carr, who averages a team-leading 19.4 points along with a team-leading 109 assists against 46 turnovers. His 23 steals also lead the Gophers.
"They have maybe the best point guard in the league in Marcus Carr. "Everything goes through him. He's the head of the snake, so to speak.
"We can't let Carr operate and score. You have to make somebody else beat you."
IU did that in a pair of victories over the Gophers last season, holding him to a combined 18 points.
Then there is 7-foot center Liam Robbins, who averages 12.6 points and 7.1 rebounds while totaling 55 blocks.
For comparison, Jackson-Davis leads IU with 32 blocks.
"Robbins can shoot threes," Miller told Fischer. "He's huge."
As for the Carr and Robbins combination, "Those guys have made a big difference as a 1-2 punch," Miller added.
Robbins is one of five Gophers 6-9 or taller.
"They have a slew of big guys come off the bench who can do a lot," Miller told Fischer. "They are a rugged rebounding team. Priority No. 1 for us is rebounding."
Minnesota leads the Big Ten with 541 three-point attempts, but only makes them at a 29.4-percent clip.
In its 72-59 loss at Maryland last Sunday, it shot 32.2 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from three-point range.
"They shoot more threes than anybody in the league," Miller told Fischer. "When they win, it's from the 3-point line."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The grind has always been there, when January becomes February and grueling Big Ten games add up.
The pandemic has made it worse, which is why, Indiana forward Race Thompson said via Tuesday Zoom opportunity, perspective is everything.
"Mentally, this year is one of the toughest things we've had to deal with. We're not allowed to do much. We pretty much practice, take online classes and go back to our rooms.
"We can only be around each other. We don't get to see our families very often, so we're spending time with each other and trying to make the most out of it. With the pandemic, be grateful for what we have and not what we don't have. Playing and enjoying it as much as we can, even if it's tough sometimes."
The 6-8 Thompson has made it tough on the opposition, and hopes to continue that Wednesday night when Minnesota (13-8 overall, 6-8 in the Big Ten) comes to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
The redshirt junior is having a career year, starting with scoring (9.9 points), rebounding (6.5) and shooting (53.1 percent), which is well above last year's numbers of 3.7, 3.9 and 46.3. He's second on the team in blocks (27) and steals (18).
Thompson said he's most proud of his offensive improvement, and that, "The biggest thing was gaining confidence on the court."
"I put in a lot of work in the off-season and my offensive game has gotten better. It's due to the confidence I have in myself. The coaches believe in me and my teammates give me the ball where I can score."
It helps to have Trayce Jackson-Davis in the frontcourt. The 6-9 sophomore averages 19.6 points and 9.4 rebounds. He's dominated Minnesota in two meetings, averaging 22.5 points and 13.0 rebounds while shooting 70.4 percent from the field.
"I'm the kind of player who tries to make other players the best they can be," Thompson says. "Trayce is just a great player. Pretty much anybody he plays with, he complements. He gets the attention of the defense. I get a lot of one-on-one matchups."
The Thompson-Jackson-Davis combination works so well, coach Archie Miller said, because each feeds off the other.
"It starts with Race understanding how to play, how to move the ball, how to play off another guy. He does a great job at creating action for us. That contributes to him being a guy that plays well with another front court player."
Thompson's contributions go well beyond a two-man game.
"He also plays well with our team," Miller said. "Race is a big cog in our wheel in terms of making us go. He takes a lot of pressure off of Trayce to create all the offense.
"I think as Race has evolved through the course of this season, he has been a much more confident player. Our team has confidence in Race."
Thompson is the ultimate unselfish player, Miller added.
"He does what you ask him to do, and he plays off of other people and makes them better. This year, he has been more of a primary guy for us in terms of being able to help with the scoring and rebounding load. Whoever he plays with, he can make you better with how he attacks his role."
Thompson grew up near the Minnesota campus. His father, Darrell, is the Gophers' career rushing leader with 4,815 yards and is now a radio analyst for Minnesota.
Yes, Thompson says, this game provides extra motivation.
"It means a little more," he said.
IU (11-9, 6-7) seeks a fast finish to boost its Big Ten tourney standings and NCAA Tourney prospects.
"These games are starting to get a heavyweight feel," Miller told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during his Monday night radio show. "The stakes go up each game."
Minnesota's giant-killer home status -- 13-1 with victories over Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa, Purdue and Michigan State -- crashes against a 0-7 road record.
"Minnesota has had some of the most impressive wins in this league," Miller told Fischer, "but they've struggled on the road.
"They are very explosive. We have to keep them out of transition."
The Gophers have one of the Big Ten's best point guards in Marcus Carr, who averages a team-leading 19.4 points along with a team-leading 109 assists against 46 turnovers. His 23 steals also lead the Gophers.
"They have maybe the best point guard in the league in Marcus Carr. "Everything goes through him. He's the head of the snake, so to speak.
"We can't let Carr operate and score. You have to make somebody else beat you."
IU did that in a pair of victories over the Gophers last season, holding him to a combined 18 points.
Then there is 7-foot center Liam Robbins, who averages 12.6 points and 7.1 rebounds while totaling 55 blocks.
For comparison, Jackson-Davis leads IU with 32 blocks.
"Robbins can shoot threes," Miller told Fischer. "He's huge."
As for the Carr and Robbins combination, "Those guys have made a big difference as a 1-2 punch," Miller added.
Robbins is one of five Gophers 6-9 or taller.
"They have a slew of big guys come off the bench who can do a lot," Miller told Fischer. "They are a rugged rebounding team. Priority No. 1 for us is rebounding."
Minnesota leads the Big Ten with 541 three-point attempts, but only makes them at a 29.4-percent clip.
In its 72-59 loss at Maryland last Sunday, it shot 32.2 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from three-point range.
"They shoot more threes than anybody in the league," Miller told Fischer. "When they win, it's from the 3-point line."
Players Mentioned
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