Indiana University Athletics
DIPRIMIO: IU Aims To Dig Way to Big Ten Tourney Success
3/11/2021 3:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Trayce Jackson-Davis has All-America accolades and a blunt perspective steeled rather than broken by defeat.
Yes, Indiana's 12-14 record isn't close to meeting expectations. This week's Big Ten tourney opportunity at Lucas Oil Stadium is a final chance to show what might have been.
"You can't focus on games that have already happened," Jackson-Davis says. "Obviously, we dropped some. We dug our own graves. Now we have to dig ourselves out of it."
Digging starts with Thursday night's opener against Rutgers (14-10), a team with a pair of victories over the Hoosiers this season, and in five of the last six meetings.
What does that have to do with this game?
Not a darn thing, guard Aljami Durham says in so many words.
"It's a reset," he says. "That's how we're trying to look at it. Everything is a clean slate. It's zero-zero.
"We're working as hard as we can. Get back to the basics. Stick to the game plan the coaches give us. We're going in with a different mindset."
Abysmal shooting has ruined Cream and Crimson plans. IU is just 11-for-58 from three-point range in its last three games, which is also the number of games guard Armaan Franklin has missed with a right foot injury.
However, in the two Rutgers games, IU was solid from beyond the arc (18 three-pointers), but struggled to 30 percent shooting inside it.
"Lock in and make a few more twos," Durham says. "Try to finish around the rim is all we can do."
Having Franklin back would help given he's the Hoosiers' second-leading scorer (11.6 points) and leading 3-point shooter (45 percent).
"Armaan is still a wait and see," coach Archie Miller says. "He is more day to day. He hasn't done much but a little bit of shooting.
"We're not counting on Armaan being available."
Miller seems more optimistic about forward Race Thompson despite a broken nose, a battered face and a sprained ankle.
"If he can go," Miller says, "he will go. He will definitely probably give it a try."
The 6-8 Thompson averages 9.3 points and 6.2 rebounds. His 26 steals tie Franklin the for team lead.
Leading the way is the 6-9 Jackson-Davis, who averages 19.1 points (the most by a Hoosier since guard Eric Gordon averaged 20.9 in 2008) and nine rebounds. He has 10 double-doubles and made first-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-America.
"He deserves everything that comes that comes to him," Durham says. "He's a hard worker. He's become a more vocal leader. He's jumped out of his shell."
Adds Jackson-Davis: "I've played well, but there's still room to grow. It's not the way I wanted the season to go. I tried to do my part and play as hard as I can. There's still a lot of work to be done. The only thing I'm focused on is Rutgers."
The Big Ten tourney has never been kind to the Hoosiers. They have a 13-22 record in the event, have never won it, and have reached just one championship game, in 2001. Since 2007, they've only advanced to one semifinal, in 2013.
Slowing the Rutgers combination of Geo Baker (39 points against IU this season) and Ron Harper Jr. (15.3 points, 41 three-pointers and 5.9 rebounds) is important.
"We have to stay connected on defense and stay tight and not allow them to penetrate and dish," Durham says. "We all have to stay connected with the pack-line defense that we play. We all have to be together, defend together. That's the game plan we're heading into this with."
Rutgers also has 6-11, 255-pound Myles Johnson, who has blocked 12 shots against IU this season.
"He has incredible hands," Miller says "I mean, incredible hands. You also add incredible reach. He can reach across people's bodies for one-hand offensive rebounds. Blocking shots across the lane. He's got a unique ability with great hands, shot-blocking ability. He's physical. He's very mobile, and he's not being put in situations when he's having to move around a lot. He's protecting the rim."
IU ended the regular season on a five-game losing streak to fall to the Big Ten tourney 10th seed. Rutgers is the seventh-seed with a 10-10 conference record.
"The big thing for us is confidence," Jackson-Davis says. "We have to reset our batteries. Our offensive is struggling. Getting in the gym and getting more shots will help the guys."
Rutgers projects as a NCAA tourney team despite losing four of its last seven games.
"We have a difficult match up," Miller says. "We have played them twice and haven't had a whole lot of success.
"They are a strong, tough-minded group with some veteran guys that have played a lot of games together. We have to be ready to go."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Trayce Jackson-Davis has All-America accolades and a blunt perspective steeled rather than broken by defeat.
Yes, Indiana's 12-14 record isn't close to meeting expectations. This week's Big Ten tourney opportunity at Lucas Oil Stadium is a final chance to show what might have been.
"You can't focus on games that have already happened," Jackson-Davis says. "Obviously, we dropped some. We dug our own graves. Now we have to dig ourselves out of it."
Digging starts with Thursday night's opener against Rutgers (14-10), a team with a pair of victories over the Hoosiers this season, and in five of the last six meetings.
What does that have to do with this game?
Not a darn thing, guard Aljami Durham says in so many words.
"It's a reset," he says. "That's how we're trying to look at it. Everything is a clean slate. It's zero-zero.
"We're working as hard as we can. Get back to the basics. Stick to the game plan the coaches give us. We're going in with a different mindset."
Abysmal shooting has ruined Cream and Crimson plans. IU is just 11-for-58 from three-point range in its last three games, which is also the number of games guard Armaan Franklin has missed with a right foot injury.
However, in the two Rutgers games, IU was solid from beyond the arc (18 three-pointers), but struggled to 30 percent shooting inside it.
"Lock in and make a few more twos," Durham says. "Try to finish around the rim is all we can do."
Having Franklin back would help given he's the Hoosiers' second-leading scorer (11.6 points) and leading 3-point shooter (45 percent).
"Armaan is still a wait and see," coach Archie Miller says. "He is more day to day. He hasn't done much but a little bit of shooting.
"We're not counting on Armaan being available."
Miller seems more optimistic about forward Race Thompson despite a broken nose, a battered face and a sprained ankle.
"If he can go," Miller says, "he will go. He will definitely probably give it a try."
The 6-8 Thompson averages 9.3 points and 6.2 rebounds. His 26 steals tie Franklin the for team lead.
Leading the way is the 6-9 Jackson-Davis, who averages 19.1 points (the most by a Hoosier since guard Eric Gordon averaged 20.9 in 2008) and nine rebounds. He has 10 double-doubles and made first-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-America.
"He deserves everything that comes that comes to him," Durham says. "He's a hard worker. He's become a more vocal leader. He's jumped out of his shell."
Adds Jackson-Davis: "I've played well, but there's still room to grow. It's not the way I wanted the season to go. I tried to do my part and play as hard as I can. There's still a lot of work to be done. The only thing I'm focused on is Rutgers."
The Big Ten tourney has never been kind to the Hoosiers. They have a 13-22 record in the event, have never won it, and have reached just one championship game, in 2001. Since 2007, they've only advanced to one semifinal, in 2013.
Slowing the Rutgers combination of Geo Baker (39 points against IU this season) and Ron Harper Jr. (15.3 points, 41 three-pointers and 5.9 rebounds) is important.
"We have to stay connected on defense and stay tight and not allow them to penetrate and dish," Durham says. "We all have to stay connected with the pack-line defense that we play. We all have to be together, defend together. That's the game plan we're heading into this with."
Rutgers also has 6-11, 255-pound Myles Johnson, who has blocked 12 shots against IU this season.
"He has incredible hands," Miller says "I mean, incredible hands. You also add incredible reach. He can reach across people's bodies for one-hand offensive rebounds. Blocking shots across the lane. He's got a unique ability with great hands, shot-blocking ability. He's physical. He's very mobile, and he's not being put in situations when he's having to move around a lot. He's protecting the rim."
IU ended the regular season on a five-game losing streak to fall to the Big Ten tourney 10th seed. Rutgers is the seventh-seed with a 10-10 conference record.
"The big thing for us is confidence," Jackson-Davis says. "We have to reset our batteries. Our offensive is struggling. Getting in the gym and getting more shots will help the guys."
Rutgers projects as a NCAA tourney team despite losing four of its last seven games.
"We have a difficult match up," Miller says. "We have played them twice and haven't had a whole lot of success.
"They are a strong, tough-minded group with some veteran guys that have played a lot of games together. We have to be ready to go."
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