Thursday, November 3
Bloomington, Ind.
7:00 PM
Indiana University
0-0,0-0Big Ten
104
vs
59
Saint Francis (Exhibition)
0-0
1
2
F
St. Francis (IN)
24
35
59
Indiana
53
51
104
Hoosiers Dominate Saint Francis, 104-59
11/3/2022 9:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Drama?
Not for Thursday night's exhibition.
Heralded freshmen living up to their hype?
Absolutely.
Trayce Jackson-Davis flashing his All-America game?
You'd better believe it.
Indiana tuned up for a potential title-winning season with a 104-59 exhibition victory over Saint Francis at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. That followed Saturday's 78-42 win over Marian University.
Next up -- Monday's season-opener against Morehead State.
"I was anxious to get these games in to see where we were," coach Mike Woodson said. "Now it starts for real. We have a lot of work on our hands."
Rim-rocking dunks, stifling defense, three-point efficiency, spectacular behind-the-back dribbles, impressive depth? They were all on display.
"We have a good team," Woodson said, "and everybody will have to sacrifice and buy in for us to get where we have to go."
For five minutes, Saint Francis gave the No. 13 Hoosiers fits.
The problem -- 35 minutes remained.
Indiana's size and athleticism advantage allowed it to attack the rim at will, as well as open three-point opportunities.
IU shot 67 percent for the first half, and 65 percent for the game. It was 7-for-19 from three-point range.
Saint Francis had no answer.
"Our size was a big difference," Woodson said, "but as we continue this journey, we will face teams as big as we are."
Jackson-Davis, who didn't play in last Saturday's exhibition win over Marian University, led with 19 points and nine rebounds in 21 minutes.
"With Trayce, he'll be there when it counts," Woodson said. "It was nice having him back in the lineup."
Freshmen Jalen Hood-Schifino and Malik Reneau didn't wait for glory. Hood-Schifino had 15 points, including 3-for-3 three-point shooting, and five assists. Reneau came off the bench for 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
"It's being the energizer off the bench," Reneau said. "Showing that I am able to do anything on the court. I can help with rebounding, post up, handle the ball on the perimeter. Being a sparkplug off the bench."
With Reneau leading the way, IU's second unit was just as effective as the starters. Jordan Geronimo had 10 points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes. Tamar Bates had 10 points in 22. Freshman C.J. Gunn had nine points. Fourteen Hoosiers played.
"It just their energy and toughness," forward Miller Kopp said. "Coach Woody says the bench is just as important as the starting five. That rings true. They come in with energy and life."
Added Woodson: "I wish I could play everybody 30 minutes, but it's impossible. It's like I always say, when you get minutes, make the most of them. If you don't play, you still have to be a good teammate."
As far as defense, IU scored 21 points off 12 Saint Francis turnovers. It held the Cougars to 32 percent shooting.
The one Cream 'n Crimson disappointment was free throw shooting. It was 11-for-18, 61.1 percent.
"We have to figure that part out," Woodson said. "We score 104 points and miss seven free throws. I've got to get these guys to make them. It can bite you in the butt if you're not careful. It's unacceptable."
Saint Francis, a consistent NAIA power with one national title and three other title-game appearances since 2010, had a Cream 'n Crimson connection with junior guard Brayton Bailey, the son of former Hoosier All-America Damon Bailey, who helped set up the exhibition.
Brayton Bailey finished with six points.
The Hoosiers were without center Logan Duncomb and forward Kaleb Banks, who were sidelined by illness.
Jackson-Davis opened the scoring with a layup seconds into the game. He and Hood-Schifino dominated early, but Saint Francis managed an 11-11 tie after four and a half minutes. One reason -- the Cougars had a 5-2 rebound edge.
It didn't last.
Hood-Schifino's behind-the-back drive for a layup, giving him seven points, helped IU to an 18-13 edge after eight minutes.
A pair of Reneau layups and a Trey Galloway three-pointer pushed the lead to 27-14 with nine minutes left in the half.
Indiana kept up the pressure. With three minutes left, four Hoosiers had scored at least seven points -- Xavier Johnson, Jackson-Davis, Hood-Schifino and Reneau. IU led 41-20.
A Kopp three-pointer pushed the lead to 24. Hood-Schifino added his second three-pointer as the Hoosiers ended the half on a 9-0 run for a 53-24 lead.
Rotating players throughout the second half didn't diminish IU's dominance, which is exactly what Woodson wanted to see.
"I'm still learning about these guys," he said. "I have not play these cats a lot of minutes together. Some of these guys been in and out. It's hard to gage. I have to stay with it, practice one day at a time and see where it leads us."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Drama?
Not for Thursday night's exhibition.
Heralded freshmen living up to their hype?
Absolutely.
Trayce Jackson-Davis flashing his All-America game?
You'd better believe it.
Indiana tuned up for a potential title-winning season with a 104-59 exhibition victory over Saint Francis at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. That followed Saturday's 78-42 win over Marian University.
Next up -- Monday's season-opener against Morehead State.
"I was anxious to get these games in to see where we were," coach Mike Woodson said. "Now it starts for real. We have a lot of work on our hands."
Rim-rocking dunks, stifling defense, three-point efficiency, spectacular behind-the-back dribbles, impressive depth? They were all on display.
"We have a good team," Woodson said, "and everybody will have to sacrifice and buy in for us to get where we have to go."
For five minutes, Saint Francis gave the No. 13 Hoosiers fits.
The problem -- 35 minutes remained.
Indiana's size and athleticism advantage allowed it to attack the rim at will, as well as open three-point opportunities.
IU shot 67 percent for the first half, and 65 percent for the game. It was 7-for-19 from three-point range.
Saint Francis had no answer.
"Our size was a big difference," Woodson said, "but as we continue this journey, we will face teams as big as we are."
Jackson-Davis, who didn't play in last Saturday's exhibition win over Marian University, led with 19 points and nine rebounds in 21 minutes.
"With Trayce, he'll be there when it counts," Woodson said. "It was nice having him back in the lineup."
Freshmen Jalen Hood-Schifino and Malik Reneau didn't wait for glory. Hood-Schifino had 15 points, including 3-for-3 three-point shooting, and five assists. Reneau came off the bench for 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
"It's being the energizer off the bench," Reneau said. "Showing that I am able to do anything on the court. I can help with rebounding, post up, handle the ball on the perimeter. Being a sparkplug off the bench."
With Reneau leading the way, IU's second unit was just as effective as the starters. Jordan Geronimo had 10 points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes. Tamar Bates had 10 points in 22. Freshman C.J. Gunn had nine points. Fourteen Hoosiers played.
"It just their energy and toughness," forward Miller Kopp said. "Coach Woody says the bench is just as important as the starting five. That rings true. They come in with energy and life."
Added Woodson: "I wish I could play everybody 30 minutes, but it's impossible. It's like I always say, when you get minutes, make the most of them. If you don't play, you still have to be a good teammate."
As far as defense, IU scored 21 points off 12 Saint Francis turnovers. It held the Cougars to 32 percent shooting.
The one Cream 'n Crimson disappointment was free throw shooting. It was 11-for-18, 61.1 percent.
"We have to figure that part out," Woodson said. "We score 104 points and miss seven free throws. I've got to get these guys to make them. It can bite you in the butt if you're not careful. It's unacceptable."
Saint Francis, a consistent NAIA power with one national title and three other title-game appearances since 2010, had a Cream 'n Crimson connection with junior guard Brayton Bailey, the son of former Hoosier All-America Damon Bailey, who helped set up the exhibition.
Brayton Bailey finished with six points.
The Hoosiers were without center Logan Duncomb and forward Kaleb Banks, who were sidelined by illness.
Jackson-Davis opened the scoring with a layup seconds into the game. He and Hood-Schifino dominated early, but Saint Francis managed an 11-11 tie after four and a half minutes. One reason -- the Cougars had a 5-2 rebound edge.
It didn't last.
Hood-Schifino's behind-the-back drive for a layup, giving him seven points, helped IU to an 18-13 edge after eight minutes.
A pair of Reneau layups and a Trey Galloway three-pointer pushed the lead to 27-14 with nine minutes left in the half.
Indiana kept up the pressure. With three minutes left, four Hoosiers had scored at least seven points -- Xavier Johnson, Jackson-Davis, Hood-Schifino and Reneau. IU led 41-20.
A Kopp three-pointer pushed the lead to 24. Hood-Schifino added his second three-pointer as the Hoosiers ended the half on a 9-0 run for a 53-24 lead.
Rotating players throughout the second half didn't diminish IU's dominance, which is exactly what Woodson wanted to see.
"I'm still learning about these guys," he said. "I have not play these cats a lot of minutes together. Some of these guys been in and out. It's hard to gage. I have to stay with it, practice one day at a time and see where it leads us."
Team Stats
SF
IND
FG%
.324
.652
3FG%
.318
.368
FT%
.667
.611
RB
31
44
TO
12
9
STL
3
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
15
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
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