Wednesday, November 30
Bloomington, Ind.
9:20 PM
Indiana University
vs
North Carolina
High Stakes -- For Hoosiers, It’s Time to Shine
11/30/2022 1:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Trayce Jackson-Davis is playing.
There's no doubt about that.
A white out is coming to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Brace yourself.
The beat-the-nation's-top-ranked-team opportunity is gone.
For now, at least.
Welcome to Wednesday night's nationally televised Indiana basketball showcase, where ultra-hyped fans are asked to wear white, the chance to make a national statement remains in play, and No. 10/8 Indiana (6-0) hosts No. 18/15 North Carolina (5-2) in what reportedly will be the last Big Ten-ACC Challenge.
Jackson-Davis, IU's All-America senior forward, can't wait.
"When the stage is higher, it makes me want to shine brighter," he says. "I live for big-time moments. This is huge for me and my teammates."
The Hoosiers have cracked the top-10 for the first time since the start of the 2016-17 season. The Tar Heels, last season's national runner-up, just lost their No. 1 ranking.
"We play with a chip on our shoulders," Jackson-Davis says. "We know we're one of the best teams in the country. We have to play like that or teams will bring it to us."
IU coach Mike Woodson is well aware of the stakes.
"North Carolina is a big-time team," he says, "this a big-time game, and we'll see what we're made of."
Losing a pair of tough, physical games to Iowa State and Alabama as part of last week's Phil Knight Invitational in Oregon dropped North Carolina in the AP and coaches' polls, but not in Woodson's appreciation for Tar Heel quality.
"They're battle tested," Woodson says. "They were in the (national) championship game last season. They know what it's like to have their backs to the wall. We're not taking this team lightly. They're well coached. They have a lot of talent. We have to commit ourselves for 40 minutes."
IU has done that so far, mostly impressively in the Nov. 18 victory at Xavier. It limits opponents to 59.3 points and 36.8% shooting. It's held four teams to less than 60 points. Offensively, it averages 88.8 points and shoots 55.9% from the field, 38.3% from beyond the arc.
"I like what we've done in these six games," Woodson says. "You do the best you can. You always learn something about your team. Wednesday is another challenge to see where we are."
North Carolina's defeats came after a series of less-than-dominant performances. The Tar Heels trailed Portland and Charleston deep into the second half, and struggled to put away Gardner-Webb and UNC Wilmington.
In Oregon, North Carolina lost in four overtimes to Alabama, and lost a late lead against Iowa State.
Still, the Tar Heels are formidable, from the quality of the current team to the rich tradition that includes six national championships.
"To be considered one of the best teams," Jackson-Davis says, "you have to beat the best teams.
"They were in the national championship game last year. They've dropped two games, but I know they'll be hungry. They will battle. We'll have to battle, too. We have to bring it. It will be electric."
Defense, 3-point shooting and allowing offensive rebounding have been Tar Heel problems, but given they have double-double threat Armando Bacot inside, standout guards Caleb Love and RJ Davis outside, and do-it-all-forward Pete Nance where needed, solutions should come sooner rather than later.
Bacot averages 16.7 points and 11.3 rebounds. He's also blocked 11 shots. Love averages a team-leading 20.0 points and 4.9 rebounds, plus has a team-high 24 assists. However, he only shoots 24.5% from 3-point range. Davis averages 15.7 points and 4.9 rebounds. He shoots 27.8% from beyond the arc. Nance, a Northwestern transfer, averages 11.9 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting a team-leading 41.7% on 3-pointers. He has 10 blocks.
As a team, the Tar Heels shoot 30.8% from 3-point range. Opponents have 84 offensive rebounds to North Carolina's 76.
IU has an imposing frontcourt with Jackson-Davis (18.8 points, 8.0 rebounds), veteran forward Race Thompson (8.2, 5.2) and freshman forward Malik Reneau (10.7, 4.7).
"They have a big dinosaur coming down in Armando," guard Xavier Johnson says. "We have two or three big dinosaurs as well that are ready to compete at a high level."
Jackson-Davis and guard Trey Galloway are battling minor injuries that have sidelined them recently. They used the five-day break between games to rest.
"If they can't play, it's next man up," Woodson says. "That's the kind of team I've always wanted to have. Injuries occur. Everybody probably won't make it through the season. When guys get hurt, there's not a lot you can do. You can't wait on them. You have to push the guys who are ready."
Jackson-Davis says he's not "100%," but he's playing.
"Adrenaline will be flowing," he says. "I'll be fine. I'll play my hardest. They'll have to take me out on a stretcher."
Depth and fatigue could be factors. North Carolina coach Hubert Davis basically plays an eight-man rotation. Plus, jet lag could be in play given the Tar Heels flew from Oregon to Bloomington, arriving on Monday. The Hoosiers go 10 deep, and can play more if needed.
"We have two starting 5s," Jackson-Davis says. "We platoon. It will wear and tear on them. We can throw different bodies on different people. As that game goes along, that will be a huge part of it."
Adds Woodson: "They have five to six guys who play the bulk of the minutes. They are legit. They pose a threat. This is a solid team."
Sophomore guard Tamar Bates is a catalyst for IU's second unit, averaging 8.5 points off the bench with 12 assists against five turnovers.
"We understand that we're just as important as the first five," he says. "We come in with the mentality of executing whatever the game calls for. We understand the whole team is as strong as the bench, so us being on the scout and guys having to really worry about who comes in down to the ninth man, we just know that that just makes us even scarier."
If this is the last Big Ten-ACC Challenge (IU is 8-13 in the event, 5-4 at home), Woodson says he'll look for another quality non-conference opponent moving forward.
"My thing is, I'm always looking for competition. We've got enough of it this season to see where our team is."
As for possible future opponents, he adds, "We hope we get Kentucky. It doesn't get much bigger than that.
"We'll figure it out as we go along. I try to make our schedule as competitive as I can. We've done that, and if we can keep it going, that would be great. We'll find another big-time team and get a game scheduled."
That's for later. For now, for the Hoosiers, it comes down to this Jackson-Davis message, to Reneau, to freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino, and to all the Hoosiers:
"Play as hard as you can. If you do, I promise good things will happen."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Trayce Jackson-Davis is playing.
There's no doubt about that.
A white out is coming to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Brace yourself.
The beat-the-nation's-top-ranked-team opportunity is gone.
For now, at least.
Welcome to Wednesday night's nationally televised Indiana basketball showcase, where ultra-hyped fans are asked to wear white, the chance to make a national statement remains in play, and No. 10/8 Indiana (6-0) hosts No. 18/15 North Carolina (5-2) in what reportedly will be the last Big Ten-ACC Challenge.
Jackson-Davis, IU's All-America senior forward, can't wait.
"When the stage is higher, it makes me want to shine brighter," he says. "I live for big-time moments. This is huge for me and my teammates."
The Hoosiers have cracked the top-10 for the first time since the start of the 2016-17 season. The Tar Heels, last season's national runner-up, just lost their No. 1 ranking.
"We play with a chip on our shoulders," Jackson-Davis says. "We know we're one of the best teams in the country. We have to play like that or teams will bring it to us."
IU coach Mike Woodson is well aware of the stakes.
"North Carolina is a big-time team," he says, "this a big-time game, and we'll see what we're made of."
Losing a pair of tough, physical games to Iowa State and Alabama as part of last week's Phil Knight Invitational in Oregon dropped North Carolina in the AP and coaches' polls, but not in Woodson's appreciation for Tar Heel quality.
"They're battle tested," Woodson says. "They were in the (national) championship game last season. They know what it's like to have their backs to the wall. We're not taking this team lightly. They're well coached. They have a lot of talent. We have to commit ourselves for 40 minutes."
IU has done that so far, mostly impressively in the Nov. 18 victory at Xavier. It limits opponents to 59.3 points and 36.8% shooting. It's held four teams to less than 60 points. Offensively, it averages 88.8 points and shoots 55.9% from the field, 38.3% from beyond the arc.
"I like what we've done in these six games," Woodson says. "You do the best you can. You always learn something about your team. Wednesday is another challenge to see where we are."
North Carolina's defeats came after a series of less-than-dominant performances. The Tar Heels trailed Portland and Charleston deep into the second half, and struggled to put away Gardner-Webb and UNC Wilmington.
In Oregon, North Carolina lost in four overtimes to Alabama, and lost a late lead against Iowa State.
Still, the Tar Heels are formidable, from the quality of the current team to the rich tradition that includes six national championships.
"To be considered one of the best teams," Jackson-Davis says, "you have to beat the best teams.
"They were in the national championship game last year. They've dropped two games, but I know they'll be hungry. They will battle. We'll have to battle, too. We have to bring it. It will be electric."
Defense, 3-point shooting and allowing offensive rebounding have been Tar Heel problems, but given they have double-double threat Armando Bacot inside, standout guards Caleb Love and RJ Davis outside, and do-it-all-forward Pete Nance where needed, solutions should come sooner rather than later.
Bacot averages 16.7 points and 11.3 rebounds. He's also blocked 11 shots. Love averages a team-leading 20.0 points and 4.9 rebounds, plus has a team-high 24 assists. However, he only shoots 24.5% from 3-point range. Davis averages 15.7 points and 4.9 rebounds. He shoots 27.8% from beyond the arc. Nance, a Northwestern transfer, averages 11.9 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting a team-leading 41.7% on 3-pointers. He has 10 blocks.
As a team, the Tar Heels shoot 30.8% from 3-point range. Opponents have 84 offensive rebounds to North Carolina's 76.
IU has an imposing frontcourt with Jackson-Davis (18.8 points, 8.0 rebounds), veteran forward Race Thompson (8.2, 5.2) and freshman forward Malik Reneau (10.7, 4.7).
"They have a big dinosaur coming down in Armando," guard Xavier Johnson says. "We have two or three big dinosaurs as well that are ready to compete at a high level."
Jackson-Davis and guard Trey Galloway are battling minor injuries that have sidelined them recently. They used the five-day break between games to rest.
"If they can't play, it's next man up," Woodson says. "That's the kind of team I've always wanted to have. Injuries occur. Everybody probably won't make it through the season. When guys get hurt, there's not a lot you can do. You can't wait on them. You have to push the guys who are ready."
Jackson-Davis says he's not "100%," but he's playing.
"Adrenaline will be flowing," he says. "I'll be fine. I'll play my hardest. They'll have to take me out on a stretcher."
Depth and fatigue could be factors. North Carolina coach Hubert Davis basically plays an eight-man rotation. Plus, jet lag could be in play given the Tar Heels flew from Oregon to Bloomington, arriving on Monday. The Hoosiers go 10 deep, and can play more if needed.
"We have two starting 5s," Jackson-Davis says. "We platoon. It will wear and tear on them. We can throw different bodies on different people. As that game goes along, that will be a huge part of it."
Adds Woodson: "They have five to six guys who play the bulk of the minutes. They are legit. They pose a threat. This is a solid team."
Sophomore guard Tamar Bates is a catalyst for IU's second unit, averaging 8.5 points off the bench with 12 assists against five turnovers.
"We understand that we're just as important as the first five," he says. "We come in with the mentality of executing whatever the game calls for. We understand the whole team is as strong as the bench, so us being on the scout and guys having to really worry about who comes in down to the ninth man, we just know that that just makes us even scarier."
If this is the last Big Ten-ACC Challenge (IU is 8-13 in the event, 5-4 at home), Woodson says he'll look for another quality non-conference opponent moving forward.
"My thing is, I'm always looking for competition. We've got enough of it this season to see where our team is."
As for possible future opponents, he adds, "We hope we get Kentucky. It doesn't get much bigger than that.
"We'll figure it out as we go along. I try to make our schedule as competitive as I can. We've done that, and if we can keep it going, that would be great. We'll find another big-time team and get a game scheduled."
That's for later. For now, for the Hoosiers, it comes down to this Jackson-Davis message, to Reneau, to freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino, and to all the Hoosiers:
"Play as hard as you can. If you do, I promise good things will happen."
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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