Tuesday, February 8
Evanston, Ill.
9:00 PM
Indiana University
at
Northwestern
Destiny Controlled -- IU’s Challenge is to 'Win Out’
2/12/2022 11:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Forget speculation, drama and intrigue. Mike Woodson remains locked in big-picture basketball mode.
Think NCAA Tournament.
"We have seven games left," Indiana's coach says. "We basically control our destiny. We have to win out."
While Hoosier Nation continues to buzz about suspension talk, beating No. 17 Michigan State dominates Hoosier thoughts.
Saturday's game is the first of three straight cracks at top-20 teams, joining No. 14 Wisconsin on Tuesday and No. 16 Ohio State on Feb. 21.
It's a formidable challenge at any time, let alone with the Hoosiers (16-7 overall, 7-6 in the Big Ten) facing a two-game losing streak against a team that is 22-2 against them at the Breslin Center since 1991.
Still, IU has already beaten No. 3 Purdue and Ohio State this season, plus ACC co-leader Notre Dame, and was a just few plays away from winning at Wisconsin.
"We can beat any team in the Big Ten if we commit ourselves," Woodson says. "The Big Ten has shown that this season, anybody can beat anybody. We've got to be committed for 40 minutes."
Commitment starts with a suspension-free roster. IU is back at full strength -- with the exception of injured guard Rob Phinisee.
Guards Xavier Johnson, Parker Stewart, Khristian Lander and Tamar Bates, and center Michael Durr are back in the rotation, although to what extent remains uncertain after their suspension for the Northwestern game over a violation of team rules (breaking curfew).
"I will make a decision in terms of where I go as far as the starting lineup," Woodson says. "(Thursday's) practice was a good one considering what happened at Northwestern.
"I wasn't very pleased (about the suspensions). I was very disappointed. We came back (on Thursday) and guys were working. We had a productive practice."
Guard Trey Galloway played well in his first college start (13 points, five rebounds and three assists in 37 minutes at Northwestern) just as he has since returning from a wrist injury.
"He's been fantastic," Woodson says. "Coming off the bench he's been great. The first time he got a crack to start, he was phenomenal."
Could that earn him a start at Michigan State?
"It's a thought," Woodson says. "We will make that decision after practice to see where we are. He's played well enough to be in the lineup."
For those wondering how the Hoosiers will handle Woodson's tough love, Johnson tweeted a definitive answer:
"I will respond."
IU continues to lead the Big Ten in defense. At Northwestern, despite playing just six players, it only allowed 59 points.
The problem – the Hoosiers scored just 51, only 21 in the second half as fatigue kicked in.
"Defense hasn't been the problem for us," Woodson says. "Offensively, it's making the long ball and completing plays over the course of the game. We have to find some offense and our defense will have to stay consistent if we're going to beat Michigan State."
Those infatuated with numbers see trouble in the fact that IU attempts just 18.2 three-pointers a game. That ranks near the bottom of the Big Ten.
Woodson again focuses on a bigger truth.
"I'd like to make the threes we're taking," he says. "It's not how many you take, but how many you make. We've got to make them."
As far as Michigan State (17-6, 8-4), IU preparations start with associate head coach Dane Fife, who spent the previous 10 seasons as a Spartan assistant coach under Hall of Famer Tom Izzo.
"This is Dane's scout," Woodson says. "It has to be. He spent most of his time coaching at Michigan State, so what better person would know Izzo and his thinking and the players he coached there?"
Michigan State faces its own two-game losing streak and must-win urgency. The Spartans were battling Illinois and Wisconsin for Big Ten supremacy until losing by 21 at surging Rutgers and then by eight at home against the No. 14 Badgers.
No matter. Woodson understands the challenge.
"They're a solid team," he says. "Izzo has always had good teams."
At its best, Michigan State rebounds ferociously and attacks relentlessly.
"They're pretty good defensively," Woodson says. "They get up in you and make you work to score.
"The thing about their offense is they put so much heat on you when you score. They get it back in as quick as possible, and push it back at you.
"We have to focus on getting back in transition and make sure we're matching to the point they're not running it up our backs. That's going to be a big key."
Michigan State's Wisconsin loss left Izzo was steaming, and he expressed it in the post-game press conference.
"We've got to get better leadership and we have to get better toughness."
The Spartans have thrived under Izzo for many reasons, including the toughness of their play.
He's not seeing that.
"We got to figure out how we're going to get a little tougher, and I haven't had many teams that I had to worry about that with, but I got to worry about that with this team.
"Is it fixable? Yeah, it's fixable. I mean, it's always fixable, but we've got to do a much, much, much better job, so we'll go to work on it, I promise you that."
Izzo wanted to find toughness through old-school coaching, but NCAA rules limit that.
"I can't do most of those things anymore," he said. "You hurt somebody feelings."
Izzo blamed himself more than the players.
"As coaches, we've got to do a better job. That's the bottom line -- we have to do a better job.
"I am putting it all on me. I'm going to figure out a way. I have to do a better job. If the team doesn't play with toughness and the tenacity, that falls on my shoulders. I'm going to take every bit of it and figure out a way that we do differently, hopefully on Saturday."
Gabe Brown leads Michigan State in scoring (12.8 points) while averaging 4.4 rebounds. Malik Hall averages 10.1 points and 4.8 rebounds. He shoots 53.5 percent from three-point range.
Nine Spartans average at least 13.3 minutes a game.
"They compete," Woodson says. "They play hard. That's a big part of it."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Forget speculation, drama and intrigue. Mike Woodson remains locked in big-picture basketball mode.
Think NCAA Tournament.
"We have seven games left," Indiana's coach says. "We basically control our destiny. We have to win out."
While Hoosier Nation continues to buzz about suspension talk, beating No. 17 Michigan State dominates Hoosier thoughts.
Saturday's game is the first of three straight cracks at top-20 teams, joining No. 14 Wisconsin on Tuesday and No. 16 Ohio State on Feb. 21.
It's a formidable challenge at any time, let alone with the Hoosiers (16-7 overall, 7-6 in the Big Ten) facing a two-game losing streak against a team that is 22-2 against them at the Breslin Center since 1991.
Still, IU has already beaten No. 3 Purdue and Ohio State this season, plus ACC co-leader Notre Dame, and was a just few plays away from winning at Wisconsin.
"We can beat any team in the Big Ten if we commit ourselves," Woodson says. "The Big Ten has shown that this season, anybody can beat anybody. We've got to be committed for 40 minutes."
Commitment starts with a suspension-free roster. IU is back at full strength -- with the exception of injured guard Rob Phinisee.
Guards Xavier Johnson, Parker Stewart, Khristian Lander and Tamar Bates, and center Michael Durr are back in the rotation, although to what extent remains uncertain after their suspension for the Northwestern game over a violation of team rules (breaking curfew).
"I will make a decision in terms of where I go as far as the starting lineup," Woodson says. "(Thursday's) practice was a good one considering what happened at Northwestern.
"I wasn't very pleased (about the suspensions). I was very disappointed. We came back (on Thursday) and guys were working. We had a productive practice."
Guard Trey Galloway played well in his first college start (13 points, five rebounds and three assists in 37 minutes at Northwestern) just as he has since returning from a wrist injury.
"He's been fantastic," Woodson says. "Coming off the bench he's been great. The first time he got a crack to start, he was phenomenal."
Could that earn him a start at Michigan State?
"It's a thought," Woodson says. "We will make that decision after practice to see where we are. He's played well enough to be in the lineup."
For those wondering how the Hoosiers will handle Woodson's tough love, Johnson tweeted a definitive answer:
"I will respond."
IU continues to lead the Big Ten in defense. At Northwestern, despite playing just six players, it only allowed 59 points.
The problem – the Hoosiers scored just 51, only 21 in the second half as fatigue kicked in.
"Defense hasn't been the problem for us," Woodson says. "Offensively, it's making the long ball and completing plays over the course of the game. We have to find some offense and our defense will have to stay consistent if we're going to beat Michigan State."
Those infatuated with numbers see trouble in the fact that IU attempts just 18.2 three-pointers a game. That ranks near the bottom of the Big Ten.
Woodson again focuses on a bigger truth.
"I'd like to make the threes we're taking," he says. "It's not how many you take, but how many you make. We've got to make them."
As far as Michigan State (17-6, 8-4), IU preparations start with associate head coach Dane Fife, who spent the previous 10 seasons as a Spartan assistant coach under Hall of Famer Tom Izzo.
"This is Dane's scout," Woodson says. "It has to be. He spent most of his time coaching at Michigan State, so what better person would know Izzo and his thinking and the players he coached there?"
Michigan State faces its own two-game losing streak and must-win urgency. The Spartans were battling Illinois and Wisconsin for Big Ten supremacy until losing by 21 at surging Rutgers and then by eight at home against the No. 14 Badgers.
No matter. Woodson understands the challenge.
"They're a solid team," he says. "Izzo has always had good teams."
At its best, Michigan State rebounds ferociously and attacks relentlessly.
"They're pretty good defensively," Woodson says. "They get up in you and make you work to score.
"The thing about their offense is they put so much heat on you when you score. They get it back in as quick as possible, and push it back at you.
"We have to focus on getting back in transition and make sure we're matching to the point they're not running it up our backs. That's going to be a big key."
Michigan State's Wisconsin loss left Izzo was steaming, and he expressed it in the post-game press conference.
"We've got to get better leadership and we have to get better toughness."
The Spartans have thrived under Izzo for many reasons, including the toughness of their play.
He's not seeing that.
"We got to figure out how we're going to get a little tougher, and I haven't had many teams that I had to worry about that with, but I got to worry about that with this team.
"Is it fixable? Yeah, it's fixable. I mean, it's always fixable, but we've got to do a much, much, much better job, so we'll go to work on it, I promise you that."
Izzo wanted to find toughness through old-school coaching, but NCAA rules limit that.
"I can't do most of those things anymore," he said. "You hurt somebody feelings."
Izzo blamed himself more than the players.
"As coaches, we've got to do a better job. That's the bottom line -- we have to do a better job.
"I am putting it all on me. I'm going to figure out a way. I have to do a better job. If the team doesn't play with toughness and the tenacity, that falls on my shoulders. I'm going to take every bit of it and figure out a way that we do differently, hopefully on Saturday."
Gabe Brown leads Michigan State in scoring (12.8 points) while averaging 4.4 rebounds. Malik Hall averages 10.1 points and 4.8 rebounds. He shoots 53.5 percent from three-point range.
Nine Spartans average at least 13.3 minutes a game.
"They compete," Woodson says. "They play hard. That's a big part of it."
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Center
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballFB: Aiden Fisher Media Availability (10/7/25)
Tuesday, October 07
FB: Elijah Sarratt Media Availability (10/7/25)
Tuesday, October 07
FB: Pat Coogan Media Availability (10/7/25)
Tuesday, October 07
Darian DeVries Press Conference
Tuesday, September 30