Indiana University Athletics
Sunday, February 27
Minneapolis, Minn.
6:00 PM
Indiana University
at
Minnesota
Indiana Ready to ‘Keep It Going’
2/27/2022 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Hoosiers understand. They have worked too hard, pushed too long.
Victory can't be an aberration. Not with March approaching. The stakes are too high, the potential reward too great.
Now that the five-game losing streak is over and NCAA tourney hopes restored, Indiana aims to build a winning streak to catapult it to postseason success. That means winning Sunday night at Minnesota, and Wednesday night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall against Rutgers and, perhaps, at rival Purdue on March 5 before the Big Ten tourney arrives with its automatic-bid opportunity.
"We know we have to keep it going," forward Jordan Geronimo says.
Welcome to the aftermath of the Maryland victory, which showed that, for one game at least, the Hoosiers (17-10 overall, 8-9 in the Big Ten) could own crunch time.
"We had a sigh of relief at the end," Geronimo says. "We're happy we finally broke the streak.
"It was short lived. We know we have to get ready for the next game, which is Minnesota."
Indiana players know what has to be done, not so much from their own research as from coach Mike Woodson, who hopes to guide the team into the NCAA tourney for the first time since the 2016 Sweet Sixteen run.
The losing streak dropped IU from what seemed a much-anticipated near lock to make the tourney to unwanted bubble status.
"I wouldn't say we pay attention to it," guard Anthony Leal says, "but Coach Woody has laid out the road map for the rest of the season and what our expectations are realistically if we want to make the tournament.
"We are all mindful of it and know we need to win more games."
In beating Maryland Thursday night, the Hoosiers played with urgency and crunch-time toughness.
"Losing sucks," Leal says. "Losing five in a row is not what we want to do. To make it six would not have been okay. We really locked in to protect home court. We put together 40 minutes.
"We've all struggled, but we've been able to stay together and stay committed to our goal we set in June and July."
Against Maryland, Indiana delivered crisp second-half offensive execution (highlighted by guard Xavier Johnson's season-best 24-point night), something that it lacked during the losing streak.
What was the difference?
"Ball movement and hitting shots," Leal says. "The game X had was great.
"It was defense to offense. Getting stops and going on runs.
"We were moving the ball and making the extra pass. It's contagious. It gets everybody in the mood to keep going. We had spacing and confidence and were able to get it done."
No one got it done quite like Geronimo in his are-you-kidding-me moment. His attempt at trying to rebound Race Thompson's missed free throw ended up in an improbable basket. He smacked the ball to the floor. It bounced high in the air and dropped through the basket.
Two points, Geronimo.
"I had never done anything like that before," he says. "The ball went up, and when they boxed me out -- I have long arms and can really reach over -- the ball was at a point where I could get it and the guy was still boxing me out.
"I couldn't really grab it, so I smacked it. The ball went off the floor and I saw the arc, and thought, 'It might be good.' Then it dropped in. I thought, I'll take my two points, and get back on defense."
Adds Leal: That was crazy. It was nuts. And the next play, Maryland hit a three that bounced up and basically did the same thing.
"We were on the bench, asking, 'Did that just happen?' It was like a practice thing playing H-O-R-S-E. I don't think he meant to do it, but it worked."
It was the latest example of Geronimo making a play any way possible, even if it seems impossible.
"That's reason I smacked the ball. I was trying to create an opportunity. If I couldn't grab it, just smack it off the floor."
As for Minnesota (13-13, 4-13), it has struggled in the coaching transition from Richard Pitino to Ben Johnson, although it did nearly upset Wisconsin last week, losing 68-67.
The Gophers, 8-6 at home this season, will ramp up the intensity by recognizing their eight seniors as part of Fan Appreciation Night.
They are led by forward Jamison Battle (16.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 61 three-pointers) and guard Payton Willis (15.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 60 three-pointers).
IU won the first meeting in January, 73-60, as five Hoosiers scored in double figures.
This will be the Hoosiers' third game in seven days.
Could fatigue be a problem?
Not a chance, Geronimo says.
"Coach Woodson stressed we get treatment after every practice to keep our bodies healthy and our minds right. It's important to stay healthy. People are getting into steam room and getting into the cold tank and doing everything to keep their bodies loose. These next couple of games are really important."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Hoosiers understand. They have worked too hard, pushed too long.
Victory can't be an aberration. Not with March approaching. The stakes are too high, the potential reward too great.
Now that the five-game losing streak is over and NCAA tourney hopes restored, Indiana aims to build a winning streak to catapult it to postseason success. That means winning Sunday night at Minnesota, and Wednesday night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall against Rutgers and, perhaps, at rival Purdue on March 5 before the Big Ten tourney arrives with its automatic-bid opportunity.
"We know we have to keep it going," forward Jordan Geronimo says.
Welcome to the aftermath of the Maryland victory, which showed that, for one game at least, the Hoosiers (17-10 overall, 8-9 in the Big Ten) could own crunch time.
"We had a sigh of relief at the end," Geronimo says. "We're happy we finally broke the streak.
"It was short lived. We know we have to get ready for the next game, which is Minnesota."
Indiana players know what has to be done, not so much from their own research as from coach Mike Woodson, who hopes to guide the team into the NCAA tourney for the first time since the 2016 Sweet Sixteen run.
The losing streak dropped IU from what seemed a much-anticipated near lock to make the tourney to unwanted bubble status.
"I wouldn't say we pay attention to it," guard Anthony Leal says, "but Coach Woody has laid out the road map for the rest of the season and what our expectations are realistically if we want to make the tournament.
"We are all mindful of it and know we need to win more games."
In beating Maryland Thursday night, the Hoosiers played with urgency and crunch-time toughness.
"Losing sucks," Leal says. "Losing five in a row is not what we want to do. To make it six would not have been okay. We really locked in to protect home court. We put together 40 minutes.
"We've all struggled, but we've been able to stay together and stay committed to our goal we set in June and July."
Against Maryland, Indiana delivered crisp second-half offensive execution (highlighted by guard Xavier Johnson's season-best 24-point night), something that it lacked during the losing streak.
What was the difference?
"Ball movement and hitting shots," Leal says. "The game X had was great.
"It was defense to offense. Getting stops and going on runs.
"We were moving the ball and making the extra pass. It's contagious. It gets everybody in the mood to keep going. We had spacing and confidence and were able to get it done."
No one got it done quite like Geronimo in his are-you-kidding-me moment. His attempt at trying to rebound Race Thompson's missed free throw ended up in an improbable basket. He smacked the ball to the floor. It bounced high in the air and dropped through the basket.
Two points, Geronimo.
"I had never done anything like that before," he says. "The ball went up, and when they boxed me out -- I have long arms and can really reach over -- the ball was at a point where I could get it and the guy was still boxing me out.
"I couldn't really grab it, so I smacked it. The ball went off the floor and I saw the arc, and thought, 'It might be good.' Then it dropped in. I thought, I'll take my two points, and get back on defense."
Adds Leal: That was crazy. It was nuts. And the next play, Maryland hit a three that bounced up and basically did the same thing.
"We were on the bench, asking, 'Did that just happen?' It was like a practice thing playing H-O-R-S-E. I don't think he meant to do it, but it worked."
It was the latest example of Geronimo making a play any way possible, even if it seems impossible.
"That's reason I smacked the ball. I was trying to create an opportunity. If I couldn't grab it, just smack it off the floor."
As for Minnesota (13-13, 4-13), it has struggled in the coaching transition from Richard Pitino to Ben Johnson, although it did nearly upset Wisconsin last week, losing 68-67.
The Gophers, 8-6 at home this season, will ramp up the intensity by recognizing their eight seniors as part of Fan Appreciation Night.
They are led by forward Jamison Battle (16.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 61 three-pointers) and guard Payton Willis (15.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 60 three-pointers).
IU won the first meeting in January, 73-60, as five Hoosiers scored in double figures.
This will be the Hoosiers' third game in seven days.
Could fatigue be a problem?
Not a chance, Geronimo says.
"Coach Woodson stressed we get treatment after every practice to keep our bodies healthy and our minds right. It's important to stay healthy. People are getting into steam room and getting into the cold tank and doing everything to keep their bodies loose. These next couple of games are really important."
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballIUBB Postgame Press Conference
Friday, October 17
Darian DeVries Postgame Press Conference
Friday, October 17
MBB: Marian (Exhib.) - Postgame Press Conference
Friday, October 17
Darian DeVries Pregame Press Conference
Thursday, October 16