Wednesday, January 25
Minneapolis, Minn.
9:00 PM
Indiana University
at
Minnesota
Unstoppable – Jackson-Davis Playing at Elite Level
1/25/2023 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Sports cliché says it ain't bragging if you back it up.
You'd better believe Trayce Jackson-Davis -- in this run of are-you-kidding-me dominance -- backs it up.
"I feel there's not a person in the country who can honestly guard me," Indiana's All-America senior forward says.
Dishonest guarding also might not work. The awards and numbers coming in machine-gun fashion are almost cartoonish good.
After averaging 33.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.0 blocks in victories over Illinois and Michigan State, the 6-9 Jackson-Davis was named the Naismith Trophy Player of the Week, the ESPN.com Player of the Week and the NCAA March Madness Player of the Week.
Then the Big Ten named him its player of the week.
Consider in the last 25 seasons, Jackson-Davis is the only NCAA Division I player to total at least 65 points, 20 rebounds, nine blocks and eight assists in a two-game stretch.
Also consider that when he burned Illinois for 35 points (on 15-for-19 shooting), nine rebounds, five assists and three blocks, he joined LSU's Ben Simmons as the only high-major players to have that kind of stat line in decades.
Want more? In the last six games, Jackson-Davis averages 24.2 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 3.7 blocks. He has grabbed at least nine rebounds in six straight games.
His 35 points at Illinois were the sixth-most ever by a Hoosier on the road. Only Alan Henderson (41 at Michigan State), Bracey Wright (39 at North Texas), Steve Alford (38 at Wisconsin), Damon Bailey (36 at Kansas) and Jay Edwards (36 at Minnesota) have scored more in a road game.
That doesn't count his earlier triple-double against Nebraska (12 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists), just the third in men's program history, or the fact he's tied with Jeff Newton for IU's career blocked shot record (227). For the season, he averages 19.4 points and 10.1 rebounds with a Big Ten-leading 49 blocked shots.
Jackson-Davis is playing his way into Big Ten MVP favorite status that once seemed a lock for Purdue's Zach Edey. Only six Hoosiers have won the award since it became official in 1985 -- Edwards (1989), Calbert Cheaney (1993), Brian Evans (1996), A.J. Guyton (2000), Jared Jeffries (2002) and D.J. White (2007).
As Michigan State coach Tom Izzo says, "Trayce is playing his best basketball."
Forward Race Thompson won't argue.
"He's playing similar to what he did in the NCAA Tournament last year. He was very dominant then.
"Now that he's healthy, he can do it every day. He has to listen to his body and keep playing at a high level. When he does, it makes it easier for everybody else."
Jackson-Davis plays almost every minute of the game, and when coach Mike Woodson pulls him for a quick breather, it almost causes an argument.
He plays when his back bothers him so much, he can't practice. He plays when he's up to 90% full health, which he is now. He scores, blocks shots, alters shots, passes, rebounds, handles the ball, starts fastbreaks, makes free throws, and leads by word and deed.
Jackson-Davis does everything except sing the National Anthem, and maybe that's next.
"There's nothing the guy can't do on the basketball floor," Woodson says. "He's a beautiful player to watch."
Guard Trey Galloway sees that beauty every day. He's witnessed Jackson-Davis' rise from good to great.
"It's special," Galloway says. "Just the improvement that he's made from last year, taking the pressure and handling it so well."
That includes responding with poise and maturity when Hoosier Nation criticism hits hard and personal.
"Our backs were against the wall early in the Big Ten season and he stayed composed," Galloway says. "I know he was hurting, and he battled through that. Now, he's healthy, and it's showing. It's incredible to watch him perform like this."
Credit an improved back that no longer limits him. Mid-December was the worst of it.
"The biggest thing for me is getting healthier," he says. "Being able to practice and get touches on the floor, running up and down and getting reacquainted with my teammates. That's big for me."
A three-game winning streak has boosted IU (13-6 overall, 4-4 in the Big Ten) within range of a top-25 return. It comes in at No. 27 in the AP poll and has an opportunity to move up with Wednesday night's game at Minnesota (7-11, 1-7) and Saturday night's home contest against Ohio State (11-9, 3-6).
Defense fuels the streak. The Hoosiers have allowed 45, 65, and 69 points in their last three games after giving up at least 84 points in their five previous games against high-major teams.
"We have players who can score at will," Thompson says. "If we can be sound on defense, we'll be in every game with a chance to win."
Why the improvement?
"It's the fight in practice," Thompson says. "In these last couple of games, the intensity has picked up. The focus has been better. We're competing in practice every day. It's making everybody better."
Thompson is back after missing four games with a knee injury. He played four minutes in Sunday's win over Michigan State. Jordan Geronimo has been a force since replacing him in the starting lineup.
"It shows we're a deep team," Thompson says. "Jordan is playing really well. I'm happy for him. I'm texting him all the time.
"Now that he's coming into his own, none of us are surprised. I guard him every day. I've seen it. Coach has seen it. He's earned the right to play that much. I have to work to get back some of those minutes. Hopefully, he can keep that up."
Wednesday's game will be a homecoming for Thompson, who is from the Minneapolis area.
"I have a ton of family coming in, maybe 50 to 60 people. It means a little more to me."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Sports cliché says it ain't bragging if you back it up.
You'd better believe Trayce Jackson-Davis -- in this run of are-you-kidding-me dominance -- backs it up.
"I feel there's not a person in the country who can honestly guard me," Indiana's All-America senior forward says.
Dishonest guarding also might not work. The awards and numbers coming in machine-gun fashion are almost cartoonish good.
After averaging 33.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.0 blocks in victories over Illinois and Michigan State, the 6-9 Jackson-Davis was named the Naismith Trophy Player of the Week, the ESPN.com Player of the Week and the NCAA March Madness Player of the Week.
Then the Big Ten named him its player of the week.
Consider in the last 25 seasons, Jackson-Davis is the only NCAA Division I player to total at least 65 points, 20 rebounds, nine blocks and eight assists in a two-game stretch.
Also consider that when he burned Illinois for 35 points (on 15-for-19 shooting), nine rebounds, five assists and three blocks, he joined LSU's Ben Simmons as the only high-major players to have that kind of stat line in decades.
Want more? In the last six games, Jackson-Davis averages 24.2 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 3.7 blocks. He has grabbed at least nine rebounds in six straight games.
His 35 points at Illinois were the sixth-most ever by a Hoosier on the road. Only Alan Henderson (41 at Michigan State), Bracey Wright (39 at North Texas), Steve Alford (38 at Wisconsin), Damon Bailey (36 at Kansas) and Jay Edwards (36 at Minnesota) have scored more in a road game.
That doesn't count his earlier triple-double against Nebraska (12 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists), just the third in men's program history, or the fact he's tied with Jeff Newton for IU's career blocked shot record (227). For the season, he averages 19.4 points and 10.1 rebounds with a Big Ten-leading 49 blocked shots.
Jackson-Davis is playing his way into Big Ten MVP favorite status that once seemed a lock for Purdue's Zach Edey. Only six Hoosiers have won the award since it became official in 1985 -- Edwards (1989), Calbert Cheaney (1993), Brian Evans (1996), A.J. Guyton (2000), Jared Jeffries (2002) and D.J. White (2007).
As Michigan State coach Tom Izzo says, "Trayce is playing his best basketball."
Forward Race Thompson won't argue.
"He's playing similar to what he did in the NCAA Tournament last year. He was very dominant then.
"Now that he's healthy, he can do it every day. He has to listen to his body and keep playing at a high level. When he does, it makes it easier for everybody else."
Jackson-Davis plays almost every minute of the game, and when coach Mike Woodson pulls him for a quick breather, it almost causes an argument.
He plays when his back bothers him so much, he can't practice. He plays when he's up to 90% full health, which he is now. He scores, blocks shots, alters shots, passes, rebounds, handles the ball, starts fastbreaks, makes free throws, and leads by word and deed.
Jackson-Davis does everything except sing the National Anthem, and maybe that's next.
"There's nothing the guy can't do on the basketball floor," Woodson says. "He's a beautiful player to watch."
Guard Trey Galloway sees that beauty every day. He's witnessed Jackson-Davis' rise from good to great.
"It's special," Galloway says. "Just the improvement that he's made from last year, taking the pressure and handling it so well."
That includes responding with poise and maturity when Hoosier Nation criticism hits hard and personal.
"Our backs were against the wall early in the Big Ten season and he stayed composed," Galloway says. "I know he was hurting, and he battled through that. Now, he's healthy, and it's showing. It's incredible to watch him perform like this."
Credit an improved back that no longer limits him. Mid-December was the worst of it.
"The biggest thing for me is getting healthier," he says. "Being able to practice and get touches on the floor, running up and down and getting reacquainted with my teammates. That's big for me."
A three-game winning streak has boosted IU (13-6 overall, 4-4 in the Big Ten) within range of a top-25 return. It comes in at No. 27 in the AP poll and has an opportunity to move up with Wednesday night's game at Minnesota (7-11, 1-7) and Saturday night's home contest against Ohio State (11-9, 3-6).
Defense fuels the streak. The Hoosiers have allowed 45, 65, and 69 points in their last three games after giving up at least 84 points in their five previous games against high-major teams.
"We have players who can score at will," Thompson says. "If we can be sound on defense, we'll be in every game with a chance to win."
Why the improvement?
"It's the fight in practice," Thompson says. "In these last couple of games, the intensity has picked up. The focus has been better. We're competing in practice every day. It's making everybody better."
Thompson is back after missing four games with a knee injury. He played four minutes in Sunday's win over Michigan State. Jordan Geronimo has been a force since replacing him in the starting lineup.
"It shows we're a deep team," Thompson says. "Jordan is playing really well. I'm happy for him. I'm texting him all the time.
"Now that he's coming into his own, none of us are surprised. I guard him every day. I've seen it. Coach has seen it. He's earned the right to play that much. I have to work to get back some of those minutes. Hopefully, he can keep that up."
Wednesday's game will be a homecoming for Thompson, who is from the Minneapolis area.
"I have a ton of family coming in, maybe 50 to 60 people. It means a little more to me."
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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