Indiana University Athletics
Sunday, January 8
Bloomington, Ind.
Noon
Indiana University
vs
Northwestern
Forget Rest, Jackson-Davis Focused on Doing What’s Needed
1/8/2023 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Trayce Jackson-Davis takes the heat, the pain, the pressure that comes from being one of the nation's best players, the nagging injuries that won't end, the slings and arrows that are part of college sports, more so in these social-media times when anyone -- including the clueless and mean spirited -- can criticize for the world to see and dominates.
Indiana's All-America senior forward's Thursday night Iowa performance was the latest example of what resilience, talent, resolve, mental toughness and passion can do.
The numbers showed 30 points and nine rebounds in 38-plus minutes. They showed 11-for-20 shooting, 8-for-10 from the line, three assists and three blocks. They showed it was his eighth career 30-point game.
What they didn't show was that Jackson-Davis did this despite not playing in three weeks, despite barely practicing, despite back issues that will only get better with rest he and the No. 15/19 Hoosiers (10-4 overall, 1-2 in the Big Ten) can't afford.
"His game spoke for itself," IU coach Mike Woodson says. "He tried to do everything to help us win. For a guy who hasn't been playing and not able to practice, to give us 30 and nine is pretty damn good."
When Woodson tried to give him a brief second-half rest, Jackson-Davis refused it.
"He didn't want it," Woodson says. "I get it. He was trying his darndest to help us win."
Adds Jackson-Davis: "He was trying to get me a substitution. At the same time, I felt it wasn't the right time. My teammates needed me in the game."
Jackson-Davis was in obvious pain heading to the locker room at halftime. Sitting out the second half wasn't an option.
"I have to play through it, especially when my teammates need me."
The need was big at Iowa, when an early 21-point Hoosier lead morphed into a series of second-half deficits and, ultimately, 91-89 defeat. That the Hawkeyes rallied at home wasn't surprising. That IU couldn't finish was.
"We need to keep our foot on the gas pedal and keep playing fast," Jackson-Davis says.
Iowa coach Fran McCaffery's game plan was to defend Jackson-Davis man to man, with help. When the Hawkeyes switched to a zone, forward Filip Rebraca got the bulk of the responsibility. The result – Rebraca fouled out.
"Trayce is a handful," McCaffery says. "They go to him, which anybody would. You're going to go to him. He's a veteran guy. He has tremendous athletic power, size and strength."
Against Iowa, IU did so many offensive things well, including shooting from the field (54.2 percent) and from three-point range (a season-best 8-for-15).
"Coaches had a great game plan for us," Jackson-Davis says. "I thought we executed it well.
"At the end of the game, we got a little sloppy. We have to be better at the end of the game."
That's especially true on defense. IU allowed 51 second-half points to wipe out all the good from its 50-point first half.
"We didn't play like we did in the first half," Woodson says. "Our defense went the other way."
Now comes Sunday's home game against Northwestern (11-3, 2-1), which has won six of its last seven games, including victories over Michigan State and Illinois. Its Big Ten loss came to Ohio State, 73-57. It's also lost to then-No. 13 Auburn and to Pitt.
Expect another nail-biter.
"Every game in our league is like that," McCaffery said. "You've got to figure out a way to win some of them. A lot of times, it will come down to your veterans and the decisions they make and how they help the young guys."
The Hoosiers will likely be without starters Race Thompson and Xavier Johnson.
Thompson, a senior forward, injured his right leg in Thursday night's first half. Johnson, a senior point guard, is recovering from foot surgery.
"Injuries happen in basketball," Jackson-Davis says. "You have to play through those things.
"Seeing what happened to Race disappoints me. I pray for the best. I hope he's OK."
Adds Woodson: "There's nothing you can do about it. All I can do is wish X and Race speedy recoveries. Until they get back, other guys have to step up. I have to help them get there."
On Thursday night, that meant junior Jordan Geronimo (nine points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 18 minutes) and freshman Malik Reneau (no points, no rebounds in six minutes).
For Northwestern, guard Chase Audige averages a team-leading 15.8 points. He's coming off a 21-point effort in the Illinois victory. Guard Boo Buje averages 13.9 points.
The Wildcats average 67.7 points per game, and allow 57.2.
IU, which opened the season as Big Ten favorite, needs a victory to stay within range of conference leaders Wisconsin and Michigan, both 3-0.
"The great thing about Big Ten basketball is you get another opportunity real soon," Jackson-Davis says. "We have Northwestern at Assembly Hall. We need to prepare for them. They're a really good team and really hot right now."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Trayce Jackson-Davis takes the heat, the pain, the pressure that comes from being one of the nation's best players, the nagging injuries that won't end, the slings and arrows that are part of college sports, more so in these social-media times when anyone -- including the clueless and mean spirited -- can criticize for the world to see and dominates.
Indiana's All-America senior forward's Thursday night Iowa performance was the latest example of what resilience, talent, resolve, mental toughness and passion can do.
The numbers showed 30 points and nine rebounds in 38-plus minutes. They showed 11-for-20 shooting, 8-for-10 from the line, three assists and three blocks. They showed it was his eighth career 30-point game.
What they didn't show was that Jackson-Davis did this despite not playing in three weeks, despite barely practicing, despite back issues that will only get better with rest he and the No. 15/19 Hoosiers (10-4 overall, 1-2 in the Big Ten) can't afford.
"His game spoke for itself," IU coach Mike Woodson says. "He tried to do everything to help us win. For a guy who hasn't been playing and not able to practice, to give us 30 and nine is pretty damn good."
When Woodson tried to give him a brief second-half rest, Jackson-Davis refused it.
"He didn't want it," Woodson says. "I get it. He was trying his darndest to help us win."
Adds Jackson-Davis: "He was trying to get me a substitution. At the same time, I felt it wasn't the right time. My teammates needed me in the game."
Jackson-Davis was in obvious pain heading to the locker room at halftime. Sitting out the second half wasn't an option.
"I have to play through it, especially when my teammates need me."
The need was big at Iowa, when an early 21-point Hoosier lead morphed into a series of second-half deficits and, ultimately, 91-89 defeat. That the Hawkeyes rallied at home wasn't surprising. That IU couldn't finish was.
"We need to keep our foot on the gas pedal and keep playing fast," Jackson-Davis says.
Iowa coach Fran McCaffery's game plan was to defend Jackson-Davis man to man, with help. When the Hawkeyes switched to a zone, forward Filip Rebraca got the bulk of the responsibility. The result – Rebraca fouled out.
"Trayce is a handful," McCaffery says. "They go to him, which anybody would. You're going to go to him. He's a veteran guy. He has tremendous athletic power, size and strength."
Against Iowa, IU did so many offensive things well, including shooting from the field (54.2 percent) and from three-point range (a season-best 8-for-15).
"Coaches had a great game plan for us," Jackson-Davis says. "I thought we executed it well.
"At the end of the game, we got a little sloppy. We have to be better at the end of the game."
That's especially true on defense. IU allowed 51 second-half points to wipe out all the good from its 50-point first half.
"We didn't play like we did in the first half," Woodson says. "Our defense went the other way."
Now comes Sunday's home game against Northwestern (11-3, 2-1), which has won six of its last seven games, including victories over Michigan State and Illinois. Its Big Ten loss came to Ohio State, 73-57. It's also lost to then-No. 13 Auburn and to Pitt.
Expect another nail-biter.
"Every game in our league is like that," McCaffery said. "You've got to figure out a way to win some of them. A lot of times, it will come down to your veterans and the decisions they make and how they help the young guys."
The Hoosiers will likely be without starters Race Thompson and Xavier Johnson.
Thompson, a senior forward, injured his right leg in Thursday night's first half. Johnson, a senior point guard, is recovering from foot surgery.
"Injuries happen in basketball," Jackson-Davis says. "You have to play through those things.
"Seeing what happened to Race disappoints me. I pray for the best. I hope he's OK."
Adds Woodson: "There's nothing you can do about it. All I can do is wish X and Race speedy recoveries. Until they get back, other guys have to step up. I have to help them get there."
On Thursday night, that meant junior Jordan Geronimo (nine points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 18 minutes) and freshman Malik Reneau (no points, no rebounds in six minutes).
For Northwestern, guard Chase Audige averages a team-leading 15.8 points. He's coming off a 21-point effort in the Illinois victory. Guard Boo Buje averages 13.9 points.
The Wildcats average 67.7 points per game, and allow 57.2.
IU, which opened the season as Big Ten favorite, needs a victory to stay within range of conference leaders Wisconsin and Michigan, both 3-0.
"The great thing about Big Ten basketball is you get another opportunity real soon," Jackson-Davis says. "We have Northwestern at Assembly Hall. We need to prepare for them. They're a really good team and really hot right now."
Players Mentioned
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