Time To Click – Bench Could Have Huge Role at Purdue

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Big Ten road is not kind. That's not a news flash. Indiana's 4-7 road struggles are mirrored by every conference team.

See No. 21 Northwestern blowing an 18-point halftime lead to lose at Illinois 66-62 Thursday night as the latest example.

The No. 17 Hoosiers (19-9 overall, 10-7 in the Big Ten) figure to get a heavy dose of Mackey Arena unkindness on Saturday night when they play at No. 5 Purdue (24-4, 13-4).

IU is tied with Illinois (10-7), Maryland (10-7) and Michigan (10-7) in the conference standings behind Purdue and Northwestern (11-6). Michigan State (9-7) is right behind.

The Boilers can clinch a share of the regular-season title with a victory.

The Hoosiers need more from their bench and basically everyone not named Trayce Jackson-Davis and, to a lesser extent, Jalen Hood-Schifino. That lack of production was a big factor in IU's loss at Michigan State on Tuesday night.

"It's always a concern when you go on the road," coach Mike Woodson says. "You want everybody clicking.

"I wish I knew what the formula was to get us feeling good about the road. It's not just our team. There are a lot of teams in the Big Ten that struggle on the road."

Offense is a big problem. In its last four road games, IU is 1-3 and averages 61.0 points while allowing 67.8. In its last four home games, it is 4-0 and averages 75.5 points while allowing 68.0. For the season, it averages 75.4 points and allows 67.4.

"I look at our numbers on the road versus at home," Woodson says. "It's staggering. It's unbelievable. There's a major difference in how we play at home, and when we get out on the road, it's totally the other way."

The good news -- Saturday is the last true road game. After that, IU has home games against Iowa next Tuesday and Michigan on March 5. Then, it's neutral sites for the Big Ten tourney at Chicago's United Center and then the NCAA Tournament.

"We have to go to Chicago," Woodson says. "That's on the road, so some how we're going to have to figure it out."

As far as who could provide offensive sparks, consider guards Trey Galloway and Tamar Bates, and forward Malik Reneau. All three have shown flashes of major contributions.

Forward Miller Kopp, who averages 8.0 points and who has 213 career three-pointers, also is capable of more offensive production. He shoots 46.8% from 3-point range (52-for-111).

Galloway, a team-leading 50.0% 3-point shooter (24-for-48), has totaled as many as 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. As a starter, he averages 7.1 points and 2.9 rebounds, 7.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists. He's started 18 games, including the last 13.

He scored 11 points at Michigan State after scoring a combined 17 points in his previous four games.

Bates has had as many as 22 points, four assists and four rebounds, but in his last four games, he has just four total points on 1-for-14 shooting. In three of those games, he didn't score at all. He averages 6.7 points and 1.8 rebounds.

"All of our guys, when they're open, should let it fly," Jackson-Davis says. "Trey is shooting 50 percent from three. When you've got a guy like that, he has to get shots. It's the same with Miller. We need them to space the floor. I want them, if they're open, to always let it fly. We need them playing at a high level."

Reneau has scored as many as 15 points and grabbed as many as eight rebounds. He averages 6.5 points and 3.6 rebounds.

"Malik is sometimes a little out of control, gets happy and fouls too much," Jackson-Davis says. "At the beginning of a year at Xavier, he played down the stretch. That was one of the most hostile environments we played in, and he played well (12 points, six rebounds).

"He can't get in his own head. When he has a clear head, he's a great player. It's the same with Tamar. Sometimes he gets a little sped up and tries to do too much. When he's open, he'll hit shots."

The bottom line for good road play, Jackson-Davis says, is, "Play under control at your own pace. Don't let the game or the other team speed you up."

Meanwhile, the battle between the 6-9 Jackson-Davis and Purdue's 7-4 Zach Edey will bring must-see spectacle similar to what happened in January's first meeting, a 79-74 IU victory at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Edey dominated the second half and finished with 33 points, 18 rebounds, three blocks and five turnovers in 32 minutes. Jackson-Davis had 25 points, seven rebounds and five blocks.

For the season, Edey averages 22.1 points and 12.7 rebounds. He has 64 blocks. He shoots 61.9% from the field.

Jackson-Davis averages 20.5 points and 11.1 rebounds while shooting 57.5% from the field. He has 73 blocks and 91 assists.

Woodson can't wait to see the matchup.

"It's competition. I love it. As a coach, that's what I live for. There's so much talent in college basketball. In the NBA, that was full-blown with talent. You'd just marvel at guys."

Expect plenty of marveling on Saturday night.

"There were a lot of people tuned into that first matchup," Woodson says. "They both played extremely well. I think it's going to be the same thing come Saturday."

Jackson-Davis embraces the challenge.

"Zach is a great player. Obviously, he's huge. He's hard to defend, especially if he catches it on the blocks. The biggest thing for me is try to push him out.

"When we did that and got our double team there, that's when we had success. You want to push him out and not let him catch it deep and make a quick move. When he catches it down there, there's not much you can do. He can go over both shoulders. It's a tough cover."

Injured guard Xavier Johnson is unlikely to play at Purdue, and his return remains uncertain. He's been sidelined since mid-December with a foot injury that required surgery. Woodson says Johnson is doing non-contact individual drills, but has yet to participate in team workouts.

"We haven't been able to get there. We're hoping next week."

Woodson says Johnson will have to show him in practice he can handle contact, cutting, running, jumping and everything else associated with a full return.

"If that's bothering him," Woodson says, "then I don't know if he's going to play.

"He's not doing enough for me to put him on the floor."

Purdue has lost three of its last five games, with all the losses coming on the road, starting with IU. It ends the regular season with a Tuesday trip to Wisconsin and a March 5 home game against Illinois.

The Boilers are 13-1 at home, the only loss coming by one point to Rutgers in early January.

Freshman guards Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith continue to excel. Loyer averages 11.8 points and has 71 assists. Smith averages 10.0 points and 4.3 rebounds with a team-leading 117 assists against 53 turnovers.

The Boilers have six players with at least 20 3-point baskets. Loyer leads with 51.

Time To Click – Bench Could Have Huge Role at Purdue

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Players Mentioned

Tamar Bates

Trey Galloway

Jalen Hood-Schifino

Trayce Jackson-Davis

Xavier Johnson

Miller Kopp

Malik Reneau

Indiana University Athletics