Indiana University Athletics
#IUBB Media Availability – March 12
3/12/2023 9:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Below are full transcripts of the Zoom press conferences with Indiana head coach Mike Woodson, senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, and sixth-year senior Race Thompson on Sunday, March 12, 2023.
MIKE WOODSON | HEAD COACH
Q. On making the tournament…
WOODSON: I just went in and told our team I couldn't be more proud of a group of guys. This is so new to me, again, being here over a year and a half now into this job, a few guys from last season made a major jump this year.
We had to play in a game to get into the tournament -- and fourth seed. I couldn't be more proud of a group of guys but that being said we got a lot of basketball left and we drew a great team I think in Kent State who has had a hell of a season, as well, that's well-coached. I don't know a whole lot about them, but I'll start today my process in terms of trying to put a game plan together to play those guys.
Q. On getting rest this time of year…
WOODSON: Well, I think rest, coming off the Big Ten Tournament gives us an opportunity to rest some legs and get everybody mentally focused on what the task is ahead of us.
You know, tomorrow, we'll come in and break down starting today, really, break down Kent State and get ready, I don't mean. There's a lot that goes into preparing for an NCAA Tournament game. The opposing team, they are doing all their prep work on us, and we've just got to make sure that we're in tune as a team when we step out on that floor Friday that we are ready to go.
Q. On learning from last season's tournament…
WOODSON: Again, you know, I thought we played well against Wyoming. The trip was kind of crazy, getting out to Portland, but I never want to use that as an excuse.
Just we looked very lethargic and sluggish against St. Mary's, and that's not taking anything away from them because they had a hell of a season last season and they have had a great season this season.
So, we got beat by a good team that was well-coached and you know, I've got to think that this year, these guys who was with us last season, they tasted it, just like the Big Ten Tournament, we tasted it last season and I just couldn't get us over the hump. Penn State played extremely well, but now that's behind us, seniors that we have, they are going to have to step up, Race and Miller and Trayce, and really help guide and push this team through, because that's what it's going to take, and the supporting cast has got to be ready to play when called upon to give all they got as well, because that's what it's going to take.
Each and every game you go out, it's a game of inches in tournament play. I can relate back to when I was in college. We lost to Villanova at the buzzer after being up the whole game. I mean, nobody wants to go home in March Madness, and I get it. That's why you've got to be ready to play every minute, every second of every game that you get an opportunity to play.
Q. On the quick turnaround of tournament formats…
WOODSON: It was shorter last season, when you think about what we had to go through to get where we got. But we do have three days. We don't play until Friday, so we'll have four days, really, to get ready for our opponent, and that's enough time, I think.
So, we've just got to come committed tomorrow. We'll let them sleep in and then we'll have a late practice tomorrow, and then we'll get going on Kent State.
Q. On the Indiana ties in the Midwest Regional…
WOODSON: I mean, I met Kelvin Sampson. I came back and I spoke to the team briefly. But the assistant coach, no. I'm sure I probably met him if he was here in passing, but I couldn't tell you who he is or anything like that.
Q. On playing outside the Big Ten Conference…
WOODSON: It can be a tough cover but make no mistake: Kent State will do their homework on our ballclub. That's what we do as a coach and coaching staff.
At the end of the day, he's still going to be double-teamed like he has been all season because of the fact that he's good at what he does in terms of putting the ball in the hole and making plays for people around him.
So, I don't see that changing, so I've got to prepare for that throughout the tournament. I mean, if we advance, which you know, it's going to take a lot of hard work to advance. I mean, that's what tournament play is about, trying to advance. Each game is a journey. You know, even though we haven't played this team before, they are not in our conference. They will do their homework on our team as well as us doing our homework on them.
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS | SENIOR FORWARD
Q. On Malik Reneau…
JACKSON-DAVIS: Malik came in strong, playing against some of the mid-major schools. He kind of hit a slump in the middle of the season, but I think since late January, he's just turned it back up. He's playing really, well, playing really, really confident and I just think that's his work ethic. I think that's the way he takes things in practice going against me every day.
I'm proud of him and I know he's ready to get back out there. He's a big spark for us off the bench. He just needs to keep doing what he's doing.
Q. On preparing for a new team…
JACKSON-DAVIS: Nothing really changes, honestly. From the beginning of the year, we scouted every team the same, whether it be a mid-major in the beginning of the year, out of conference opponent like North Carolina, or Purdue coming in on our home floor. We take our scouting very seriously. The assistant scouts do a great job.
We have three days to prepare, and we are going to do -- we are going to see what they are doing, and then we've just got to go out and execute, and what the coaches are doing, we have to perform.
We are not going to take them lightly. They are a great team. Obviously, they are here for a reason, so we've got to play basketball.
Q. On the veteran leadership…
JACKSON-DAVIS: The way that I think about it, I don't think of our younger guys as young anymore. Jalen Hood-Schifino has played a whole season. Same with Malik Reneau, Kaleb Banks, and CJ Gunn. They might maybe need a little more guidance, but stuff of that nature, people that are in the eight-man rotation, we are all on the same page. We hold each other accountable, and it's going to take all of us. Me and Race will be there for guidance.
But at the same time everyone needs to hold each other accountable, and everyone needs to be on the same page if we are going to make a run. You can't have two guys doing it. It's got to be a whole team thing. We win and lose as a team, but we are going to be at the head of the snake, but at the same time, it's going to take everyone, Xavier on the bench, coaches, everyone, all the way down the line. So, I think that's the biggest thing for us.
Q. On keeping the effort level high…
JACKSON-DAVIS: I think it's just on the offensive end. We need to play more confident. I feel like when we play confident on offense, everything else is easy flowing. I mean, we're pretty good on the defensive end of the floor but we can't play tentative. We can't pass up shots.
We have to be confident. We have worked on this. We have worked to get to this moment. All throughout the summer we were shooting shots and we got a lot of good shooters on our team, and they have just got to let it go. I think that's the biggest thing for us.
Q. On last season's tournament run…
JACKSON-DAVIS: I think the biggest thing that I take from it is just the preparation. Just how quickly the games are, even though we didn't get -- we didn't win our first actual game in the tournament, we would have played like within two days. But we did it with Dayton on Tuesday, and then going on Thursday and playing, or Friday, whenever that was.
So, it's the turnaround for me. I think the turnaround is the biggest thing. We have to be ready and locked in for the game, and then afterwards, we have to be extremely prepared for the next team. So, I think that's huge for us; it's the preparation aspect for me.
Q. On Tamar Bates…
JACKSON-DAVIS: Tamar is huge for us, especially against Maryland, he really came on and I think that was his coming-out party honestly. He's had a few games, but just trying to string games together is the biggest thing for him. He doesn't lack any confidence. He hasn't ever seen a shot that he doesn't like.
So, he is going to help us a lot. He's going to help us with spacing, and his energy is really contagious. He's always talking, and he's really blossoming and I'm very proud of him.
RACE THOMPSON | REDSHIRT SENIOR FORWARD
Q. On getting a taste of the tournament…
THOMPSON: We worked all summer, all year, for this, last year being a play-in game, we kind of got a taste of it, and then going to play St. Mary's. It's like, we got a taste.
I think this whole year, feeling that, and just going into practice every day preparing to really play for the NCAA Tournament, just the want to be able to play deeper into the tournament is something that's pushed us every single day.
Q. On the opportunity…
THOMPSON: That's what it's all about. In the past, my time here, we haven't really had this opportunity beside last year, so I mean, it's just like -- almost like a new thing for all of us, and for me and Trayce going out like this -- one-and-done, there's no doubt in my mind that every single game I'm leaving it out on the court, and I have no doubt -- I bet everybody else will do the same. Yeah, just really excited overall.
Q. On upping the effort level…
THOMPSON: I think just holding each other accountable. That's something we have gotten better at throughout the year, and I think that if somebody gets on somebody, we know it's not personal.
It's just because we want best for each other, so really just holding each other accountable, and again, just knowing that this could be your last game in an Indiana uniform, I don't see that happening.
So yeah, that's basically it.
Q. On last season's tournament run…
THOMPSON: The preparation, the mental focus that you have to have going into each game. It's not like you have three or four days to prepare. You have almost a day and a half, and then you've got to go play. And then again after the games, it's such a quick turnaround, you have to really take care of your body. I think those are the two main things for me.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
MIKE WOODSON | HEAD COACH
Q. On making the tournament…
WOODSON: I just went in and told our team I couldn't be more proud of a group of guys. This is so new to me, again, being here over a year and a half now into this job, a few guys from last season made a major jump this year.
We had to play in a game to get into the tournament -- and fourth seed. I couldn't be more proud of a group of guys but that being said we got a lot of basketball left and we drew a great team I think in Kent State who has had a hell of a season, as well, that's well-coached. I don't know a whole lot about them, but I'll start today my process in terms of trying to put a game plan together to play those guys.
Q. On getting rest this time of year…
WOODSON: Well, I think rest, coming off the Big Ten Tournament gives us an opportunity to rest some legs and get everybody mentally focused on what the task is ahead of us.
You know, tomorrow, we'll come in and break down starting today, really, break down Kent State and get ready, I don't mean. There's a lot that goes into preparing for an NCAA Tournament game. The opposing team, they are doing all their prep work on us, and we've just got to make sure that we're in tune as a team when we step out on that floor Friday that we are ready to go.
Q. On learning from last season's tournament…
WOODSON: Again, you know, I thought we played well against Wyoming. The trip was kind of crazy, getting out to Portland, but I never want to use that as an excuse.
Just we looked very lethargic and sluggish against St. Mary's, and that's not taking anything away from them because they had a hell of a season last season and they have had a great season this season.
So, we got beat by a good team that was well-coached and you know, I've got to think that this year, these guys who was with us last season, they tasted it, just like the Big Ten Tournament, we tasted it last season and I just couldn't get us over the hump. Penn State played extremely well, but now that's behind us, seniors that we have, they are going to have to step up, Race and Miller and Trayce, and really help guide and push this team through, because that's what it's going to take, and the supporting cast has got to be ready to play when called upon to give all they got as well, because that's what it's going to take.
Each and every game you go out, it's a game of inches in tournament play. I can relate back to when I was in college. We lost to Villanova at the buzzer after being up the whole game. I mean, nobody wants to go home in March Madness, and I get it. That's why you've got to be ready to play every minute, every second of every game that you get an opportunity to play.
Q. On the quick turnaround of tournament formats…
WOODSON: It was shorter last season, when you think about what we had to go through to get where we got. But we do have three days. We don't play until Friday, so we'll have four days, really, to get ready for our opponent, and that's enough time, I think.
So, we've just got to come committed tomorrow. We'll let them sleep in and then we'll have a late practice tomorrow, and then we'll get going on Kent State.
Q. On the Indiana ties in the Midwest Regional…
WOODSON: I mean, I met Kelvin Sampson. I came back and I spoke to the team briefly. But the assistant coach, no. I'm sure I probably met him if he was here in passing, but I couldn't tell you who he is or anything like that.
Q. On playing outside the Big Ten Conference…
WOODSON: It can be a tough cover but make no mistake: Kent State will do their homework on our ballclub. That's what we do as a coach and coaching staff.
At the end of the day, he's still going to be double-teamed like he has been all season because of the fact that he's good at what he does in terms of putting the ball in the hole and making plays for people around him.
So, I don't see that changing, so I've got to prepare for that throughout the tournament. I mean, if we advance, which you know, it's going to take a lot of hard work to advance. I mean, that's what tournament play is about, trying to advance. Each game is a journey. You know, even though we haven't played this team before, they are not in our conference. They will do their homework on our team as well as us doing our homework on them.
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS | SENIOR FORWARD
Q. On Malik Reneau…
JACKSON-DAVIS: Malik came in strong, playing against some of the mid-major schools. He kind of hit a slump in the middle of the season, but I think since late January, he's just turned it back up. He's playing really, well, playing really, really confident and I just think that's his work ethic. I think that's the way he takes things in practice going against me every day.
I'm proud of him and I know he's ready to get back out there. He's a big spark for us off the bench. He just needs to keep doing what he's doing.
Q. On preparing for a new team…
JACKSON-DAVIS: Nothing really changes, honestly. From the beginning of the year, we scouted every team the same, whether it be a mid-major in the beginning of the year, out of conference opponent like North Carolina, or Purdue coming in on our home floor. We take our scouting very seriously. The assistant scouts do a great job.
We have three days to prepare, and we are going to do -- we are going to see what they are doing, and then we've just got to go out and execute, and what the coaches are doing, we have to perform.
We are not going to take them lightly. They are a great team. Obviously, they are here for a reason, so we've got to play basketball.
Q. On the veteran leadership…
JACKSON-DAVIS: The way that I think about it, I don't think of our younger guys as young anymore. Jalen Hood-Schifino has played a whole season. Same with Malik Reneau, Kaleb Banks, and CJ Gunn. They might maybe need a little more guidance, but stuff of that nature, people that are in the eight-man rotation, we are all on the same page. We hold each other accountable, and it's going to take all of us. Me and Race will be there for guidance.
But at the same time everyone needs to hold each other accountable, and everyone needs to be on the same page if we are going to make a run. You can't have two guys doing it. It's got to be a whole team thing. We win and lose as a team, but we are going to be at the head of the snake, but at the same time, it's going to take everyone, Xavier on the bench, coaches, everyone, all the way down the line. So, I think that's the biggest thing for us.
Q. On keeping the effort level high…
JACKSON-DAVIS: I think it's just on the offensive end. We need to play more confident. I feel like when we play confident on offense, everything else is easy flowing. I mean, we're pretty good on the defensive end of the floor but we can't play tentative. We can't pass up shots.
We have to be confident. We have worked on this. We have worked to get to this moment. All throughout the summer we were shooting shots and we got a lot of good shooters on our team, and they have just got to let it go. I think that's the biggest thing for us.
Q. On last season's tournament run…
JACKSON-DAVIS: I think the biggest thing that I take from it is just the preparation. Just how quickly the games are, even though we didn't get -- we didn't win our first actual game in the tournament, we would have played like within two days. But we did it with Dayton on Tuesday, and then going on Thursday and playing, or Friday, whenever that was.
So, it's the turnaround for me. I think the turnaround is the biggest thing. We have to be ready and locked in for the game, and then afterwards, we have to be extremely prepared for the next team. So, I think that's huge for us; it's the preparation aspect for me.
Q. On Tamar Bates…
JACKSON-DAVIS: Tamar is huge for us, especially against Maryland, he really came on and I think that was his coming-out party honestly. He's had a few games, but just trying to string games together is the biggest thing for him. He doesn't lack any confidence. He hasn't ever seen a shot that he doesn't like.
So, he is going to help us a lot. He's going to help us with spacing, and his energy is really contagious. He's always talking, and he's really blossoming and I'm very proud of him.
RACE THOMPSON | REDSHIRT SENIOR FORWARD
Q. On getting a taste of the tournament…
THOMPSON: We worked all summer, all year, for this, last year being a play-in game, we kind of got a taste of it, and then going to play St. Mary's. It's like, we got a taste.
I think this whole year, feeling that, and just going into practice every day preparing to really play for the NCAA Tournament, just the want to be able to play deeper into the tournament is something that's pushed us every single day.
Q. On the opportunity…
THOMPSON: That's what it's all about. In the past, my time here, we haven't really had this opportunity beside last year, so I mean, it's just like -- almost like a new thing for all of us, and for me and Trayce going out like this -- one-and-done, there's no doubt in my mind that every single game I'm leaving it out on the court, and I have no doubt -- I bet everybody else will do the same. Yeah, just really excited overall.
Q. On upping the effort level…
THOMPSON: I think just holding each other accountable. That's something we have gotten better at throughout the year, and I think that if somebody gets on somebody, we know it's not personal.
It's just because we want best for each other, so really just holding each other accountable, and again, just knowing that this could be your last game in an Indiana uniform, I don't see that happening.
So yeah, that's basically it.
Q. On last season's tournament run…
THOMPSON: The preparation, the mental focus that you have to have going into each game. It's not like you have three or four days to prepare. You have almost a day and a half, and then you've got to go play. And then again after the games, it's such a quick turnaround, you have to really take care of your body. I think those are the two main things for me.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballWednesday, August 12
Wednesday, August 12
Tuesday, August 11
Tuesday, August 11