Friday, March 17
Albany, N.Y.
9:55 PM
Indiana University
vs
Kent State
‘Let It Go’ – IU Can’t Hold Back Against Kent State
3/17/2023 1:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Nothing slides. No one lets mistakes or problems go unaddressed. Not with one-and-done stakes at play for No. 4-seed Indiana in this much-anticipated NCAA tourney opportunity.
"Just holding each other accountable," senior forward Race Thompson says.
The best teams are player led, and the Hoosiers (22-11) are determined to be at their best. They open Midwest Regional action Friday night against No. 13-seed Kent State (28-6) in Albany, N.Y. Thompson faces the end of his college basketball journey, and doesn't want regrets.
"Accountability is something we have gotten better at throughout the year," Thompson says. "If somebody gets on somebody, we know it's not personal. It's because we want best for each other, knowing that this could be your last game in an Indiana uniform."
Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis faces the end of his college basketball journey and doesn't want missed opportunities. In other words, take the shot.
"On the offensive end, we need to play more confident," he says. "When we play confident on offense, everything else is easy flowing. We're pretty good on the defensive end, but we can't play tentative (on offense). We can't pass up shots."
IU hasn't made a March Madness run since 2016, when it reached the Sweet Sixteen. It has a chance to duplicate that, and perhaps more, although the challenges are formidable. Beyond a defense-strong Kent State team steeled by playing Houston (31-3), Gonzaga (28-5) and Charleston (31-3), there's a potential second-round game with high-scoring Miami of Florida (25-7) and a possible Sweet Sixteen showdown with top-seeded Houston, led by former Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson.
It starts, Jackson-Davis says, with the Hoosiers.
"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. We've got a lot of good shooters. They have got to let it go. That's the biggest thing for us."
Thompson, Jackson-Davis, and fellow senior Miller Kopp have to lead the way. They know it. Coach Mike Woodson insists on it.
"They have to push this team through," Woodson says.
Jackson-Davis agrees … to a point.
"We are going to be at the head of the snake, but at the same time, it's going to take everyone: Xavier (Johnson) on the bench, coaches, everyone, all the way down the line.
"You can't have two guys doing it. It's got to be the whole team. We win and lose as a team. Everyone needs to be on the same page if we're going to make a run."
That includes freshmen Jalen Hood-Schifino and Malik Reneau, who have played a lot, and freshmen Kaleb Banks and CJ Gunn, who have had more selective minutes, plus veterans such as Tamar Bates, Trey Galloway, and Jordan Geronimo (who has been limited recently by injury).
"I don't think of our younger guys as young anymore," Jackson-Davis says. "Fino has played a whole season. It's the same with Malik, KB and CJ. They might need a little more guidance, but the people that are in the rotation, we have to be the same page."
Woodson pushes the same message.
"The supporting cast has got to be ready when called upon to give all they got. That's what it's going to take."
Kent State has won six straight and 10 of its last 11 games. It's coached by Rob Senderoff, the winningest coach in program history (a 247-146 record) who is well versed in Hoosier tradition. He spent two seasons as an IU assistant coach under Sampson.
The Golden Flashes win with defense, allowing 65.7 points a game. They led the Mid-American Conference in adjusted defensive efficiency, and rank No. 38 nationally in that category according to Pomeroy rankings.
Guard Malique Jacobs was the MAC defensive player of the year. Guard Sincere Carry made the MAC's all-defensive team.
Kent State is 4-0 on neutral sites and went 15-0 at home.
"They are doing all their prep work on us," Woodson says. "We've got to make sure that we're in tune and ready to go when we step out on the floor on Friday."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Nothing slides. No one lets mistakes or problems go unaddressed. Not with one-and-done stakes at play for No. 4-seed Indiana in this much-anticipated NCAA tourney opportunity.
"Just holding each other accountable," senior forward Race Thompson says.
The best teams are player led, and the Hoosiers (22-11) are determined to be at their best. They open Midwest Regional action Friday night against No. 13-seed Kent State (28-6) in Albany, N.Y. Thompson faces the end of his college basketball journey, and doesn't want regrets.
"Accountability is something we have gotten better at throughout the year," Thompson says. "If somebody gets on somebody, we know it's not personal. It's because we want best for each other, knowing that this could be your last game in an Indiana uniform."
Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis faces the end of his college basketball journey and doesn't want missed opportunities. In other words, take the shot.
"On the offensive end, we need to play more confident," he says. "When we play confident on offense, everything else is easy flowing. We're pretty good on the defensive end, but we can't play tentative (on offense). We can't pass up shots."
IU hasn't made a March Madness run since 2016, when it reached the Sweet Sixteen. It has a chance to duplicate that, and perhaps more, although the challenges are formidable. Beyond a defense-strong Kent State team steeled by playing Houston (31-3), Gonzaga (28-5) and Charleston (31-3), there's a potential second-round game with high-scoring Miami of Florida (25-7) and a possible Sweet Sixteen showdown with top-seeded Houston, led by former Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson.
It starts, Jackson-Davis says, with the Hoosiers.
"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. We've got a lot of good shooters. They have got to let it go. That's the biggest thing for us."
Thompson, Jackson-Davis, and fellow senior Miller Kopp have to lead the way. They know it. Coach Mike Woodson insists on it.
"They have to push this team through," Woodson says.
Jackson-Davis agrees … to a point.
"We are going to be at the head of the snake, but at the same time, it's going to take everyone: Xavier (Johnson) on the bench, coaches, everyone, all the way down the line.
"You can't have two guys doing it. It's got to be the whole team. We win and lose as a team. Everyone needs to be on the same page if we're going to make a run."
That includes freshmen Jalen Hood-Schifino and Malik Reneau, who have played a lot, and freshmen Kaleb Banks and CJ Gunn, who have had more selective minutes, plus veterans such as Tamar Bates, Trey Galloway, and Jordan Geronimo (who has been limited recently by injury).
"I don't think of our younger guys as young anymore," Jackson-Davis says. "Fino has played a whole season. It's the same with Malik, KB and CJ. They might need a little more guidance, but the people that are in the rotation, we have to be the same page."
Woodson pushes the same message.
"The supporting cast has got to be ready when called upon to give all they got. That's what it's going to take."
Kent State has won six straight and 10 of its last 11 games. It's coached by Rob Senderoff, the winningest coach in program history (a 247-146 record) who is well versed in Hoosier tradition. He spent two seasons as an IU assistant coach under Sampson.
The Golden Flashes win with defense, allowing 65.7 points a game. They led the Mid-American Conference in adjusted defensive efficiency, and rank No. 38 nationally in that category according to Pomeroy rankings.
Guard Malique Jacobs was the MAC defensive player of the year. Guard Sincere Carry made the MAC's all-defensive team.
Kent State is 4-0 on neutral sites and went 15-0 at home.
"They are doing all their prep work on us," Woodson says. "We've got to make sure that we're in tune and ready to go when we step out on the floor on Friday."
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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