Indiana University Athletics
#IUBB Media Availability – March 18
3/18/2023 6:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Below are full transcripts of the press conferences with Indiana head coach Mike Woodson, senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, sixth-year senior Race Thompson, and fifth-year senior Miller Kopp on Saturday, March 18, 2023 in Albany, N.Y.
MIKE WOODSON | HEAD COACH
Q. On Xavier Johnson…
WOODSON: Another coach. He's been -- I think he's been excellent for Jalen and guys that handle the basketball up front. He's been good in that area.
Coming into this season, none of us thought we would lose Xavier Johnson because he was such a big piece to the puzzle last year. He's continued to work a little bit, can't do much still, and we're working our butts off to try to bring him back for next season. And only time will tell if that will happen.
But he's been a major positive for our ball club even though he hasn't been able to dress and play.
Q. On watching Trayce Jackson-Davis…
WOODSON: Well, records are meant to be broken, but when I think about where we started trying to get guys to stay on board, to stay on the team, that for me was the most humbling experience when I took this job, when you sit guys down and you give them an All-Star speech and you ask guys to raise their hand and see who's going to stay on board, and all the guys were walk-ons, that's very humbling.
The fact that I went to the top and I started with Trayce Jackson-Davis, and he gave me the opportunity to coach him, it's been kind of nice to see where we started and where he is today. There's been major, major improvement.
I mean, you guys see it on a night-in and night-out basis, and we see it every day in practice and once we play the game. It's been a nice carryover into the ball games. My coaching staff has done an excellent job in helping me get him to this point.
Q. On the scrutiny of working for a powerful brand…
WOODSON: It's a great question because I think, back to when I first got into coaching and my journey as an assistant coach to get to the top to be a head coach. And once I became a head coach in Atlanta, when I got my first gig there, it was very humbling because I had just come off of winning an NBA title with the great Larry Brown and that crew.
I took a young team from nothing back to the top in Atlanta, and it took me four years to do it. And in doing it, I just thought it didn't matter where I coached and who I coached. I honestly thought -- and I don't mean this in a braggadocious way -- that I could get a team to win. If you were around during the Knick days, there's nothing like New York, when it comes to the media in how they scrutinize and wiggle their way into your world.
It wasn't fun at times, but my walk of life in New York when I coached the Knicks was unbelievable because we did some things there that hadn't been done in a long, long time.
So, I've been able as a coach to learn on the fly and deal with the media like yourself, and it's what it is. I understand you guys have a job to do, but I have a job to do as well. And Indiana hadn't changed, just like New York Knicks, they hadn't changed. When I played there in 1980-'81, it was the same, and it's still the same. And I don't mean that in a bad way, I love the New York Knicks.
Indiana has been the same from the time I stepped foot in there in '76 until now. It hasn't changed. Our fan base has been great, and our media expects us to win, and that's how it should be.
Q. On not winning a national title in college…
WOODSON: It's a big void. You don't come to college basketball, especially at Indiana, back during that time and not expect to win a Big Ten or a national title because that's how it should be, and that's how it was under the great Bob Knight.
And I honestly thought my senior year we were right there, heading in the right direction, and then injuries happen, and it's a part of sports, man. Sometimes you can walk into a situation -- I relate to -- I tell Larry Brown this all the time in Detroit. He had to be the luckiest coach, not only a great coach, but one of the luckiest coaches because we had no problems that year with that Detroit Piston team. That team was meant to win. He was the driving force behind it.
That doesn't happen all the time in sports. Unfortunately for me, my senior year, we got hurt. Randy broke his foot. I had back surgery. Was able to come back. But we didn't get it done. So, yeah, there is a void.
As a coach, I didn't come back to IU just to coach Indiana basketball. I want to win some Big Ten titles and a national title. We've got a chance, just like all the teams that are left in this tournament. I'm not selling them on anything less than that.
We'll see what happens. Only time will tell.
Q. On Miami's backcourt…
WOODSON: Again, they're coach driven. They have a great coach, man, that's polished, that's been there, done it. And they're a reflection of their coach.
I get it. So, I know our team has got to come in and commit for 40 minutes and see what happens, man. That's the only way I can tell our team. You can't run from it. We got Miami tomorrow. They're a great team, well coached. We've got to come in and commit on both ends of the floor for 40 minutes and see what happens.
Q. On Jackson-Davis facing up in the post…
WOODSON: Well, we've been able to put him in those positions in practice, and it's been a nice carryover in the game. We've been trying to move him around out on the floor.
And I think what's helped him more than anything is the fact he's been able to rebound the ball and push the ball out and initiate our break. We've given him the latitude to do that, and I think he's fulfilled that position real well.
I mean, we're benefitting from it, the Millers and the Galloways, whoever gets in front of the ball, he's been a guy that's willing to pass it. So, it makes it kind of nice to see him doing things like that.
Q. On the rally behind the headband…
WOODSON: Shoot, I didn't even notice it. The one thing I did notice, him making shots. That's the only thing that matters to me. I don't care about no headbands.
Q. On Jalen Hood-Schifino…
WOODSON: It was huge. When we set out to recruit Jalen Hood-Schifino, I was his biggest fan. Yasir Rosemond and Kenya Hunter, they introduced the young man, and I couldn't get enough of going to AAU tournaments and going and watching him in high school.
I made it very clear I have to get Jalen Schifino in an Indiana uniform. That was my first really priority. And it's worked out because, again, I never thought I would lose Xavier. I really didn't. I thought Xavier, even though I was going to start them both, Xavier would teach him and tutelage him along the way. We just never got to it enough.
Basically, we've thrown Jalen to the wolves, and he's kind of handled it, man. I mean, he's been poised. He's had his ups and downs, man, but for the most part, we are sitting here playing Miami because Jalen Schifino has had a good freshman season.
Q. On preparing for playing against Jackson-Davis…
WOODSON: I don't know. I mean, he does so many things. Trust me, every team we play, I'm sure they're sitting there saying we've got to do this, do that, but there's not one thing he can't do on the floor. It makes the coach that's sitting there preparing for him, it makes you wonder how can you stop this guy?
There's been teams that have doubled him so much -- I think back to the Purdue game there. He patiently waited until the right time towards the end of that game to really make his move, and he just sacrificed his game -- and most superstars will struggle with that. I've seen it so much over the years in the NBA. They just feel like they've got to get theirs.
He sacrificed that night until the right time, and it was really nice to see because a lot of the players around him truly benefited that night at Purdue.
Q. On defending Miami…
WOODSON: I know Wong struggled yesterday. He's been kind of their go to guy. Pack has been solid all season. I thought he carried them yesterday against Drake, after watching it.
Their big fella inside is a workhorse. He does a lot of good things for their ball club. They're not a one-man show. They've got four guys that average in double figures. So there are key matchups all over the floor that we've got to really focus in on and concentrate it for 40 minutes.
Q. On Trey Galloway's defense…
WOODSON: Well, again, Carry was kind of the head of the snake. We knew that going in, for Kent State, and was a key matchup. I thought our guys really played him, tried to make his catches tough, tried to really get into him, and held onto the basketball, and we had some success.
But it's just not one guy. I don't teach team defense as one guy. We've got to all sacrifice for the sake of the team, and when there's a breakdown, you've got to trust that somebody's there to help you. That's kind of how we built our defensive system.
Q. On Miami…
WOODSON: They're perimeter driven. They've got perimeter play that sits at the top of college basketball. They do a lot of good things from their perimeter. Their fella inside, he's a banger. He works.
Like I said, there's not one key guy. There's a number of guys that we've got to focus in on and lock in and play them for 40 minutes.
Q. On the contrasting styles…
WOODSON: All of the above. No, really. It's the team that doesn't turn it over offensively and gets good shots, handles the pressure of being pressed, and defensively getting after them and taking things away that they like to do. Then when you do that, you've got to finish it with rebounding.
So if we're able to do those things, then it should be a competitive game.
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS | SENIOR FORWARD
Q. On the quick turnaround…
JACKSON-DAVIS: I think most of it is resting our bodies. We got out of here at 3:00 a.m., so some of us didn't get to sleep until 4:00 or 5:00.
We're going to do a lot of resting today. Do a little shooting to keep our bodies active. And recovery, Tim Garl and Dr. Larry Rink do a good job helping us get ready for what we need to do. It's not the first time. We did back-to-back before. We did last year in the Big Ten Tournament. We did it this year in the Big Ten Tournament. So, we can still. We've just got to go out there and compete.
Q. On Nijel Pack…
JACKSON-DAVIS: Nijel is a great player. Their backcourt is really, really good. Just watching him just grow throughout high school and blossom into the player that he is now, just being able -- the way he shoots the ball and then passing, his ability to attack the rim is huge keys and huge developments that he's been able to work on.
So, I'm excited. It's not every day you get to play someone that you grew up really close to.
Q. On Miami…
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS: Yeah, I agree. They play a really fast, up-tempo offense. With Norchad Omier, he's a great player. He plays a lot bigger than what his size is, and he's very active. He plays with a lot of energy.
Yeah, it's going to be a battle, and I can't wait.
Q. On improved ball handling…
JACKSON-DAVIS: It's really always been there. You can even ask Race. Eve always played open gyms and stuff of that nature, and I would take the ball up the court, and he would say, well, until I see it in an actual game, I won't believe it. I said, all right, bet, this is the year it's going to happen.
THOMPSON: That is true. That is true.
JACKSON-DAVIS: So just being able to have the freedom to do stuff like that, trying to set up my teammates, trying to put pressure on the rim, it's been great for me and my development. Props to Coach Woodson for letting me do it.
Q. On head coach Mike Woodson…
JACKSON-DAVIS: Well, the first thing is he has zero social media. He's old school. He doesn't know what anyone says, nor does he care.
KOPP: Still has his flip phone.
JACKSON-DAVIS: Yeah, he still has a flip phone. He is someone that is just -- he's a great guy. He would do anything for any of us, but at the same time, he's all about business. He's always locked in. He meets with the coaching every day for three to four hours just working on stuff to help our team.
But he bleeds Indiana basketball. I think that's the reason why he came back because he wanted to help put this place back on the map, and he's done a great job of that so far.
Q. On sharing accomplishments with Coach Woodson…
JACKSON-DAVIS: It's been great. I try not to dwell on it that much because we're still in season, but me and him joke about it. We're both very competitive. I remember when I was about to pass him, I was cracking jokes at him, and he was kind of mad about it.
But after it happened, he was very emotional, and he was very proud. So just being able to share moments like that with another outstanding player like himself is huge.
Q. On having an advantage with a comfortable win…
JACKSON-DAVIS: Absolutely not. Every game in this tournament is a dogfight. Just because you play really well against one team doesn't mean that you're going to come out and it's going to be the same.
So, we've got to be prepared, we've got to be locked in, and we've got to be ready to play because I know Miami wants to get to that next round just as bad as we do. So, it's going to be a slugfest, and it's going to be a brawl.
Q. On Miami's tempo…
JACKSON-DAVIS: I just think the biggest thing of our defense is just sticking with our tendencies, limiting transition, transition runs, and just not letting them speed us up. I think that's the biggest thing.
Games in the 60s for us is a lot better than games in the 70s and 80s. So that's what we're going to try to do, and we've got to stick to our game plan.
Q. On Miami's ability to score in the halfcourt…
JACKSON-DAVIS: I don't necessarily think it's a knock on them if we try to keep it low scoring. I meant it more as that's just how we like to play.
But I think any team in this tournament, at the end of the day, you've got to be a winner to get in. You've got to win a bunch of games, close games. So, at the end of the day, it's going to come down to possession by possession, and whoever executes better is going to win. So that's what I meant by that.
Q. On taking in the tournament moments…
JACKSON-DAVIS: Since the start of this last week, it kind of hits you where you're going through your last practices leading up to the first game, you're kind of nervous going out there. But at the end of the day, you've just got to go out there and play.
Any time it could be your last time stepping foot on the court, whether it be from playing your last game or from injury. So that's kind of how I look at it, where every time I step out on the court, I think it's my last time I'm going to be out there.
But just being able to play with these guys for this year and last year, Race four years, it's been a blessing, and it kind of hits close to home and makes you want to play a little bit harder so you can keep your season going.
Q. On Xavier Johnson…
JACKSON-DAVIS: Xavier, even though he's been hurt, he's a huge part of our team. Even in the locker room -- I remember against Northwestern, when we were playing at Northwestern in the locker room, he got us really fired up. He was trying to fire us up and get us going, and we came out and started playing well.
He does stuff like that, even though he's not still on the court, he's still our point guard, he's still our leader. He's using his voice and being vocal, hyping us up on the bench, and we need it from him because it gives our players confidence.
Q. On the status of his hip…
JACKSON-DAVIS: It's good now. Just got to just keep getting treatment on it, just get it to the best possibilities to be able to play.
I did it actually at the very beginning of the game on yesterday. So, I still played pretty well. But it's just something that I just need to play through. It's not really that big of a deal to me. I've played injured before. I've played with little knocks and bruises. Those guys have too. It's something you deal with in college basketball.
RACE THOMPSON | SIXTH-YEAR SENIOR FORWARD
Q. On Miami…
THOMPSON: Yeah, Miami is a really good team. Like Miller said, they're really good in transition, try to get back in transition. Take them out of their stuff a little bit.
It really comes down to us. Our defense works really well when we're keying in together. We're really just focused on what we do, and again just kind of familiarize ourselves with what they do so we can kind of see some things coming.
Q. On head coach Mike Woodson…
THOMPSON: He's seen it all. He's been around the game longer than we've been alive, and he loves to say that. They pretty much covered it. That's really all I can say.
Q. On Miami comparisons…
THOMPSON: I'm not sure who they remind me of. It's definitely a threat. They have really good shooters, really good players on the perimeter, and really all around.
We watched some film this morning. We know we've got to find shooters in transition. We know we've got to be a little bit higher in our help-side defense.
But I mean, yeah, I can't name a team they remind me of. Maybe they're like Penn State. I don't know. I haven't watched enough yet, but I'll watch more later.
Q. On playing for Indiana…
THOMPSON: I'm truly just grateful to be here in the moment. When I got hurt with my knee earlier this season, I really thought it was over with, and I've said that before.
But I mean, just being here after everything I've been through, through my time at Indiana, I'm grateful to be here and able to play next to these guys and my other teammates.
Q. On taking in the tournament moments…
THOMPSON: It adds fuel to the fire. Every time we put that uniform on, it could be the last time we put it on. I remember I told Trayce that tomorrow is not promised right before the game, and we kind of joked about it because of the "Rocky" movie.
Yeah, tomorrow is not promised. So, you go out there, you give it everything you've got, and you kind of got to live with the result as long as you're leaving it all out on the court.
Q. On Xavier Johnson…
THOMPSON: He's been a great teammate. You couldn't ask for a better teammate than X. Like they said, he's the first one cheering. He's paying attention in the scout. That's how he knows what's going on. He's hollering out plays.
Again, he's a leader in the locker room. Just keeping everybody together, keeping it light when it needs to be light, being serious when it needs to be serious. So I think just him being that great teammate and being a really good leader has helped us get to this point.
MILLER KOPP | FIFTH-YEAR SENIOR FORWARD
Q. On Miami…
KOPP: Obviously they're a really good team. Offensively they're dangerous. Probably one of the best, if not the best, offense in the ACC, averaging over 80 points a game. They get out in transition. They shoot a lot of threes in transition. That's really one of their strengths.
For us it's going to be about taking care of the ball, making sure we have a good shot every possession.
Q. On head coach Mike Woodson…
KOPP: I think Coach Woody is at a point -- and I'm not going to speak for him, but I think he's just done so much in his career that at this point in his career, he's seen it all, he's seen so much basketball and experienced so much, that nothing gets to him now. And he understands the big picture of it all.
He knows it's about the guys in the locker room and the guys in the staff, and everybody included in the everyday process. So, he's just focused on us and doesn't care about really anything else.
Q. On getting more looks with the focus on Jackson-Davis…
KOPP: Well, I mean, that's every game. Start to finish, from our first game till now, that's kind of -- I know that's the game plan.
Obviously, some teams do a little -- some things different, but I also -- coming into every game I know that most of my shots are going to come from Trayce and in transition. I know where I'm getting most of my looks, and Trayce knows too because he's the one passing them to me most of the time.
I'm excited every game really because I kind of know how teams are playing and the guy guarding me specifically as well.
Q. On taking in the tournament moments…
KOPP: It's definitely a thought that goes in your head. You want to play like it could be your last game for the university because it very well could be. So, my goal, and I think everybody else's too, is to make this season as long as possible.
We're taking it day by day and enjoying the process and coming in locked in every day and trying to extend our season.
Q. On Xavier Johnson…
KOPP: You see him on the bench, a shot goes up, he's the first one to put his hand up, saying it's three ball. He's the biggest cheerleader on the bench really, him and Anthony Leal, I think, go nuts over there.
So, it means a lot because he can't affect the game on the court, but he's impacting the team and the game off the court, on the bench, in the huddles, in the locker room, and stuff like that. He's definitely doing as much as he can while he can't play.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
MIKE WOODSON | HEAD COACH
Q. On Xavier Johnson…
WOODSON: Another coach. He's been -- I think he's been excellent for Jalen and guys that handle the basketball up front. He's been good in that area.
Coming into this season, none of us thought we would lose Xavier Johnson because he was such a big piece to the puzzle last year. He's continued to work a little bit, can't do much still, and we're working our butts off to try to bring him back for next season. And only time will tell if that will happen.
But he's been a major positive for our ball club even though he hasn't been able to dress and play.
Q. On watching Trayce Jackson-Davis…
WOODSON: Well, records are meant to be broken, but when I think about where we started trying to get guys to stay on board, to stay on the team, that for me was the most humbling experience when I took this job, when you sit guys down and you give them an All-Star speech and you ask guys to raise their hand and see who's going to stay on board, and all the guys were walk-ons, that's very humbling.
The fact that I went to the top and I started with Trayce Jackson-Davis, and he gave me the opportunity to coach him, it's been kind of nice to see where we started and where he is today. There's been major, major improvement.
I mean, you guys see it on a night-in and night-out basis, and we see it every day in practice and once we play the game. It's been a nice carryover into the ball games. My coaching staff has done an excellent job in helping me get him to this point.
Q. On the scrutiny of working for a powerful brand…
WOODSON: It's a great question because I think, back to when I first got into coaching and my journey as an assistant coach to get to the top to be a head coach. And once I became a head coach in Atlanta, when I got my first gig there, it was very humbling because I had just come off of winning an NBA title with the great Larry Brown and that crew.
I took a young team from nothing back to the top in Atlanta, and it took me four years to do it. And in doing it, I just thought it didn't matter where I coached and who I coached. I honestly thought -- and I don't mean this in a braggadocious way -- that I could get a team to win. If you were around during the Knick days, there's nothing like New York, when it comes to the media in how they scrutinize and wiggle their way into your world.
It wasn't fun at times, but my walk of life in New York when I coached the Knicks was unbelievable because we did some things there that hadn't been done in a long, long time.
So, I've been able as a coach to learn on the fly and deal with the media like yourself, and it's what it is. I understand you guys have a job to do, but I have a job to do as well. And Indiana hadn't changed, just like New York Knicks, they hadn't changed. When I played there in 1980-'81, it was the same, and it's still the same. And I don't mean that in a bad way, I love the New York Knicks.
Indiana has been the same from the time I stepped foot in there in '76 until now. It hasn't changed. Our fan base has been great, and our media expects us to win, and that's how it should be.
Q. On not winning a national title in college…
WOODSON: It's a big void. You don't come to college basketball, especially at Indiana, back during that time and not expect to win a Big Ten or a national title because that's how it should be, and that's how it was under the great Bob Knight.
And I honestly thought my senior year we were right there, heading in the right direction, and then injuries happen, and it's a part of sports, man. Sometimes you can walk into a situation -- I relate to -- I tell Larry Brown this all the time in Detroit. He had to be the luckiest coach, not only a great coach, but one of the luckiest coaches because we had no problems that year with that Detroit Piston team. That team was meant to win. He was the driving force behind it.
That doesn't happen all the time in sports. Unfortunately for me, my senior year, we got hurt. Randy broke his foot. I had back surgery. Was able to come back. But we didn't get it done. So, yeah, there is a void.
As a coach, I didn't come back to IU just to coach Indiana basketball. I want to win some Big Ten titles and a national title. We've got a chance, just like all the teams that are left in this tournament. I'm not selling them on anything less than that.
We'll see what happens. Only time will tell.
Q. On Miami's backcourt…
WOODSON: Again, they're coach driven. They have a great coach, man, that's polished, that's been there, done it. And they're a reflection of their coach.
I get it. So, I know our team has got to come in and commit for 40 minutes and see what happens, man. That's the only way I can tell our team. You can't run from it. We got Miami tomorrow. They're a great team, well coached. We've got to come in and commit on both ends of the floor for 40 minutes and see what happens.
Q. On Jackson-Davis facing up in the post…
WOODSON: Well, we've been able to put him in those positions in practice, and it's been a nice carryover in the game. We've been trying to move him around out on the floor.
And I think what's helped him more than anything is the fact he's been able to rebound the ball and push the ball out and initiate our break. We've given him the latitude to do that, and I think he's fulfilled that position real well.
I mean, we're benefitting from it, the Millers and the Galloways, whoever gets in front of the ball, he's been a guy that's willing to pass it. So, it makes it kind of nice to see him doing things like that.
Q. On the rally behind the headband…
WOODSON: Shoot, I didn't even notice it. The one thing I did notice, him making shots. That's the only thing that matters to me. I don't care about no headbands.
Q. On Jalen Hood-Schifino…
WOODSON: It was huge. When we set out to recruit Jalen Hood-Schifino, I was his biggest fan. Yasir Rosemond and Kenya Hunter, they introduced the young man, and I couldn't get enough of going to AAU tournaments and going and watching him in high school.
I made it very clear I have to get Jalen Schifino in an Indiana uniform. That was my first really priority. And it's worked out because, again, I never thought I would lose Xavier. I really didn't. I thought Xavier, even though I was going to start them both, Xavier would teach him and tutelage him along the way. We just never got to it enough.
Basically, we've thrown Jalen to the wolves, and he's kind of handled it, man. I mean, he's been poised. He's had his ups and downs, man, but for the most part, we are sitting here playing Miami because Jalen Schifino has had a good freshman season.
Q. On preparing for playing against Jackson-Davis…
WOODSON: I don't know. I mean, he does so many things. Trust me, every team we play, I'm sure they're sitting there saying we've got to do this, do that, but there's not one thing he can't do on the floor. It makes the coach that's sitting there preparing for him, it makes you wonder how can you stop this guy?
There's been teams that have doubled him so much -- I think back to the Purdue game there. He patiently waited until the right time towards the end of that game to really make his move, and he just sacrificed his game -- and most superstars will struggle with that. I've seen it so much over the years in the NBA. They just feel like they've got to get theirs.
He sacrificed that night until the right time, and it was really nice to see because a lot of the players around him truly benefited that night at Purdue.
Q. On defending Miami…
WOODSON: I know Wong struggled yesterday. He's been kind of their go to guy. Pack has been solid all season. I thought he carried them yesterday against Drake, after watching it.
Their big fella inside is a workhorse. He does a lot of good things for their ball club. They're not a one-man show. They've got four guys that average in double figures. So there are key matchups all over the floor that we've got to really focus in on and concentrate it for 40 minutes.
Q. On Trey Galloway's defense…
WOODSON: Well, again, Carry was kind of the head of the snake. We knew that going in, for Kent State, and was a key matchup. I thought our guys really played him, tried to make his catches tough, tried to really get into him, and held onto the basketball, and we had some success.
But it's just not one guy. I don't teach team defense as one guy. We've got to all sacrifice for the sake of the team, and when there's a breakdown, you've got to trust that somebody's there to help you. That's kind of how we built our defensive system.
Q. On Miami…
WOODSON: They're perimeter driven. They've got perimeter play that sits at the top of college basketball. They do a lot of good things from their perimeter. Their fella inside, he's a banger. He works.
Like I said, there's not one key guy. There's a number of guys that we've got to focus in on and lock in and play them for 40 minutes.
Q. On the contrasting styles…
WOODSON: All of the above. No, really. It's the team that doesn't turn it over offensively and gets good shots, handles the pressure of being pressed, and defensively getting after them and taking things away that they like to do. Then when you do that, you've got to finish it with rebounding.
So if we're able to do those things, then it should be a competitive game.
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS | SENIOR FORWARD
Q. On the quick turnaround…
JACKSON-DAVIS: I think most of it is resting our bodies. We got out of here at 3:00 a.m., so some of us didn't get to sleep until 4:00 or 5:00.
We're going to do a lot of resting today. Do a little shooting to keep our bodies active. And recovery, Tim Garl and Dr. Larry Rink do a good job helping us get ready for what we need to do. It's not the first time. We did back-to-back before. We did last year in the Big Ten Tournament. We did it this year in the Big Ten Tournament. So, we can still. We've just got to go out there and compete.
Q. On Nijel Pack…
JACKSON-DAVIS: Nijel is a great player. Their backcourt is really, really good. Just watching him just grow throughout high school and blossom into the player that he is now, just being able -- the way he shoots the ball and then passing, his ability to attack the rim is huge keys and huge developments that he's been able to work on.
So, I'm excited. It's not every day you get to play someone that you grew up really close to.
Q. On Miami…
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS: Yeah, I agree. They play a really fast, up-tempo offense. With Norchad Omier, he's a great player. He plays a lot bigger than what his size is, and he's very active. He plays with a lot of energy.
Yeah, it's going to be a battle, and I can't wait.
Q. On improved ball handling…
JACKSON-DAVIS: It's really always been there. You can even ask Race. Eve always played open gyms and stuff of that nature, and I would take the ball up the court, and he would say, well, until I see it in an actual game, I won't believe it. I said, all right, bet, this is the year it's going to happen.
THOMPSON: That is true. That is true.
JACKSON-DAVIS: So just being able to have the freedom to do stuff like that, trying to set up my teammates, trying to put pressure on the rim, it's been great for me and my development. Props to Coach Woodson for letting me do it.
Q. On head coach Mike Woodson…
JACKSON-DAVIS: Well, the first thing is he has zero social media. He's old school. He doesn't know what anyone says, nor does he care.
KOPP: Still has his flip phone.
JACKSON-DAVIS: Yeah, he still has a flip phone. He is someone that is just -- he's a great guy. He would do anything for any of us, but at the same time, he's all about business. He's always locked in. He meets with the coaching every day for three to four hours just working on stuff to help our team.
But he bleeds Indiana basketball. I think that's the reason why he came back because he wanted to help put this place back on the map, and he's done a great job of that so far.
Q. On sharing accomplishments with Coach Woodson…
JACKSON-DAVIS: It's been great. I try not to dwell on it that much because we're still in season, but me and him joke about it. We're both very competitive. I remember when I was about to pass him, I was cracking jokes at him, and he was kind of mad about it.
But after it happened, he was very emotional, and he was very proud. So just being able to share moments like that with another outstanding player like himself is huge.
Q. On having an advantage with a comfortable win…
JACKSON-DAVIS: Absolutely not. Every game in this tournament is a dogfight. Just because you play really well against one team doesn't mean that you're going to come out and it's going to be the same.
So, we've got to be prepared, we've got to be locked in, and we've got to be ready to play because I know Miami wants to get to that next round just as bad as we do. So, it's going to be a slugfest, and it's going to be a brawl.
Q. On Miami's tempo…
JACKSON-DAVIS: I just think the biggest thing of our defense is just sticking with our tendencies, limiting transition, transition runs, and just not letting them speed us up. I think that's the biggest thing.
Games in the 60s for us is a lot better than games in the 70s and 80s. So that's what we're going to try to do, and we've got to stick to our game plan.
Q. On Miami's ability to score in the halfcourt…
JACKSON-DAVIS: I don't necessarily think it's a knock on them if we try to keep it low scoring. I meant it more as that's just how we like to play.
But I think any team in this tournament, at the end of the day, you've got to be a winner to get in. You've got to win a bunch of games, close games. So, at the end of the day, it's going to come down to possession by possession, and whoever executes better is going to win. So that's what I meant by that.
Q. On taking in the tournament moments…
JACKSON-DAVIS: Since the start of this last week, it kind of hits you where you're going through your last practices leading up to the first game, you're kind of nervous going out there. But at the end of the day, you've just got to go out there and play.
Any time it could be your last time stepping foot on the court, whether it be from playing your last game or from injury. So that's kind of how I look at it, where every time I step out on the court, I think it's my last time I'm going to be out there.
But just being able to play with these guys for this year and last year, Race four years, it's been a blessing, and it kind of hits close to home and makes you want to play a little bit harder so you can keep your season going.
Q. On Xavier Johnson…
JACKSON-DAVIS: Xavier, even though he's been hurt, he's a huge part of our team. Even in the locker room -- I remember against Northwestern, when we were playing at Northwestern in the locker room, he got us really fired up. He was trying to fire us up and get us going, and we came out and started playing well.
He does stuff like that, even though he's not still on the court, he's still our point guard, he's still our leader. He's using his voice and being vocal, hyping us up on the bench, and we need it from him because it gives our players confidence.
Q. On the status of his hip…
JACKSON-DAVIS: It's good now. Just got to just keep getting treatment on it, just get it to the best possibilities to be able to play.
I did it actually at the very beginning of the game on yesterday. So, I still played pretty well. But it's just something that I just need to play through. It's not really that big of a deal to me. I've played injured before. I've played with little knocks and bruises. Those guys have too. It's something you deal with in college basketball.
RACE THOMPSON | SIXTH-YEAR SENIOR FORWARD
Q. On Miami…
THOMPSON: Yeah, Miami is a really good team. Like Miller said, they're really good in transition, try to get back in transition. Take them out of their stuff a little bit.
It really comes down to us. Our defense works really well when we're keying in together. We're really just focused on what we do, and again just kind of familiarize ourselves with what they do so we can kind of see some things coming.
Q. On head coach Mike Woodson…
THOMPSON: He's seen it all. He's been around the game longer than we've been alive, and he loves to say that. They pretty much covered it. That's really all I can say.
Q. On Miami comparisons…
THOMPSON: I'm not sure who they remind me of. It's definitely a threat. They have really good shooters, really good players on the perimeter, and really all around.
We watched some film this morning. We know we've got to find shooters in transition. We know we've got to be a little bit higher in our help-side defense.
But I mean, yeah, I can't name a team they remind me of. Maybe they're like Penn State. I don't know. I haven't watched enough yet, but I'll watch more later.
Q. On playing for Indiana…
THOMPSON: I'm truly just grateful to be here in the moment. When I got hurt with my knee earlier this season, I really thought it was over with, and I've said that before.
But I mean, just being here after everything I've been through, through my time at Indiana, I'm grateful to be here and able to play next to these guys and my other teammates.
Q. On taking in the tournament moments…
THOMPSON: It adds fuel to the fire. Every time we put that uniform on, it could be the last time we put it on. I remember I told Trayce that tomorrow is not promised right before the game, and we kind of joked about it because of the "Rocky" movie.
Yeah, tomorrow is not promised. So, you go out there, you give it everything you've got, and you kind of got to live with the result as long as you're leaving it all out on the court.
Q. On Xavier Johnson…
THOMPSON: He's been a great teammate. You couldn't ask for a better teammate than X. Like they said, he's the first one cheering. He's paying attention in the scout. That's how he knows what's going on. He's hollering out plays.
Again, he's a leader in the locker room. Just keeping everybody together, keeping it light when it needs to be light, being serious when it needs to be serious. So I think just him being that great teammate and being a really good leader has helped us get to this point.
MILLER KOPP | FIFTH-YEAR SENIOR FORWARD
Q. On Miami…
KOPP: Obviously they're a really good team. Offensively they're dangerous. Probably one of the best, if not the best, offense in the ACC, averaging over 80 points a game. They get out in transition. They shoot a lot of threes in transition. That's really one of their strengths.
For us it's going to be about taking care of the ball, making sure we have a good shot every possession.
Q. On head coach Mike Woodson…
KOPP: I think Coach Woody is at a point -- and I'm not going to speak for him, but I think he's just done so much in his career that at this point in his career, he's seen it all, he's seen so much basketball and experienced so much, that nothing gets to him now. And he understands the big picture of it all.
He knows it's about the guys in the locker room and the guys in the staff, and everybody included in the everyday process. So, he's just focused on us and doesn't care about really anything else.
Q. On getting more looks with the focus on Jackson-Davis…
KOPP: Well, I mean, that's every game. Start to finish, from our first game till now, that's kind of -- I know that's the game plan.
Obviously, some teams do a little -- some things different, but I also -- coming into every game I know that most of my shots are going to come from Trayce and in transition. I know where I'm getting most of my looks, and Trayce knows too because he's the one passing them to me most of the time.
I'm excited every game really because I kind of know how teams are playing and the guy guarding me specifically as well.
Q. On taking in the tournament moments…
KOPP: It's definitely a thought that goes in your head. You want to play like it could be your last game for the university because it very well could be. So, my goal, and I think everybody else's too, is to make this season as long as possible.
We're taking it day by day and enjoying the process and coming in locked in every day and trying to extend our season.
Q. On Xavier Johnson…
KOPP: You see him on the bench, a shot goes up, he's the first one to put his hand up, saying it's three ball. He's the biggest cheerleader on the bench really, him and Anthony Leal, I think, go nuts over there.
So, it means a lot because he can't affect the game on the court, but he's impacting the team and the game off the court, on the bench, in the huddles, in the locker room, and stuff like that. He's definitely doing as much as he can while he can't play.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
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