Indiana University Athletics
Postgame Quotes: vs. Michigan State
3/10/2024 8:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Postgame Quotes
Indiana vs. Michigan State
March 10, 2024
MIKE WOODSON | INDIANA HEAD COACH
Q. On adjustments made and team pulling together late in game…
WOODSON: I didn't really have to go back to the bench much. I was determined tonight to play the seniors because it was their night. (Xavier Johnson) and (Anthony) Leal were going to stay in there no matter what.
You know, we shuffled Gabe in and out. I don't even know if (Anthony) Walker saw the floor in the second half. Maybe for a few.
But it's tough losing a key player. That's a part of sports. But we hung in there. We got the big stop we needed coming down the stretch and got the rebound to secure the win.
Q. On Kel'el Ware's recent performances…
WOODSON: All I can tell you guys – after that first month, he's been a totally different player. I got to give tribute to our coaching staff and how they work, and we pushed him and his teammates to believe in him, and I believe in him. He's been phenomenal, been playing unbelievable, which is kind of nice to see.
Q. On support from players…
WOODSON: I'm not surprised at all. It means a lot. You know, we've been through the battles together, and yet Leal hadn't played a whole lot but played some this year and played well for us.
For him to tell Hoosier Nation that he's coming back, along with Galloway, that means a lot to me as a coach.
Q. On message to team after Michigan State's second half run…
WOODSON: I thought we would play through it. I think when they went up five, hit a three and went up five or six, and I took the time-out, I just expressed, hey, you seniors, this is your last go-round. Relax. We're okay.
We came out, and we scored a bucket, and we were able to take the lead. It was back and forth, but we made the plays that we needed to make to secure it.
Q. On what Trey Galloway means to team…
WOODSON: It means a lot. As a senior, that's what I expect you to do. You know, you go through four years with the program, you grow. You're supposed to grow every year. If you don't grow, then I haven't done a great job in coaching.
He's grown, and he's helped us a lot this year in so many ways because we haven't had Xavier Johnson, the other senior.
So, I don't know what his status is right now. He's being evaluated, so we'll have a better feel of where he is tomorrow. But I give a lot of credit to the guys in that locker room that kept fighting. It's tough playing Izzo's teams. He can coach his ass off and their teams, they just play hard. They force you to have to play for 40 minutes, and that's what happened tonight.
Q. Last week you had the news about your job and recruiting, meanwhile you're on a four-game winning streak and like an NCAA team. What has it been like for you personally to manage those two different things going on?
WOODSON: (There) should never be any questions about job based on what I have done here since I stepped foot in Indiana as a coach. I'm not going to entertain questions about it because [there] shouldn't be anything out there floating around about my job. I've done my job, and I'm going to continue to do it.
Q. On Galloway and Leal announcing return next season…
WOODSON: I mean, for them to say they're coming back, hell, we got to continue to build our basketball team. I don't know who is going to be here and where we got to go and get players. That's the world we live in with the portal and what's going on in college sports.
I can't address none of that, and I can't tell them who's going to be their teammates. Just don't know. I don't know that yet. So, this summer will be very pivotal and important for our program moving forward. That's just what college basketball presents every summer.
Q. On team's résumé going into postseason…
WOODSON: I don't know. We're playing as good as any team in the country right now based on the last four games. We got to take it a game at a time, man. I'll never jump ahead.
I don't know who we'll face the first game of the Big Ten Tournament, but one game at a time and see where it leads us.
XAVIER JOHNSON | INDIANA GUARD
Q. On Kel'el Ware…
JOHNSON: Honestly, before he got here, I overheard some questions about his motor. I think that was something that was well-known about him. Coach Woodson and the team have stayed on him about it, and I think that's the reason he's averaging what he is averaging right now. And he's doing a hell of a job, and I think he is going to continue to be that type of guy and continue to play like that.
Q. On adjustments made when teammate Trey Galloway left the game…
JOHNSON: I was just focused on – the first half I think was trying to do too much. In the second half, I tried to control the game a little bit more. I think we went to the bigs a lot at the end because they're a big piece to the team. They made plays and the right plays, and as a result, winning (plays).
Q. On retaking control of game after Michigan State surge…
JOHNSON: I mean, I think this is a different team going down the stretch. The old team of a couple games ago would've probably quit. I don't think we take punches well. But now I think we really do take the punches well. We want to hit back and win games.
It's coming down to the point where it's March.
Q. On decision-making when taking possession in final moments…
JOHNSON: I was thinking, you know, because it's crazy because I had a play like that my senior year in high school. Last game, too as well. I would've probably dunked it, and I looked up and I said, I got time. Nah, I'm not trying to get hurt. That was going through my mind. I just didn't want to get hurt because I don't want to miss any more games.
Q. On emotions at the buzzer…
JOHNSON: It's tears of joy. I battled throughout the whole year mentally and physically. You know, those are just – those final seconds are like it's really my last game. It's just crazy, because from where I started to where I finished, I know it's been a difficult year. It's like I still push through everything I've been through, and I got to the finish line.
Not quite there yet because still more basketball left and want to finish the right way, like I keep saying. Really, really proud of myself and really proud of my teammates as well.
KEL'EL WARE | INDIANA CENTER
Q. On if he has been able to "prove people wrong" this season…
WARE: [There's] always still more to prove, so I don't feel like I've proven myself just yet.
Q. On free-throw to take final lead…
WARE: Just don't think, shoot. That was all I was thinking. Just don't think, shoot.
Q. On becoming more aggressive offensively…
WARE: [It's] just wanting to win. You know, of course I've been wanting to win the whole season, but I feel like looking past it I just need to be more aggressive, and that's what I've been doing on the offensive end, and just trying to help my team as much as I can on the defensive end just to come up with the end.
Q. On Trey Galloway…
WARE: Trey is definitely a big part of our offense, with him just being able to get downhill, throw the lob, or get to his flow offensively. With him going down, I just felt like not even just me, but everybody on the team had to step up if we wanted to get the win. I feel like that's what we did.
TOM IZZO | MICHIGAN STATE HEAD COACH
Opening Statement
IZZO: I was disappointed with the start. I thought that we took bad shots, took too many threes. We didn't get back in transition. We did the things that we weren't supposed to do. I had a couple of my guards that didn't play very well. At about the five-minute mark was all but threats. I got guys to start looking at the basket and taking shots. I am sick of getting blamed for things. You want to talk about getting on to somebody, (Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall) is the greatest place in the world for people that get on to people. I am upset because we had a seven-point lead, and we didn't guard. But I'm also proud because in that environment, the way that we came back, the way that we executed, the way we shot. Tyson (Walker) started making some shots and Jaden (Akins) made a couple. I thought I did a poor job. We were so paranoid when (Indiana) starts making threes by guys that don't. it's hard to double down. Give (Kel'el) Ware credit. (Malik Reneau and Kel'el Ware) ate us alive. Ware made that banked in one in the first half and (Xavier) Johnson makes a three. It's been that kind of year. I'm glad the regular season is over, Maybe any kind of tournament time will change that. There are a lot of guys banking in threes and banking in things. I'll leave here thinking that my guys that fought back after being down 16, it was all because of poor shots and a very poor job of following the gameplan. We did not get back in transition, and that's what hurt us early.
On how rebounding effected the comeback…
IZZO: We rebounded better. When Jaden plays he's a very good player. He went up and got some rebounds and tipped some. We're just not good enough if we don't have one of our wings to do that. (Indiana) did a good job of doubling Malik (Hall), and we didn't make enough shots when we reversed it around. We had them. We had good shots, and I don't have any problem with the shots. We just didn't make the shots we needed to make. Rebounding has been a key. Transition was a key. Ball movement was a key. You saw when we did some of those there was some success.
On Kel'el Ware…
IZZO: I give Mike (Woodson) credit. He did a hell of a job with Ware. He deserves a lot of credit. I played against Ware last year, and he wasn't very good. He's kind of like our kid, (Xavier) Booker. I think that strength, and he's tougher. Earlier in the year he was okay, but the last half of the year he has been a force to reckon with. I give Mike a lot of credit and Ware a lot of credit on that. He made some tough shots too. Besides the banked in one, he made a couple that I thought were pretty well defended. I have to do a better job of where we doubled from. (Indiana) just kept going to him. We tried to react with a couple of different things, but that falls onto me.
Indiana vs. Michigan State
March 10, 2024
MIKE WOODSON | INDIANA HEAD COACH
Q. On adjustments made and team pulling together late in game…
WOODSON: I didn't really have to go back to the bench much. I was determined tonight to play the seniors because it was their night. (Xavier Johnson) and (Anthony) Leal were going to stay in there no matter what.
You know, we shuffled Gabe in and out. I don't even know if (Anthony) Walker saw the floor in the second half. Maybe for a few.
But it's tough losing a key player. That's a part of sports. But we hung in there. We got the big stop we needed coming down the stretch and got the rebound to secure the win.
Q. On Kel'el Ware's recent performances…
WOODSON: All I can tell you guys – after that first month, he's been a totally different player. I got to give tribute to our coaching staff and how they work, and we pushed him and his teammates to believe in him, and I believe in him. He's been phenomenal, been playing unbelievable, which is kind of nice to see.
Q. On support from players…
WOODSON: I'm not surprised at all. It means a lot. You know, we've been through the battles together, and yet Leal hadn't played a whole lot but played some this year and played well for us.
For him to tell Hoosier Nation that he's coming back, along with Galloway, that means a lot to me as a coach.
Q. On message to team after Michigan State's second half run…
WOODSON: I thought we would play through it. I think when they went up five, hit a three and went up five or six, and I took the time-out, I just expressed, hey, you seniors, this is your last go-round. Relax. We're okay.
We came out, and we scored a bucket, and we were able to take the lead. It was back and forth, but we made the plays that we needed to make to secure it.
Q. On what Trey Galloway means to team…
WOODSON: It means a lot. As a senior, that's what I expect you to do. You know, you go through four years with the program, you grow. You're supposed to grow every year. If you don't grow, then I haven't done a great job in coaching.
He's grown, and he's helped us a lot this year in so many ways because we haven't had Xavier Johnson, the other senior.
So, I don't know what his status is right now. He's being evaluated, so we'll have a better feel of where he is tomorrow. But I give a lot of credit to the guys in that locker room that kept fighting. It's tough playing Izzo's teams. He can coach his ass off and their teams, they just play hard. They force you to have to play for 40 minutes, and that's what happened tonight.
Q. Last week you had the news about your job and recruiting, meanwhile you're on a four-game winning streak and like an NCAA team. What has it been like for you personally to manage those two different things going on?
WOODSON: (There) should never be any questions about job based on what I have done here since I stepped foot in Indiana as a coach. I'm not going to entertain questions about it because [there] shouldn't be anything out there floating around about my job. I've done my job, and I'm going to continue to do it.
Q. On Galloway and Leal announcing return next season…
WOODSON: I mean, for them to say they're coming back, hell, we got to continue to build our basketball team. I don't know who is going to be here and where we got to go and get players. That's the world we live in with the portal and what's going on in college sports.
I can't address none of that, and I can't tell them who's going to be their teammates. Just don't know. I don't know that yet. So, this summer will be very pivotal and important for our program moving forward. That's just what college basketball presents every summer.
Q. On team's résumé going into postseason…
WOODSON: I don't know. We're playing as good as any team in the country right now based on the last four games. We got to take it a game at a time, man. I'll never jump ahead.
I don't know who we'll face the first game of the Big Ten Tournament, but one game at a time and see where it leads us.
XAVIER JOHNSON | INDIANA GUARD
Q. On Kel'el Ware…
JOHNSON: Honestly, before he got here, I overheard some questions about his motor. I think that was something that was well-known about him. Coach Woodson and the team have stayed on him about it, and I think that's the reason he's averaging what he is averaging right now. And he's doing a hell of a job, and I think he is going to continue to be that type of guy and continue to play like that.
Q. On adjustments made when teammate Trey Galloway left the game…
JOHNSON: I was just focused on – the first half I think was trying to do too much. In the second half, I tried to control the game a little bit more. I think we went to the bigs a lot at the end because they're a big piece to the team. They made plays and the right plays, and as a result, winning (plays).
Q. On retaking control of game after Michigan State surge…
JOHNSON: I mean, I think this is a different team going down the stretch. The old team of a couple games ago would've probably quit. I don't think we take punches well. But now I think we really do take the punches well. We want to hit back and win games.
It's coming down to the point where it's March.
Q. On decision-making when taking possession in final moments…
JOHNSON: I was thinking, you know, because it's crazy because I had a play like that my senior year in high school. Last game, too as well. I would've probably dunked it, and I looked up and I said, I got time. Nah, I'm not trying to get hurt. That was going through my mind. I just didn't want to get hurt because I don't want to miss any more games.
Q. On emotions at the buzzer…
JOHNSON: It's tears of joy. I battled throughout the whole year mentally and physically. You know, those are just – those final seconds are like it's really my last game. It's just crazy, because from where I started to where I finished, I know it's been a difficult year. It's like I still push through everything I've been through, and I got to the finish line.
Not quite there yet because still more basketball left and want to finish the right way, like I keep saying. Really, really proud of myself and really proud of my teammates as well.
KEL'EL WARE | INDIANA CENTER
Q. On if he has been able to "prove people wrong" this season…
WARE: [There's] always still more to prove, so I don't feel like I've proven myself just yet.
Q. On free-throw to take final lead…
WARE: Just don't think, shoot. That was all I was thinking. Just don't think, shoot.
Q. On becoming more aggressive offensively…
WARE: [It's] just wanting to win. You know, of course I've been wanting to win the whole season, but I feel like looking past it I just need to be more aggressive, and that's what I've been doing on the offensive end, and just trying to help my team as much as I can on the defensive end just to come up with the end.
Q. On Trey Galloway…
WARE: Trey is definitely a big part of our offense, with him just being able to get downhill, throw the lob, or get to his flow offensively. With him going down, I just felt like not even just me, but everybody on the team had to step up if we wanted to get the win. I feel like that's what we did.
TOM IZZO | MICHIGAN STATE HEAD COACH
Opening Statement
IZZO: I was disappointed with the start. I thought that we took bad shots, took too many threes. We didn't get back in transition. We did the things that we weren't supposed to do. I had a couple of my guards that didn't play very well. At about the five-minute mark was all but threats. I got guys to start looking at the basket and taking shots. I am sick of getting blamed for things. You want to talk about getting on to somebody, (Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall) is the greatest place in the world for people that get on to people. I am upset because we had a seven-point lead, and we didn't guard. But I'm also proud because in that environment, the way that we came back, the way that we executed, the way we shot. Tyson (Walker) started making some shots and Jaden (Akins) made a couple. I thought I did a poor job. We were so paranoid when (Indiana) starts making threes by guys that don't. it's hard to double down. Give (Kel'el) Ware credit. (Malik Reneau and Kel'el Ware) ate us alive. Ware made that banked in one in the first half and (Xavier) Johnson makes a three. It's been that kind of year. I'm glad the regular season is over, Maybe any kind of tournament time will change that. There are a lot of guys banking in threes and banking in things. I'll leave here thinking that my guys that fought back after being down 16, it was all because of poor shots and a very poor job of following the gameplan. We did not get back in transition, and that's what hurt us early.
On how rebounding effected the comeback…
IZZO: We rebounded better. When Jaden plays he's a very good player. He went up and got some rebounds and tipped some. We're just not good enough if we don't have one of our wings to do that. (Indiana) did a good job of doubling Malik (Hall), and we didn't make enough shots when we reversed it around. We had them. We had good shots, and I don't have any problem with the shots. We just didn't make the shots we needed to make. Rebounding has been a key. Transition was a key. Ball movement was a key. You saw when we did some of those there was some success.
On Kel'el Ware…
IZZO: I give Mike (Woodson) credit. He did a hell of a job with Ware. He deserves a lot of credit. I played against Ware last year, and he wasn't very good. He's kind of like our kid, (Xavier) Booker. I think that strength, and he's tougher. Earlier in the year he was okay, but the last half of the year he has been a force to reckon with. I give Mike a lot of credit and Ware a lot of credit on that. He made some tough shots too. Besides the banked in one, he made a couple that I thought were pretty well defended. I have to do a better job of where we doubled from. (Indiana) just kept going to him. We tried to react with a couple of different things, but that falls onto me.
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