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INDIANAPOLIS – Trayce Jackson-Davis wouldn’t specify precisely who stated it. Requested about it through the postgame press convention, he turned to Mike Woodson, who made it identified that no additional particulars needs to be revealed. However regardless, it was stated within the locker room after the sport.
“Like they stated within the locker room, I don’t suppose anybody desires to see us proper now,” Jackson-Davis stated.
That message was delivered even after what occurred on the finish of Saturday’s sport. With the sport tied and time working down, Iowa’s Jordan Bohannon curled to the highest of the important thing, then squared himself up and launched a 3 from close to the midcourt brand. It banked in.
However that shot and Indiana’s 80-77 loss to Iowa within the semifinals of the Massive Ten match shouldn’t overshadow what it completed over the previous few days. Iowa has confirmed itself to be a very good crew. It entered Saturday successful 10 of its final 12 video games. There have been flaws to Indiana’s efficiency on Saturday, however the Hoosiers got here to Indianapolis as a crew that was seemingly looking out to search out its stride and it left after having made a press release.
“I believe we’ve confirmed not solely to the Massive Ten however to the nation that we’re additionally a crew, a prime crew that may compete with anybody,” Jackson-Davis stated. “So it took the last-second three to beat us towards the most popular crew within the Massive Ten proper now and it stings, however on the identical time I really feel like we’ve acquired a whole lot of ball left.”
It’s value placing into perspective the place Indiana was only one week in the past. The Hoosiers had simply endured one other missed alternative, one other heartbreak, with a two-point loss at Purdue. It appeared that Indiana’s NCAA match hopes have been fleeting. Earlier within the season, Indiana was as soon as considered as an NCAA match crew, however dropped right into a tailspin. To finish the common season, Indiana misplaced seven of 9 video games, together with one to Northwestern the place 5 of its gamers have been suspended, plus there have been a handful of blown video games within the last minutes.
However the narrative round not solely this crew but in addition this system took an upward flip over the previous few days. Indiana trailed by 17 factors within the second half towards Michigan, however rallied in outstanding style to beat the deficit and maintain its match hopes alive. On Friday, Indiana then knocked off top-seeded Illinois. In these two video games, the Hoosiers have been lastly in a position to shut out video games down the stretch. They performed with the kind of ardour and depth that seemingly makes it simple for a fanbase to embrace. Nothing is last till Sunday, however even with Saturday’s loss, Indiana will probably make the NCAA match for the primary time since 2016.
“We listened to Coach’s plan and we lastly acquired over the hump. After that first sport towards Michigan, I believe that’s after we began to imagine,” Jackson-Davis stated. “I believe after we acquired down at Iowa late, I nonetheless suppose that our crew believed that we have been going to win after which clearly they hit a troublesome shot and it occurs. That’s basketball.”
There have been elements of Saturday’s sport, although, that have been regarding. Indiana failed to shut out a sport as has occurred many instances this season — whether or not it’s towards Wisconsin or Rutgers or on the highway towards Ohio State. On Saturday, Indiana led by 9 factors with 5:29 remaining earlier than letting Iowa take the sport.
There was additionally the case of the 3-point line. Iowa, generally known as a prolific 3-point capturing crew, knocked down 14 threes, making 44 % of its pictures from deep. Keegan Murray was 8-of-10 from three. Bohannon was 4-of-9. There have been different moments this season the place 3-point protection has been an issue for Indiana. Amongst different situations, the Hoosiers gave up 13 threes to Syracuse, 11 in its first matchup with Penn State, 11 within the loss to Michigan and 14 on the highway towards Minnesota.
On the flip facet, there have been few instances the place Indiana was in a position to counter with threes of its personal. The Hoosiers made simply 5 threes, connecting at only a 26 % clip from deep. Miller Kopp and Parker Stewart mixed to shoot 2-of-9 from three. Three-point capturing hasn’t been a constant energy for Indiana this season because the Hoosiers entered the day at 34 %.
“There have been a whole lot of wide-open appears to be like tonight, we simply didn’t make them and that’s part of basketball,” Woodson stated. “I imply, I acquired to maintain positioning our guys. When Trayce is being double-teamed, our guys have gotten to step up and make pictures. I assumed Iowa made pictures once they had open appears to be like and we struggled to make them tonight in that space.”
In a optimistic gentle, Saturday additionally reaffirmed the truth that two of arguably Indiana’s most vital gamers are enjoying phenomenal basketball proper now.
On Saturday, Jackson-Davis completed with 31 factors on 15-of-21 from the sphere, 10 rebounds and three assists. In his profession at IU, Jackson-Davis has collected quite a few accolades, however by no means performed in an NCAA match and struggled some towards the convention’s prime massive males this season. This weekend seemingly modified that view. Jackson-Davis had 24 factors and eight rebounds towards Hunter Dickinson and Michigan. He adopted it up with 21 factors and 7 rebounds towards Kofi Cockburn and Illinois.
After stretches of inconsistent play earlier this season and taking criticism, Johnson has develop into a useful flooring basic. He has put up double-figure scoring numbers in Indiana’s final eight video games. In opposition to Michigan on Thursday, he had 17 factors, seven assists and eight rebounds. In opposition to Illinois on Friday, he had 13 factors, six assists and 4 rebounds. On Saturday, he completed with 20 factors, 9 assists and 4 rebounds. He has additionally displayed his chemistry with Jackson-Davis, particularly within the choose and roll.
“He’s a fantastic participant, particularly when he will get downhill, he’s going to make the correct reads,” Jackson-Davis stated of Johnson. “And enjoying with him, I really like enjoying with him, that’s my man.”
On Twitter after the sport, gamers expressed their ideas. Even in a loss, there appeared to be positivity. “Lets Dance.” Jackson-Davis posted. “Words can’t explain how proud I am of my brothers. Still have more ball to play! LETS BOOGIE!” Johnson posted. “Love this team… Let’s dance” Kopp posted.
Indiana proved one thing this weekend. They’re a great crew. One that’s able to noise within the postseason. The loss to Iowa shouldn’t take that away.
“We’re battled-tested,” Woodson stated. “We’ve been in so many video games and the video games that we now have come up quick, it’s been — it’s been powerful, however our guys have all the time responded and we’ll reply once more after this one tonight.”
Filed to: 2022 Big Ten tournament
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