Check out what Indiana head coach Mike Woodson said after his team’s 78-71 win over Nebraska in Lincoln on Monday evening.
The below comments are from his post-game radio appearance and Q&A session with the media.
Indiana (13-4, 4-3) will host Purdue on Thursday in Bloomington.
See also: Three keys, highlights, final stats
Radio broadcast comments
On the first road win of the season
Woodson: It was a great team effort man, a great team win. We needed it in the worst way, just trying to stay in the hunt in this Big Ten.
On the bench contributions
Woodson: I thought our bench was great tonight. I’ve kind of been on them about stepping up playing (better). I thought Tamar gave us some positive minutes, and Trey (Galloway) was great. (Jordan) Geronimo was fantastic. We’re going to need that as we navigate through this Big Ten man. It’s no joke.
On Jordan Geronimo
Woodson: He was solid. He hit a big shot coming down the stretch that really stopped some of their momentum, and we were able to stretch out from there and secure the win.
On Trayce Jackson-Davis’ injury
Woodson: I hope so (that the injury is just a bruise), I don’t know the extent of it yet. He’ll get back and get evaluated and we’ll just see what happens.
On Nebraska’s guards
Woodson: Their guards put so much pressure on you. I thought we did a great job on (Bryce) McGowens at our place but tonight he kind of had his way a little bit. And Verge was a nuisance in terms of getting the ball downhill and making plays. Those two really played well, but I thought our length and our size bothered them a little bit. Trayce and Race kind of had their way around the rim, and then Geronimo came in and stepped up and made big plays and big rebounds for us.
On wearing a sport coat on the road
Woodson: (Laughing) Well we had short sleeve t-shirts on representing Martin Luther King and his celebration today, so I thought it would be appropriate to wear a jacket, so I think we might be wearing jackets on the road (from now on). I think jackets might be the way to go.
Q&A with Media
What was special about this win
We’ve played well enough on the road to have won some games by now again this was a big win for us you know our ace in the hole goes down with six seven minutes left in the game and our mentality is next man up and we moved race to the five and kept Geronimo at the four and they closed it out which was kind of nice to see.
On Jackson-Davis’ injury
I don’t know we’ll go back and reassess him you know once we get back and see where he is. We’ll go from there. It was probably his tailbone you know the way he landed, I mean I don’t think he had a chance to really
break his fall. (Smiling) He’s young, he’ll be alright.
On Jordan Geronimo’s play
He was huge. I thought our bench was great. Trey (Galloway) came in and I thought Tamar played some positive minutes. But Geronimo was huge you know he he made four of his four shots and eight rebounds and he was great defensively. Probably the most minutes I played him and he might he might be earning some more minutes if he can continue to play that way.
On the early foul calls
I mean we fouled a lot and they fouled a lot too but you know I mean that’s Big Ten basketball you just gotta
play however the officials are calling it that night.
On keeping the turnovers lower for most of the game
You know we try to keep our turnovers at 12 or less turnovers and I just thought you know our guards did a pretty good job of controlling the tempo you know they made them their runs you know we came down and we milked possessions and we got into something and was able to counter you know their runs and secure the win.
On why the bench was able to step up
I tell you guys this all the time the is just as important as the guys at the start and our bench has been struggling a little bit and I thought tonight you know they came in with the right mindset and we got some good production off the bench and I’ll play the bench as long as they’re they’re playing well I mean unfortunately our last game you know we got seven eight point lead they come in and the team goes over 10-0 run and I’ve got to make changes as a coach and I thought tonight they were ready to go and very productive and helped us secure this win.
How big is it to finally get the road win.
It’s huge I mean you know I’ve said it all the time you’ve got to win your games at home and when you’re on the road you got to try to put yourself in the best position possible to win and we’ve done that and our defense has held us in on the road and has given us opportunities. I just got to help get over the hump, that’s the bottom line I thought tonight we did a great job in that regard.
On playing Purdue on Thursday and the losing streak
Don’t remind me of that. I mean again they’re next on our schedule and we can’t lose at home. I mean that’s that’s just my message I can’t say it loud enough I mean you know they’re a great team I watched them today against Illinois winning in double overtime. I mean they’re huge they got talent out front but hey we’re just gonna have to match them and see what happens.
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