'Back in the Big Dance': Mike Woodson reflects on Indiana's clutch win vs. Illinois
Indiana entered Indianapolis squarely on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. After a win over Illinois, expectations are that the Hoosiers have solidified a bid into March Madness.
To be fair, nothing is determined until Selection Sunday. And at this point, it’s possible for the Hoosiers to finish the deal and win the B1G Tournament after advancing to the semifinals set for Saturday. Just don’t try to tell head coach Mike Woodson nothing has been decided.
After the upset of the Illini, Woodson reflected on the win, saying it’s “fantastic” for Indiana to be “back in the Big Dance.”
Woodson: “It’s great for our program. I think it’s fantastic that we’re back in the Big Dance.”
— Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) March 11, 2022
That should be the case with ESPN’s Joe Lunardi bumping Indiana up to the “Last Four In” section of his bracketology. That was even before the win over Illinois.
Woodson also reflected on some of the late-season struggles, what looked to be a serious knee injury to Jordan Geronimo and Trayce Jackson-Davis’ huge game in a matchup vs. Kofi Cockburn.
Woodson: “You look at the seven games we lost. We held leads (or were close) we just couldn’t close.”
— Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) March 11, 2022
Woodson says he tells Jackson-Davis to take two shots a game. “He won’t shoot them.” Again, the narrative conflicts on this. Doesn’t mean somebody’s lying, but still.
— Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) March 11, 2022
Woodson: “Our defense has been pretty damn good this year, guys. We knew coming into this game we had to guard the 3-point line. That’s what got us in Bloomington.”
Illinois shot 35.7 percent from floor, 36.4 percent from 3. #iubb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) March 11, 2022
Woodson asked by @bkravitz if he was scared when Jackson-Davis put that jumper up.
“I said ‘Hallelujah.'” #iubb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) March 11, 2022
Woodson said Geronimo is being evaluated. It’s his knee. “I don’t know how bad it is. I think he’s going to have to get an MRI.”
— Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) March 11, 2022
