INDIANA UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

November 12, 2021

Trey Galloway

Jordan Geronimo

Postgame Media Conference

Indiana - 85, Northern Illinois - 49

Q. Trey, you guys saw what those guys did Tuesday in regards to making a lot of 3s, seemed like it was a real concerted effort to keep them off the 3-point line and get out to all the shooters you were able to do it for 40 minutes tonight. Was that a main focus of emphasis?

TREY GALLOWAY: Going into the game we knew they can shoot it and they've been shooting it well. In the game against Washington we knew they were going to take a lot of 3s. That was one of our main focuses was collectively covering up the 3-point line and getting out to their shooters. I think we did a great job on that as a team.

Q. Seemed like with your second unit everybody seemed like you guys did a good job on rotations, just getting out to guys. Real quick, from a communication standpoint what did you like about how you guys played together as the units that were out there.

JORDAN GERONIMO: Yeah, so that's something we do a lot in practice -- practice a lot in practice. Just scrambling and getting a body on a body. That's something that we practice on, which is defense, obviously. So I feel like that just showed today on the court because in practice we do it all the time. So it just showed.

Q. I think in the first half you held them to 0.6 points per possession, dominated defensively, both of you, why do you think your defense was so good tonight?

TREY GALLOWAY: I think that just comes with preparation. And it's not -- I mean most of it is in the game but it's before the game and the day before the games and kind of locking in and knowing our scout and knowing what we've got to do to be able to stop them.

And also communication. I think that's the other thing that we've really tried to have a focal point on, just being able to talk to each other and be comfortable with each other out there. That's one thing we're growing on and I think we'll keep growing on it.

Q. Trayce had seven blocks in 19 minutes, a career high. How long has it been -- has he been more active a little bit, more consistent and playing harder? Have you noticed that before the season started?

JORDAN GERONIMO: Yeah, Trayce has always been playing hard, practice, in the game. It's like he's always that kind of guy that wants to prove that, prove to people that he's the player that he is. We all know the kind of player he is. He's always out there working and working hard. And it shows on the court.

TREY GALLOWAY: He's our leader, too. Him and Race are our captains. He knows what to do. If he brings it every day we're all going to bring it.

And I think that's one thing he's focused this year is really bringing it every day in practice not just the games but in practice too. I think that's helped him out a lot and it showed tonight.

Q. You've both played in the Big Ten can you think of better guard than Xavier and Rob so far what you've seen with those two?

JORDAN GERONIMO: No.

TREY GALLOWAY: I mean those two, they really benefit off of each other really well. They both can do so many things. And I think those are some of the things we need this year because we want to get out and run the guys could push it those two specifically can get out lead our offense and they're going to benefit off each other and keep going and I think it's going to work out for us.

Q. You've both had moments in the first couple of game skip ahead lobs I know some of that just happens organically but is there emphasis I think Jordan we saw the back door for you last game Trayce had that inbounds play tonight almost the emphasis on creating some of those opportunities at the rim?

JORDAN GERONIMO: All that stuff happens, like you said, naturally. It's not, like, no set plays for that kind of stuff. But just knowing each other, our tendencies and knowing how we play and what we do. And that's the chemistry we have.

Trayce knows I like the back door lob. He seeks it out there, like the last game you saw. And today also I called lob from Trayce. That's the stuff that he knows I do.

And that's just me and him. You know what I mean. But there's different combinations from different players. We all know the stuff that we like to do.

Q. Just based off these two games, how do you feel you fit in differently based on the previous system and compared to Coach Woodson's system on the offensive side of the ball?

JORDAN GERONIMO: I feel like it's just confidence. That's really all it was, to be honest. I feel I was able to do all the things I was able to do this year, but last year. Just like I could do it more efficiently because I have more confidence this year because Coach Woodson was able to talk to me and just mentally get me right for the season. I was able to contribute.

Q. We talked about this being the second year, out there being effective. Obviously Michael just came back to play tonight, Tamar was kind of back and forth with injuries. How much time has this group had to even spend together? And I guess if it hasn't been much how has it been able to find cohesion that quickly?

TREY GALLOWAY: Like you said, we've been dealing with some injuries. Guys have been in and out of the rotation in the preseason. And I think it's been like the next guy who's ready. And we're all staying ready; we've all got to stay ready because never know when your jersey is going to be called.

I think Mike's been battling with, obviously, knee injury. And he's been preparing to get back and it was just great to have him back tonight. And obviously tomorrow, getting back in the groove of things, he's been great. But I think the guys just staying prepared and just really knowing what we've got to do to get back on the court.

Q. Jordan, the activity protecting the rim tonight -- Trayce having blocks, seemed like everyone was challenging shots -- how can that translate going into St. John's and some of the other bigger opponents you guys are going to play this season?

JORDAN GERONIMO: It's going to be the same thing, really. Just being -- showing intensity on the defensive end, just challenging shots. One thing coach says, no layups. Don't give them easy shots. Even if you're like, you know, in a position where you can't even contest, just show effort at least. That's something he emphasizes a lot. And I feel like it doesn't matter if it's this team or if it's, like, a top-10 team in the country, we're still going to play hard and still show our things on defense.