INDIANA UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

February 4, 2023

Mike Woodson

Postgame Media Conference

Indiana 79, Purdue 74

Q. You went to the locker room up 15. What was the conversations then because I'm sure you knew that they were going to come back at you like that, and how did you feel about how well you handled that last minute and pulling away like you did?

MIKE WOODSON: Again, you're not the No. 1 team in the country and not be able to make runs. I thought we played extremely well the first half. I mean, from the start to the end of that half, boy, our defense was really, really good.

And you know, I thought we got a little stagnant the second half, and their defense picked up and we didn't have a lot of answers big Edey the second half, he kind of had his way. But he's a big load, man, for any team.

I thought for the most part we battled him, and then we made the plays that we needed to make coming home.

Q. Jalen had a tough game on Tuesday. What does it say about him that he bounced back and had the composure to have the second half that he did today?

MIKE WOODSON: Well, again, Jalen has been great here at home. He's had some good moments on the road and I've got to get everybody and we're out on the road to play like they do here at home. That's been the big test for our ballclub this season. But you know, he asked for the ball coming down the stretch and drew up two plays to get it to him, and he delivered.

Q. It's kind of cliché, but what are the lessons you take and what are the different lessons you take from the first half like you had and then a second half like the one you faced where there was some adversity and you made the plays you needed to down the stretch?

MIKE WOODSON: It lets me know we're taking as a team. We didn't cave. You know, this team has had its ups and downs but when we've been in ballgames we've been able to deliver. I thought we got two big defensive stops coming down the stretch and then Jalen hit two big buckets to give us the cushion that we needed. You've got to have that when you talk about trying to win at a high level and tonight I thought they answered the bell.

Q. Obviously any time you beat Purdue it's a big one but they are No. 1 and you knock them off. It's a big NCAA Tournament resumé win. What does today mean for you guys?

MIKE WOODSON: It means a lot but it don't mean anything unless you can validate it. Our next game is against Rutgers, a team that we've struggled against that's kind of had their way. You know, we've got to start preparing and preparing for them now.

This game is behind us. I told the guys, they can celebrate for about an hour and then we've got to start thinking about Rutgers (laughter).

Q. You mentioned the defense earlier today and obviously a great effort that it was and knowing it was going to take that but how did they get to that level? This was next level, what it seemed like today, it appeared from my meager standpoint that it was probably their best defensive performance all season and it took effort from everybody.

MIKE WOODSON: Well, again, guys, we've had some games this season. You know, I point to the North Carolina game when we had a full deck. I mean, we was as good as any team in the country playing that game. We've had our moments and we've had our struggles.

But at the end of the day, we answered the bell today. I thought our coaching staff did a great job in terms of prepping and getting guys in position to do what was asked of them and we delivered what we needed to deliver a win.

Q. What kind of role do you think the crowd played in your win tonight?

MIKE WOODSON: Oh, we've got the best fans in college basketball in, doubt in my mind. I've seen it for 40-some years of my life, since I came in here in 1976, the fan base here has not wavered one bit and they were fantastic tonight.

Q. Purdue's freshmen guards have been good this year. Talk about the job that Trey and Jalen did on their guards and how important perimeter defense was early in the game?

MIKE WOODSON: I thought they played a major role. I mean, they had been playing extremely well and they are good players, no doubt about that. You're not 22-1 for nothing. Those guys have helped carry the load for their ballclub. I thought tonight we did a pretty damn good job on their guards.

Q. You said previously that you've coached teams where they hit adversity and they just basically pack it in and just give up. Why is this team not like that?

MIKE WOODSON: Well, last year's team wasn't that way, and it's kind of a carryover into this season with the guys that came back.

And then we've got, I think, four competitive freshmen. It's a shame I can't play them all but you know, I thought Malik gave us some positive minutes. Kaleb came in and gave us some positive minutes. You know, those guys are future guys that we're going to have to lean on to get better over the summer and get ready for the next seasons that they are here.

But I don't know, I mean, this is Trayce and Race and X who is not with us right now, and Miller, this is their last go-around. No time to quit. They have got something to prove, too. The Big Ten Championship is still out there, and somebody's got to win it. So I mean, we've just got to keep hammering and scraping and scratching and see where it leads us.

Q. Looking at the turnovers, you turned it over eight times, I think they only got eight points off that. They turned it over 16; you got 20 off that. Why do you think that was such an advantage?

MIKE WOODSON: I just thought our pressure early put us in a different place defensively. Their team, they rarely turn the ball over. But I just thought our pressure allowed them to make mistakes, and we doubled Edey some early; that helped us, I thought. But I just thought the game plan was perfect and now this is behind us and we've got to start thinking about Rutgers.

Q. Obviously T.J. vs. Edey was the marquis matchup but your role players stepped up. What is it about those guys that allows them to bring their energy and effort that they showed today.

MIKE WOODSON: Yes, Edey and Trayce Jackson are two of the top players in the country I think and they showed that tonight.

But I thought our supporting cast played a little bit better than theirs tonight, and we needed to because they -- Gillis has been playing well.

Listen, they are 22-1, man. They have been playing some damn good basketball. Painter has done a great job with them but tonight was just our night.

Q. Trayce with 25. What did you see from his attitude and preparation leading up to this, and what is it about his attitude today that represents himself as someone who wants to win games for Indiana Basketball?

MIKE WOODSON: Well, again, it's just not his preparation. Everybody has to be -- he can't do it by himself, and I thought everybody that played contributed. You know, it's got to be that way. Everybody knows that Trayce is our best player and the ball is going to go to him. But the supporting cast have got to be able to do their part and I thought they did that tonight.