Brad Underwood ‘Not Worried’ About Jackson-Davis’ 35 Points in Illinois’ 15-Point Loss

CHAMPAIGN, Ailing. – Trayce Jackson-Davis spun round, dunked over and flat-out dominated Illinois with 35 factors in Indiana’s 80-65 win on the State Farm Middle on Thursday. 

However Illinois coach Brad Underwood appeared extra involved with nearly every little thing else.

“I am not fearful about his 35,” Underwood. “I am fearful about Geronimo’s 13 when he is averaging 5. Dain guarded [Jackson-Davis] fairly good for about three possessions after which we simply laid behind him.”

Jackson-Davis added 9 rebounds, 5 assists and three blocks, a stat line no different main convention participant has achieved in a highway sport within the final 20 seasons, in accordance with the Massive Ten Community. Underwood stated Jackson-Davis caught the ball in his desired spot too typically. Illinois let Jackson-Davis go one-on-one towards Dain Dainja and Coleman Hawkins for a lot of the evening, which turned out to be a complete mismatch. 

However Underwood thought the Illini’s 14 missed free throws and 13 missed layups have been extra impactful than Jackson-Davis’ efficiency. 

“His 35 did not beat us,” Underwood stated. “He wasn’t beating us by himself. You add his 5 assists, okay, these are what harm you. We tried to not give them any 3s. It is no totally different than what we performed final yr. Now, his touches have been approach too simple. And positive, do you must run at him some? Throw him a distinct bone? And we truly tried.

However once more, it is very, very laborious to attain sufficient twos to beat you in a university sport,” Underwood stated. “Our issues have been on the offensive aspect as a result of if we make any free throws and any layups, 35 is just not going to out-do you.”

Dainja will face further proficient large males because the season progresses – Zed Key, Hunter Dickinson and Zach Edey, simply to call just a few. Underwood thinks tonight generally is a good studying lesson for Illinois’ publish protection, however he admits Jackson-Davis has a singular skillset that’s laborious to organize for.

“They’re totally different. This one’s slippery,” Underwood stated of Jackson-Davis. “This one’s a freak athlete. This one’s the most effective athlete in our league at any place. That is the best way Dain must play.”

Illinois completed the evening 24-for-62 general, 8-for-19 from 3 and 9-for-23 from the free throw line. Terrence Shannon Jr. led the Illini with 26 factors on 8-for-18 taking pictures, however the 4 remaining starters have been held to single-digit scoring and R.J. Melendez added 10 off the bench. Illinois’ second-leading scorer Matthew Mayer was sick coming into the sport, and he was held scoreless in 22 minutes of play. Underwood stated Indiana bothered the Illinois offense, which hasn’t occurred all yr. 

This loss snaps a four-game win streak for the Illini, which included victories over Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan State and Minnesota. Illinois bought sizzling throughout that 10-day stretch, however Underwood thinks they ran out of fuel. 

Thursday’s sport marked 19 consecutive days with both a sport or a observe for Illinois and nil off-days. Underwood was annoyed with Illinois’ schedule, now having to take two obligatory off-days on Friday in Saturday, whereby “We won’t contact a basketball. We won’t be within the gymnasium. We won’t be with our guys for 2 straight days,” Underwood stated.

Underwood believes this scheduling prompted psychological and bodily fatigue for the Illini, which was evident on the courtroom Thursday. He stated Indiana seemed like a workforce that had 5 days to organize, and Illinois seemed like a workforce that went 19 days with out relaxation.

“We did not combat very laborious,” Underwood stated. “We seemed like a workforce that was not within the gymnasium tonight. That is on me.”

Indiana owned the rebounding benefit 39-27 and shot 23.1 % higher than the Illini. Regardless of permitting 18 Illinois factors off 17 turnovers, Indiana noticed offensive contributions from extra than simply Jackson-Davis. Jordan Geronimo added 13, Trey Galloway scored 11 and Jalen Hood-Schifino completed with 10. 

The outcome was Indiana’s first true highway win since Nov. 18 in a sport the Hoosiers led for 36 minutes and 35 seconds. 

“They whooped our butt in each class,” Underwood stated.

• INDIANA-ILLINOIS GAME STORY: Illinois selected to not double-team Trayce Jackson-Davis on Thursday evening, and the senior made them pay. He scored 35 factors and the Hoosiers bought an enormous highway win with an 80-65 victory. Jackson-Davis made 15 of his 19 field-goal makes an attempt and his 35 was a season-high. CLICK HERE
• WATCH JACKSON-DAVIS’ BLOCK: Illinois ahead Dain Dainja drove to the left block, however Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis was there to reject the shot off the backboard. CLICK HERE
• WATCH HOOD-SCHIFINO’S DUNK: Indiana freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino cut up the Illinois protection and dunked over Coleman Hawkins within the first half. CLICK HERE
• WATCH JACKSON-DAVIS’ DUNK: Indiana star ahead Trayce Jackson-Davis spun previous Dain Dainja for an enormous slam dunk within the second half towards Illinois. CLICK HERE