BORDEN – It’s been a fruitful offseason for Indiana, because the Hoosiers secured a top-five nationwide recruiting class and had been boosted by the return of beginning frontcourt standouts Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson.
However perimeter capturing stays an space for concern for IU heading into the 2022-23 season. The Hoosiers completed eleventh within the Massive Ten in 3-point discipline aim proportion (33.3%) and final in 3-pointers made (5.9 per sport).
As well as, IU misplaced guard Parker Stewart to the switch portal. He led the Hoosiers in 3-pointers made (53) and 3-point proportion (39.3%) final season.
The Hoosiers tried to handle that loss once they introduced in West Virginia sharp-shooter Sean McNeil, who made 57 3-pointers and shot 36.8% from 3-point vary, for a go to when McNeil entered the switch portal. However McNeil opted to switch to Ohio State.
Earlier than an IU talking engagement at Huber’s Orchard and Vineyard on Wednesday, Woodson stated will probably be as much as the remaining gamers to select up the slack.
“We’ve added just a few items that I feel guys will be capable of make the 3-ball and guys that had been right here final season,” Woodson stated. “They’re within the health club, nonetheless engaged on the 3-point shot, and it’s a giant a part of our sport, and I get it.
“However I nonetheless assume you want low put up play, and I nonetheless assume your protection needs to be stable sufficient to generate offense for you so — and we had been fairly good in that space as nicely, so we’ve obtained to proceed to develop.”
Requested which gamers he expects to step up and make extra 3-pointers subsequent season, Woodson went down your entire roster. A number of gamers, Woodson stated, may have the inexperienced gentle.
“For those who’re taking part in minutes and you take these pictures, I’m relying on you to make them,” Woodson stated. “(Trey) Galloway, Xavier (Johnson), Kaleb Banks if he is available in and performs, C.J. Gunn, Jalen Hood-Schifino, (Jordan) Geronimo, Tamar Bates, we’ve sufficient guys who put within the time. I really feel good if they’ll lace it up subsequent 12 months, they’ll make them. That’s solely who I can really feel. They’ve obtained to make pictures.”
TRAYCE TO GET GREEN LIGHT
Woodson stated the return of Jackson-Davis is “large,” and he flew out to Los Angeles to look at him work out and spoke with him at his house in Indianapolis earlier than he made his choice.
Primarily, Woodson stated Jackson-Davis will stay on the low block however will get a chance to develop his perimeter sport to open up the protection so as to assist the Hoosiers and his personal NBA draft inventory.
“He’s obtained to shoot the ball and be ok with capturing, and he’s going to make some, and he’s going to overlook some,” Woodson stated. “I missed loads of pictures in my profession, and I made loads of pictures in my profession. It’s part of a sport, and I’ve obtained so someway get him over the hump.”
FUTURE SERIES WITH UK, LOUISVILLE
Woodson was joyful to see Kenny Payne get the pinnacle teaching job at Louisville. Payne and Woodson are pals as each labored as NBA assistants in latest seasons.
Woodson stated he’s talked with Payne and Louisville athletic director Josh Heard about the opportunity of a home-and-home sequence with the Cardinals. Louisville and IU final performed Dec. 8, 2018, a sport the Hoosiers received 68-67 at Simon Skjodt Meeting Corridor.
“I’ve had an opportunity to speak to Kenny and their AD, and he’s promised me one thing in two years, as soon as Kenny obtained up and going and we might presumably get a sport with Louisville in a few years,” Woodson stated. “I’ll take that each one 12 months lengthy as a result of I do know it might be a aggressive sport, and Indiana followers sort of like taking part in Kentucky followers anyway.”
Woodson additionally intends to stay involved with Kentucky coach John Calipari about renewing the Indiana-Kentucky sequence, which hasn’t been performed within the common season since IU upset No. 1 Kentucky 73-72 on Dec. 10, 2011.
“I’m going to remain on his heels and get the Kentucky-Indiana sequence again on the desk as a result of I feel over time that was a helluva sport going to Lexington and them coming to Bloomington,” Woodson stated. “It may not be Bloomington-Lexington, I don’t know, however nonetheless method I can get it performed we’ll take it.”