Illinois Coach Brad Underwood Previews Indiana Game

Illinois coach Brad Underwood met with the media on Friday, ahead of his team's road trip to Indiana on Saturday. Here's what he said about the Hoosiers.

Illinois travels to Assembly Hall on Saturday, seeking revenge against the No. 14 Indiana Hoosiers. The Illini lost 80-65 at home against Indiana on Jan. 19, and most recently lost 93-81 at Penn State on Tuesday.

Illinois stands at 17-8 overall and 8-6 in conference play, making Saturday's game at Indiana (18-8, 9-6) crucial to the Big Ten standings. 

Coach Brad Underwood met with the media on Friday, and here's what he said about Indiana.

On moving on to Indiana after loss at Penn State ...

Underwood: So just got to learn from it, put it in the back pocket and get ready for Indiana. Obviously, they're coming off a tough loss. The first ball game, Trayce was literally the show. I thought we did not much good in that game. That's not to discredit them, Trayce was phenomenal. But it's a game we missed 13 layups and 14 free throws. When we had opportunities to score, we didn't keep it close. When we had opportunities to stop a run, we missed free throws. I thought we were pretty solid on most of their other guys, with the exception of Trayce. But he's playing at a National MVP-type level and we've got to be aware of that going into next game.

On what's different with Trayce Jackson-Davis from last year to this year ...

Underwood: Grown man. Confidence. I think that they've had a couple of injuries, obviously Xavier Johnson being out and Race [Thompson] and that helped, in my opinion. That helped Trayce. They put Hood-Schifino – he's a pro – they put an NBA point guard out there, gave him the ball, and everybody else has been really good in their roles. And they are playing through him every single trip. And they don't hesitate to do anything else. They might run an action every 10 possessions for Hood-Schifino, but everything else plays exactly through [Trayce]. And through that, he's gained tremendous confidence. We know what an elite athlete he is, and he's playing like a fourth-year college player should. He's been dominant throughout Big Ten play.

On Indiana being 13-1 at home ...

Underwood: Almost every team plays better at home. They have a big fan base, and you don't travel. So yeah, like most teams would, you try to take care of home base and win at home.

On Jackson-Davis' improved assist numbers ...

Underwood: He's the best passing big man in the country. He's the best passing big man in the country. It's what happens when you have experience, you have size now, strength, he's been in the weight room for four years. You pair that with his athleticism, and now he's seen every coverage. He has seen singles, he's seen doubles, he's seen it from the baseline, he's seen it from the top. And you know, he's not afraid of the trap. He's not afraid to split them. He's an elite, elite passer out of double-teams, so it's a little bit of pick your poison, and that's why he's a pro. Pros make good plays and elevate their teammates, and he's elevated that team because of his passing.

On seeing the way other teams have defended Jackson-Davis ...

Underwood: Northwestern doubled him every trip and he had eight assists, almost had a triple double. He's been doubled almost every single game, and teams have zoned him and he finds a way to get 25 rebounds in those games. He's a really, really good player, and you don't slow down really good players. Kofi [Cockburn] got 20 and 10 every night, didn't matter what he saw. Trayce is in that field, at that level. I mean, you've got to hope that he's – you've got to play him both ends of the court. You can't let him just be an offensive player, and then you've got to pick your poison.

On Indiana beating them with 2-point field goals the first game and adjusting to that ...

Underwood: I'm not going to tell you that. But yeah the efficiency, twos are one thing, the hard twos and the efficiency of [Jackson-Davis'] twos, I think he was 8-for-8. I think at the eight-minute mark he had two baskets, and then it became too comfortable. We let him catch it on his spots. We let him catch it deep, or one or two dribbles and he got it where he wanted. But yeah, the efficiency, sure, twos can beat you when you're that efficient at it. He's been that, no matter what. Double teams, singles, zone, man, I mean he's been that pretty much all year. So that's what a pro looks like from an athleticism standpoint. He's a guy that athletically there's not many like him in the country.

On Indiana's combination of Jackson-Davis and 3-point shooters being similar to last year's Illinois team with Kofi Cockburn ...

Underwood: You start looking at the productivity of our players last year with Kofi. It's not rocket science to see why [Alfonso] Plummer became an All-Big Ten player. You look at I mean, Jacob Grandison had 26 in a game. Trent Frazier's productivity, all those guys, and they're good players, but when you have to worry about a horse in the middle and double and don't have to play single coverage, all of that becomes elevated. That's why Alfonso was such a big piece of our team was adding an elite shooter and that space. Do you want to give up a three? Because he was going to make it if he was open, or are you good with twos? Teams have to pick their poison, and unfortunately this league's got two of the best in the country this year in Zach [Edey] and Trayce. And they've spaced this year with Miller Kopp, they've spaced with Hood-Schifino and they've got good players. Other than the freshmen, they're old. Yeah, it's a challenge, there's no doubt.

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