Here's What Trey Galloway, Miller Kopp Said After Indiana's Win Over Bethune-Cookman
In this story:
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Miller Kopp made four three-pointers on Thursday night in Indiana's 101-49 victory over Bethune-Cookman. Trey Galloway had two himself and scored 10 points off the bench. The pair met with the media after the game. Here's the full video of their press conference, plus the transcript.
Q. Guys, you get questioned often about shooting and stuff, but 21 of 22 from the free-throw line tonight and ten three-pointers tonight. How much dramatically different does it make the team when you guys are hitting shots and making free throws.
TREY GALLOWAY: "Obviously it makes a big difference. Just being able to split out the floor and make shots because we've been working on that and we've been working on game rep shots and getting shots up.
"I think just shooting the ball with confidence is a big thing for us because we know we've got guys that can make shots. So just continuous repetition of that and having guys be ready to step up and knock it down.
"Obviously free throws is pretty much mental. You've got to go up to the line with that mentality that you're going to step up and knock it down. So I think we've been really focused on taking free throws seriously during practice and walking in and taking them serious and just knocking them down is what matters.''
Q. Trey, when your unit came onto the floor, I think you had seven assists on seven buckets between all four of you guys. How does that come so quick for this unit? You demonstrated that on Monday as well.
GALLOWAY: "It's our responsibility to just be that second unit and coming in and bringing a spark off the bench because we know, when we come in, we can pick the pace up right away. I thought the starters did get off to a good lead, but we come in to extend it. I thought we did a good job of that tonight.''
Q. For either of you guys, how important are X and Jalen in acting as a bridge between the first unit and the second unit and getting you out in transition? Miller, especially for you, just being able to break defenses down on your side of the floor and create shots for you. How important is it to have two guys who maybe don't need to score to get the offense moving in a lot of different ways?
MILLER KOPP: "Both those guys are super skilled and can really share the ball, really handle the ball. I think they're both getting a good feel for playing with each other and then transitioning when it's just one of them on the court together.
"So they're doing a good job of learning what Coach Woody wants and how to play with each other and pick their spots and be aggressive and make the right play passing-wise.
"They're learning, and they're getting better every day. It's been great to play with them and see their progression. Just see how far they've come and how much more room they have to grow too.''
Indiana junior Trey Galloway makes a pass during the Hoosiers' win over Bethune-Cookman. (USA TODAY Sports)
Q. Trey, Jalen didn't have a good shooting night tonight, but he had eight assists. You've been with him now for several months. What are the ways he impacts winning even if he's not having a good shooting night?
GALLOWAY: "Yeah, like you said, shots aren't falling, they're not going to fall every night. So there's other things and other ways you can impact games, and that's what he does well.
When he's got the ball in his hands, he makes the right play, makes the right reads. He's going to continue to make those plays when we need him to. I think he did a great job of that, just finding guys in transition like Miller, finding open guys, finding me. We're running. He's doing a good job of pushing it and pushing the pace for sure.''
Q. For either of you, questions about Jordan, just what have you seen as the difference in him from last year to this year? How has his game changed? What can he do now he maybe couldn't do a year ago?
KOPP: "He's put a lot of work in in the summer. Mentally he's just more confident, I think. When he goes and makes a move and attacks a rim or takes a shot, there's a level of confidence and certainty that he's doing the right thing.
"I think it makes it -- the product of what you see, whether it's make or miss or whatever it may be, it just looks like more natural. So that comes with obviously reps and work in the summer, which he's done.
"You just see it on the floor. He looks more comfortable, more natural, which he does and he deserves to be because he got a lot better this year.''
Indiana's Miller Kopp (12) makes a three-pointer during the first half against Bethune-Cookman on Thursday. (Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK)
Q. Miller, you came here hoping to be the three-point shooter that they needed last year. It wasn't quite there. This year just watching you in warmups even, it looks like you've worked on getting your shot off quicker, you look smoother, and getting into that roll you got into tonight, you hit the two that you took in the last game, 4 of 6 tonight. What is the difference for you out there on the floor behind the arc?
KOPP: "I think for me this summer was a big focus. Obviously you always want to shoot better. You can always dribble better. You can always just be better. Going into the off-season was big for me just focusing on getting reps and mentally being cognitive of how big mentally shooting is and shooting is mentally, I guess.
"So I did a lot of work on my golf swing this summer and tried to get outside and get tan a lot. So mentally I think that helped, and I think, if you look at the best basketball players, they all — Michael Jordan, Steph Curry — they all are great golfers too. So I think that helped.''
Related stories on Indiana basketball
- GAME STORY: Trayce Jackson-Davis scored 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting, and No. 13 Indiana made 10 three-pointers and 21-of-22 free throws in a convincing 101-49 rout of Bethune-Cookman. on Thursday night. Here is Tom Brew's game story. CLICK HERE
- WHAT WOODSON SAID: Here's what Indiana coach Mike Woodson said after Indiana's win over Bethune-Cookman on Thursday. Full video from his press conference, plus the transcript for those who prefer to read it all. CLICK HERE
- WATCH MILLER KOPP FROM DEEP: Miller Kopp drilled a 3-pointer from the corner, and Indiana is 8-for-16 from 3 in the first half. CLICK HERE
- WATCH MALIK RENEAU DRAINS 3: Malik Reneau showed he's more than an inside presence on Thursday by hitting a 3 in transition. CLICK HERE
- LIVE BLOG: Indiana is back in action on Thursday night, with another home game, this time against Bethune-Cookman. This is our live blog, straight from press row, where we'll keep you updated on all the news and views from the game in real time. We'll throw in some highlights and opinion as well. CLICK HERE
- INDIANA SCHEDULE: Here is Indiana's complete 2022-23 schedule, with dates, game times, locations and TV information, plus links to stories on the games already played. CLICK HERE
