Mike Woodson Radio Show: Recapping Wins Over Wisconsin, Maryland; Previewing Minnesota

Here are the highlights from Monday's "Inside Indiana Basketball" radio show with Mike Woodson, recapping the Hoosiers recent wins over Wisconsin and Maryland, and previewing Wednesday's road game against Minnesota.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana coach Mike Woodson met with play-by-play announcer Don Fischer Monday night for the latest "Inside Indiana Basketball" radio show at the Chop Shop Market and Table restaurant.

They recapped Indiana's 74-70 win over Wisconsin on Tuesday, which snapped a four-game losing streak, and the Hoosiers' 83-78 road win against Maryland on Sunday. Looking ahead, Woodson and Fischer discussed what it'll take to keep the momentum going for Wednesday's game at Minnesota.

Here are the highlights from the radio show.

• “We’re playing a lot better, and having X[avier Johnson] back has made a difference in terms of our speed on the floor," Woodson said. 
• Against Wisconsin, Woodson said everybody pitched in. “Gallo kind of orchestrated it with 12 assists, and Ware was on the receiving end of it … He was unbelievable ... Having five blocks kind of altered a lot inside," Woodson said. Ware finished the game with 27 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks.
• “It’s been a total team effort," Woodson said. "Our defense has been pretty solid.” He said the defense was not that great first half at Maryland, but really good in second half. Indiana also started making shots, free throws and rebounding at a higher level in the second half.
• Against Maryland, Woodson said it was, “probably the best X and Gallo have played together."
• Johnson returned from an elbow injury against Wisconsin after missing six games, a stretch in which Indiana went 1-5. Since his return, Indiana is 2-0. “He’s always been a big piece to the puzzle, and not having him for over half the season was tough," Woodson said. 
• Woodson said freshman Gabe Cupps was thrown to the wolves when Johnson was injured, but he thinks those games will be good experience for Cupps in hte long run. “Gabe has handled his own, he’s been good for us, but we didn’t come into the season thinking that [he'd be a starter],” Woodson said. 
• Woodson reflected on Johnson's play two years ago, saying, “He was kind of the head of the snake at the end of the season ... It started with the pressure up the floor, picking up the ball early ... X’s speed changes the game in terms of how we want to play."
• Woodson said he watched the Maryland game on the flight home. “After last night’s game I was very happy with [Johnson] and Gallo’s play ... I thought they controlled the second half beautifully."
• Woodson said Indiana had a great game against Minnesota on Jan. 12 at Assembly Hall, and he hopes Johnson and Galloway can validate their recent play on Wednesday in Minneapolis.
• Regarding Indiana's confidence, “Anytime you win, it helps a lot," Woodson said.
• Indiana shot the ball well against Wisconsin, going 29-for-47 from the field and 6-for-14 from three. It was even better against Maryland, going 31-for-55 from the field, 7-for-16 from three and 14-for-17 at the free throw line. "We’ve missed that a lot this season in terms of being able to make shots," Woodson said. "We work on it. I’m just hoping we can continue the string.” 
• Woodson said Galloway and Ware have formed a nice connection. "Trey has improved from last season because we’ve put the ball in his hands and trusted him to make plays," Woodson said. "He normally has to guard the toughest perimeter guy on opposing teams, and he’s getting a lot of minutes ... I’m very pleased with Trey and how he’s played for us this season.”
• On Malik Reneau, “We got him playing the four, and a lot of the perimeter players that are four are maybe a little bit quicker, smaller," Woodson said. "But I think that’s where his game needs to evolve in terms of helping us win ball games.” Woodson said Reneau has shown he can make three and assist in the open court, they just have to get him rebounding and getting down in a defensive stance.
• On Reneau's foul trouble, Woodson said it's because, “Instead of moving his feet, he reaches ... I thought he was past that early on. I told the officials, I was like, ‘Damn, you’re finally letting him play some.’"
• Indiana scored 20 fast break points against Maryland, and Woodson said, “That’s how we kind of envision our team.” He wants Indiana to push the pace more, which they should be able to do with Johnson healthy.
• On Indiana's defense against Maryland, “When we tied it up at 64, our defense really, really got good. We refused to lose the game," Woodson said. "That was a major positive.”
• On Maryland's Jahmir Young, Woodson said, “We gave up so many layups the first half that it was sickening. At halftime it wasn’t real pretty in the locker room … And they came out and responded because we weren’t playing good basketball ... As the game wore on, our defense got better."
• Regarding Mackenzie Mgbako's development, Woodson said, “His last two games, if you look at his stat line, is incredible for a freshman with where we started with him and where he is today. I’m happy as hell … But he still has a ways to go in terms of his defense ... Sometimes plays happen so fast with these young guys, they don’t see it."
• Indiana went 7-for-16 on 3-point attempts at Maryland, its best percentage since Jan. 3 at Nebraska. “I’ve never been opposed to shooting threes," Woodson said. "When you shot you’ve got to make em. We’ve had a lot of wide open threes this year, we’ve just come up short ... I still think the college game is played inside out."
• Looking ahead to Wednesday's game at Minnesota, Woodson said, "They’re well coached. They got the kid [Elijah] Hawkins, who’s kind of the head of the snake in terms of running the offense ... [Dawson] Garcia is having a hell of a season." Woodson said Mike Mitchell and Cam Christie are shooting threes well this season, so Indiana will have to defend 3-point line.

The trivia question during Monday's show was, "Who holds the record for most points scored at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall?" Fischer gave three options: Steve Alford, Trayce Jackson-Davis and George McGinnis.

Although the fans in attendance guessed incorrectly twice, Woodson was very excited that the answer is a player he coached, Jackson-Davis, who scored 43 points on Nov. 27, 2021 against Marshall. Here's a screenshot of Woodson's reaction.

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• MGBAKO'S DEVELOPMENT: Freshman Mackenzie Mgbako scored a game-high 24 points in Indiana's 83-78 win over Maryland on Sunday, the third time in the last five games that he's set a new career-high in points. He has looked like a completely new player from November to March. CLICK HERE
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• WHAT WOODSON SAID: Indiana coach Mike Woodson met with the media after the Hoosiers' thrilling 83-78 victory over Maryland in College Park, Md. Indiana trailed by 16 points early in the second half before rallying. Here is the full video and transcript from his postgame press conference. CLICK HERE