Mike Woodson Previews Rivalry Matchup Against No. 1 Purdue Basketball
No. 1 Purdue basketball and in-state rival Indiana meet on the court for the first of two matchups this season at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Hoosiers coach Mike Woodson spoke to the media ahead of the matchup to discuss the program's rivalry with the Boilermakers, the upcoming battle between star Big Ten centers Zach Edey and Trayce Jackson-Davis, and more.
Here's everything he had to say before Saturday's game against Purdue:
On Purdue's success this season with two freshman guards
Woodson: They've done a tremendous job. I mean, what can you say? Playing with two freshmen and a big guy in the middle, that says a lot. Matt [Painter] has done a great job with his ball club.
They say you can't win with freshmen a lot of times in college basketball, but they're proving that they belong. They have a system that fits them and they're playing well.
On finding balance defending Zach Edey
Woodson: Well, it's tough. I mean, coming out of the NBA, I've been around dominant centers. Hakeem Olajuwon, he's not Hakeem, but you get so in tune to just stopping him.
They got other supporting pieces around Edey that have played well this year. It's a double hit. I mean, you got to lock into Edey. I thought last year we played him well.
He's playing more minutes this year. He is the guy. They have the other big guy that they had, Williams I think, last year along with him.
I'm watching film and watching other teams play him. I mean, he's a tough matchup for anybody. We just got to make sure that he doesn't go off, and try to play him as tough as we can.
As you know, last year Trayce didn't even get a chance to play him. He played 11 minutes, 11 or 12 minutes. We got to focus in on the whole team. I look at what [Mason] Gillis last night had 29 points, I believe, Gillis had 29 last night. I mean, we just got to make a total team effort to just play.
I don't want to get caught up in the Trayce-Edey thing. They're both great players. They're playing well for both teams. We just got to see where it leads us.
On defending Zach Edey without fouling
Woodson: Again, I don't mind the fouls if it's fair both ways. I mean, I'm telling our guys to play hard and try to play more physical, get into the ball and things of that nature. I don't think our team should be punished for that. There are teams that do it, too.
When you look at Edey, he's seen double teams, he's seen zones. The guy is just a big presence in the middle that demands the ball. And they go to him a lot, a lot more than they did last season. He didn't play the minutes that he's playing now last season.
My thing is, we got to just play him as hard as we can play him and make sure that the surrounding pieces don't go off, and see what happens.
We're going to have to play, too. Offensively, we're going to have to make shots to keep them honest, as well. But our defense has got to be a signature coming into that game. We're going to have to defend and rebound with this team.
On Mason Gillis having 29 points in Purdue's last game
Woodson: You can't ignore it. A guy gets 29 points in a college game, he can play. Hell, if he didn't get 29 points, I still think he's a good player.
You just got to respect everybody that plays on the floor, play 'em as hard as you can. It ain't scientific, some big deal where we got to figure out how to stop just Gillis. They got a good team. 20-something and 1. They doing something right.
You are going to have to play their team. They got two nice pieces with Gillis and Edey, but they got surrounding pieces that have played well for them, as well.
On Indiana's defense being the focus entering the matchup
Woodson: Listen, guys, when we're good, we defend, we rebound, and we share the ball, we're shooting the ball. I mean, coming into the Maryland game, we had been playing great offense. No doubt about it. The ball was moving, guys were making shots and they were feeling good about themselves.
The same thing has to apply on Saturday. We got to make shots. Our defense has to hold, we got to defend and rebound. It will be a battle. They defend, too, try to get after it as well.
When you got two teams that are banging around, the best man's going to win. That's how I look at it.
I'm anxious to get to the game and see where we are against the No. 1 team in the nation.
On the Purdue-Indiana basketball rivalry
Woodson: Again, I mean, it's the biggest game in the state of Indiana. I was recruited by Purdue and had a visit set to go to Purdue. I canceled it at the last minute based on my conversation with Coach Knight. I had already committed. Hadn't been anywhere, so I was just going to take the trip. Didn't make the trip. Glad I didn't 'cause Indiana is home for me, where I always wanted to go.
The rivalry is just what it is, man. I mean, they have their fan base, and we have our fan base. The games have been pretty competitive. I know last year both games were very, very competitive games. I can't help but think Saturday's going to be a competitive game, as well, when we go up to Purdue.
On Zach Edey and Trayce Jackson-Davis playing in the NBA
Woodson: Without a doubt. I look at our guy, at Trayce Jackson, I mean, he rebounds, he blocks shots, he defends, he finishes at the rim, he runs the floor, he passes the ball. I mean, as a coach, you can use all those things on a basketball floor. That's what's amazing to me.
Here is big Edey. Edey gets up and down the floor. He might not be as mobile as some bigs, but he's mobile enough to do what he's doing. And he's a low down low.
Big men can't play in the NBA or don't have -- It's crazy. I mean, somebody's going to take a shot at both of these players, and they going to be happy as hell when they get them.
I don't know what Edey does, but I've got to think he's a good young man and he works hard. Our guy does the same thing.
You're getting quality people. You just got to teach them the NBA game once they get at that level because it is another jump. It's faster. You got to figure out things once you get at that level.
But I think both of them are capable of playing in the league, and they deserve to be in the NBA because they're good enough.
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