At 2022 Big Ten Media Day in Minneapolis, Trayce Jackson-Davis and the Indiana basketball program showed up in style and steals the show. Jackson-Davis was accompanied by senior forward, Race Thompson, and led by head coach, Mike Woodson, at this years Big Ten Media Day.
Coach Mike Woodson took the stage first for the Indiana basketball program and with a big smile on his face, he showed his leadership and confidence in his roster and coaching staff. The return of Trayce Jackson-Davis was obviously a huge piece for the potential of this team this upcoming season, but the incoming freshman, Jalen Hood-Schifino, is becoming the talk of the town and was named the Preseason Big Ten Freshman of the Year:
"“All the freshmen that have come in this season, I like ’em because they are competitive. Jalen sits right at the top. I’ve kind of had him in the starting lineup, I’ve had him on the second team. I’m just trying to look at combinations just to see who’s going to start, who’s going to get the minutes.”"
Along with his returning roster and great freshman additions, Woodson was questioned about the amount of hype and buzz surrounding this Hoosier team this year and what that means to the team. Indiana basketball is preseason ranked as a top 15 team in the country, along with being picked as the likely Big Ten Champion. With a preseason player of the year candidate and plenty of experience and depth, Mike Woodson has plenty of talent and the history to back it up to back that hype up.
"“Well, it is what it is. It’s part of the game. When I was in school as a player, I never bought into the rankings. You still got to go out and play the game.”"
Lights. Camera. Action.#B1GMediaDays pic.twitter.com/nxDG4j8UaB
— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) October 12, 2022
“I think that’s the last thing for my legacy here, being a part of a great team.”
The 2022-23 Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year showed up in a custom-tailored candy stripe suit that caught the attention of anyone and everyone in Minneapolis. It seems as though his biggest focus of this upcoming season is winning. As it should be. Across his first three seasons in Bloomington, Jackson-Davis has led this IU team to an overall record of 53-41 (.564) and a conference record of 25-34 (.424). This will be the first season for TJD that the Hoosiers will be ranked in the preseason top-25 and he has a chance to lead this good team to big things in the postseason.
One of my favorite moments from Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson’s press conference was when they were asked which other Big Ten player would they add to their roster if they could pick anyone. The response is exactly what Hoosier Nation should want to hear as we near the 2022-23 season. Watch the full video below.