Trayce Jackson-Davis earns Indiana basketball MVP again in Sunday’s win

In Sunday’s 86-56 win over Miami (OH) in Indianapolis, Trayce Jackson-Davis showed up for Indiana basketball with his first double-double of 2022-23.

Stat line vs. Miami (OH): 24 MIN | 17 PTS | 16 REB | 6/8 FG | 5/7 FT | 3 AST | 1 BLK | 1 PF | 0 TOV

After dominating Xavier’s frontcourt on Friday at the Cintas Center with 30 points, Trayce Jackson-Davis followed up with another dominant showing in the Hoosiers’ second home in Indianapolis.

Over his past two games, TJD has totaled 47 points, 22 rebounds, and four blocks. Jackson-Davis is shooting 19-for-24 (79.2 percent) from the field and if that’s not something a candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year would do, I don’t know what else you’re looking for.

From a backward dunk off an alley-oop pass to leading the break and dishing out assists, Jackson-Davis was doing a lot on the court without forcing much.

That might be what’s impressed me most about TJD this season. In recent seasons, we would see Jackson-Davis put up 10+ field goal attempts in nearly every game, along with trying to force the ball against double teams or panic in those types of situations.

Through his first four games this season, Jackson-Davis is averaging 20.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, along with shooting 75.6 percent from the field in 26.5 minutes. Last season, TJD was averaging 17.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, along with shooting 60.5 percent from the field in 29.7 minutes. That’s a big jump for the senior big man!

Hopefully, he can continue his dominance in lower minutes this week against Arkansas-Little Rock and Jackson State before having to face goliath (North Carolina) on November 30.