Hoosier State of Mind
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Trayce Jackson-Davis stands out & more Indiana basketball predictions vs. Arizona

By Connor O’Keefe

Indiana Hoosiers forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (23). Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Indiana Hoosiers forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (23). Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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No. 14 Indiana basketball clashes with No. 10 Arizona on Saturday in Las Vegas, for the Hoosiers’ second top-25 showdown of the season.

There was history made in Assembly Hall the last time the Hoosiers took the floor. Trayce Jackson-Davis posted the third triple-double in Indiana men’s basketball history, with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Indiana basketball looked like they had seven games prior before falling to Rutgers at the RAC on Saturday, December 3rd. Now just one week after that tough loss, the Hoosiers look for another signature non-conference win against No. 10 Arizona.

Here are my three bold predictions for No. 14 Indiana taking on Las Vegas and battling No. 10 Arizona Wildcats on Saturday:

Three predictions for No. 14 Indiana basketball vs. No. 10 Arizona:

Indiana basketball
Indiana Hoosiers forward Race Thompson (25). Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

#3. Race Thompson finally makes his presence felt, limiting Azuolas Tubelis to under 15 points on less than 50.0 percent shooting

In Tubelis’ last two games, he is averaging 22.5 points on 43.2 percent shooting from the field. In his two matchups against ranked opponents, the Lithuanian forward is averaging just 13.0 points on 66.7 percent shooting. Part of the reason he’s averaging so much less is because of the performance by Oumar Ballo in those two games, but it’s still noteworthy.

Race Thompson this season has been very off-and-on with his performance and impact in games. Offensively, Thompson has been nearly invisible, with just one game in double digits all season long.

In Thompson’s two non-conference matchups against major conference teams this season, he’s allowed his two matchups (Zach Freemantle and Pete Nance) to average 15.0 points on 50.0 percent shooting and 9.0 rebounds. While it’s decent, he should have been able to limit those two players to less, when they are not even the primary options on their respective teams.

Thompson shows up in Vegas and holds Tubelis to his second-lowest scoring total this season and under 50.0 percent from the field. Indiana basketball needs Race Thompson to anchor the defense so Trayce Jackson-Davis

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