Five interesting things Mike Woodson said ahead of IU basketball's trip to Northwestern

IU basketball coach Mike Woodson met with media Monday ahead of Wednesday's trip to Northwestern, in a matchup of the teams tied for second place in the Big Ten.

The Wildcats are coming off arguably their biggest win in program history, upsetting No. 1 Purdue, and already defeated the Hoosiers at Assembly Hall this season. Northwestern will undoubtedly be feeling good about itself ahead of Wednesday's 9 p.m. tip.

On Trayce Jackson-Davis playing at a high level and his improvement

WOODSON: Well, I just think the maturity of him. When we started a little over a year and a half ago, I thought he was great last season on both ends of the floor.

I go back to when I took the job and I was watching him. There was just a lot of holes in his game to me, mainly from the defensive standpoint of not blocking shots, as athletic as he was, not plugging the holes from a defensive standpoint. These are things that I saw from a defensive standpoint.

Then offensively, I just thought he needed to learn how to play with more juice, more energy. I thought he did that last season.

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This season, just at another level, man. He's doing things... I think we put him in position to handle the ball. I did this in the pros with guys like Al Horford, Josh Smith, 'Melo, that could rebound the ball and initiate your break offensively that gives you early strikes that way. He's really been good in that area. Been able to make plays off the bounce himself individually.

On Trayce Jackson-Davis' IU legacy and chance to win Big Ten title

WOODSON: I think it's just that alone. His legacy will be to win a Big Ten title. We're able to win the Big Ten title this year, then go on and do something special in the tournament, that would be his legacy, man, because his freshman, sophomore year, he just didn't win much, never made it to the Big Dance. Last year was a major jump for him and this program and for me being the first-time head coach coming in here.

But his legacy, man, I mean, statistically he's done everything that you can do. He's reminded me that, Hey, I'm getting ready to go past you. He know it's out there. For me it's great, records are meant to be broken.

But I think winning a Big Ten title and a national title will separate his career in terms of what he's done here, man. I mean, that's what I'm pushing for. I want nothing but the best for the kid because he's played his ass off for us.

On Tamar Bates and Trey Galloway's struggles on the road

WOODSON: Well, (Bates has) played well here at home. When you go out on the road, it's just a different mentality. Somehow I got to get them to understand and help them be better, to put us in a better position to win. He has struggled on the road. Gallow has had his ups and downs on the road.

I was on 'em a couple of games ago on the road that, Hey, guys, you have to pick it up because you're a big piece to what we're doing based on the minutes you're playing out there on the road.

I got to help 'em. That's the only thing I can say to you guys because it has been a struggle for those two guys.

I think Gallow gets by because of the energy he brings from a defensive standpoint that help you, like the other night, stay in the ballgame.

I mean, I just don't see a lot of holes in his game now. Everybody talk about he doesn't shoot jump shots. Well, shit, he does everything else. I mean, he's playing at a high level, man.

Hey, we going to need that the rest of the way because right now we're still shorthanded in terms of bigs, Logan (Duncomb) and Race (Thompson) being out. It's hard to find some rest time for him.

On Miller Kopp returning to play Northwestern and his growth this season

WOODSON: Again, I mean, he's played well for us. I mean, I go back in the NBA when you get traded from a team, you always want to go back and show 'em why you shouldn't have traded me.

He didn't play particularly well up there last season. I'm sure that's on his mind. I'm going to talk to him a little bit about just relaxing and just play, man. When it comes your way, you got shots, take 'em. Not put so much pressure on yourself to really perform and play well.

At the end of the day we're going to need a total team effort from everybody, not just Miller, to beat this team there.

On tightening the rotation vs. Michigan with CJ Gunn and Kaleb Banks not getting any minutes

WOODSON: No, that's the first time I've ever used just seven players in my whole career as a head coach. I just thought at that time, a minute or two slipup, you lose the game. That's how I felt as that game was unwinding.

It's no knock against Kaleb or CJ because they've given us some positive minutes when they played this season. I elected to go that way based on my feel and where we were in the ballgame. Had nothing to do with those guys at all.

No, I don't like playing seven guys. I need to play more guys because you just never know when you really have to throw someone in, will they be ready and feel good about their play.

But, no, that's just something that happened the other day. Hopefully I can stay away from that by getting some healthy bodies back and go from there.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana basketball vs. Northwestern: Mike Woodson preparing Hoosiers