INDIANA UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

January 17, 2026

Tayton Conerway

Sam Alexis

Postgame Media Conference

Iowa - 74, Indiana - 57

Q. On paper it seemed like a really crucial game for both teams really. Then you came out a little slow especially offensively. What led to that slow start? Did you see anything? Was it them doing something, or was it on you guys that you couldn't get out or find an offensive rhythm to start the game?

TAYTON CONERWAY: I just don't think we found a rhythm early on like we needed to. I know we needed to get our 3-pointers some better shot attempts because shooting the ones off the screen are a little tough. Just got to get back to the drawing board and figure it out.

Q. Tayton, the last three games you guys have been outscored 36 points total over three games in the second half. Coach was in here a second ago obviously talking about fatigue. From a player's perspective, is that part of maybe the defensive lapses in the second half, the fatigue, and are you guys -- I guess, how do you overcome that in the future games?

TAYTON CONERWAY: I don't know if it's fatigue. I think it's more of just the one-two, and it's something we're going to have to figure out. If we want to win, it's something we're going to have to do.

Definitely getting back in there, coming out the second half and throwing that first punch is something we're going to do.

Q. Three-game losing streak here right now. Obviously a critical portion of the schedule these five games that you guys had. Do you guys feel like you're losing any part of your identity here early part of January, and are you guys trying to scratch and claw your way to get back to where you guys were at the beginning of the season?

SAM ALEXIS: I think we're still going to go out there and play hard every game. It's early. We've still got, what, 13 more games left. I feel like we're going to pick it back up. So we're going to be good.

Q. Sam, you've obviously been a part of a program that's won at a high level last season. Can you draw anything on that experience kind of as you guys hit some adversity and kind of try to rally some of these guys to get things going in the right direction?

SAM ALEXIS: I just got to keep encouraging them every day in practice. Like when I was at Florida, we had -- and we lost, we came back and practiced, intense practices. Just keep moving forward. We just took one game at a time.

We took an L today, but we've still got multiple opportunities in the Big Ten. There's a lot of games we're able to win and overcome adversity. So we're going to be good.

Q. (No microphone). What was the response?

SAM ALEXIS: We had two good practices. It was a tangible energy. I was thinking we were looking good towards this game.

We're going to take some Ls. We're a brand new team, but we're going to figure it out.

Q. Tayton, Iowa kind of lived in the paint offensively. What made it tough to contain them off the dribble or cuts? Was that on you guys? Was that on their actions? What kind of led to them living in the paint?

TAYTON CONERWAY: They set a couple good screens, and it was just something that we've got to want to do, something that we've got to want to work at, and something that as a man you've got to want to get through them screens, you've got to want to play harder. That's something we're going to have to do.

Q. Tayton, was it something in the game plan or anything that you guys saw specifically throughout the game that allowed you to get downhill so frequently and easily against that Iowa defense?

TAYTON CONERWAY: Just my teammates believing in me and Coach putting me in a great position to score. He said, they couldn't stay in front you. He said, get downhill, come off the screen. If it's not there, make a play. I felt like that was something I was trying to do.