Indiana University’s basketball program, under the leadership of coach Mike Woodson, is grappling with a harsh reality – something just isn’t working. After two and a half seasons at the helm, Woodson is finding that the path to success is not as straightforward as just showing up and having Indiana connections.
Former IU players, including Christian Watford, Brian Evans, and Derek Elston, have started to openly express their concerns about the team’s performance. That dissatisfaction and frustration is beginning to permeate the alumni, fanbase and student body as the Hoosiers appear to be running in place while in-state teams like Indiana State and Purdue thrive.
In a recent “Ball from Assembly Hall” podcast episode, Watford criticized the team’s weak offense, echoing the sentiments of other former players who question the direction of the program under Woodson. Evans, who played under Knight in the early ’90s, voiced his displeasure on an Indianapolis radio show, expressing doubts about the program’s future.
Woodson, who spoke with the media earlier in the week, was fairly blunt when speaking about the state of his program. “We’re soul-searching as a team.” At the time, Indiana had lost three of their last four games. While the Hoosiers looked better against Illinois of Saturday night, the team still came up short for their fifth loss in six games.
Woodson accredited the loss to missed free throws and a lack of three-pointers, emphasizing the importance of executing crucial plays in close games. Woodson remains focused on winning, expressing optimism that the return of injured player Kel’el Ware could make a difference.
Roster is Lacking for IU Basketball
The Hoosiers’ 12-8 overall record, coupled with a 4-5 standing in the Big Ten, falls below expectations. Indiana entered the season with the goal of making the NCAA Tourney for a third consecutive year, a feat the program has not achieved since 2001 to 2003 under Mike Davis. Instead, Woodson and his Hoosiers have seemingly lost their way after two decent years to begin Woodson’s tenure.
The biggest issue for Woodson is the glaring holes on the current Indiana roster after losing talent to the NBA last year. The team is lacking guards capable of performing at an all-conference level. The offensive and defensive inefficiencies, highlighted by the team’s recent losses, contribute to the overall frustration.
Despite the struggles, Woodson remains hopeful about the future, citing the commitment from high school player Liam McNeeley, a McDonald’s All-American, for next season. However, questions linger about Woodson’s ability to turn the program around, with the current season’s tournament hopes fading.
It’s good that Woodson is so optimistic for the future and his one commit at the time of this writing. With the current odds for Indiana to make this year’s tourney at just 10.3 percent and a single player – granted a talented one – the glory days could not seem further away. But hey, the football program looks promising!