That is A Wrap: Mike Woodson – Contained in the Corridor

Welcome to “That’s A Wrap,” our recap of the 2023-24 Indiana Hoosiers. At the moment we conclude the sequence with a take a look at head coach Mike Woodson.

Earlier recaps: Gabe Cupps, Mackenzie Mgbako, Malik Reneau, Kel’el Ware, Kaleb Banks, CJ Gunn, Payton Sparks, Trey Galloway, Anthony Leal, Anthony Walker, Xavier Johnson, staff offense, staff protection

The rivalry started sooner than you could keep in mind.

The scene? The annual Huber Vineyard occasion on Could thirty first of final 12 months. To shut out the media session, longtime IU radio voice Don Fischer tossed Mike Woodson what appeared like a humorous softball about his current knee alternative surgical procedure.

“How does it really feel, post-surgery, to face 6’5″ once more?”

The assembled media laughed. Woodson stated he felt blessed to be standing there after going by way of a troublesome time. He had to return to the hospital as a consequence of issues and misplaced a big quantity of weight. Woodson wasn’t finished there, although. He additionally used the chance to answer criticism of the surgical procedure’s timing in the course of the spring recruiting interval. A interval the place he nonetheless managed to land a five-star Duke de-commit (Mackenzie Mgbako) and the No.1-rated portal switch (Kel’el Ware) regardless of the surgical procedure.

“I used to be nonetheless working, guys,” Woodson stated, pointing together with his proper hand on the media members to verify they obtained the message. “If you guys questioned ‘Effectively why am I having knee surgical procedure throughout recruiting time?’ I had no alternative as a result of I put it off all these years and struggled to get round.”

Ought to Woodson have directed his phrases towards social media and message board naysayers as a substitute? Possibly. Possibly not. Nowadays, the fireplace hose of knowledge by no means turns off. It’s relentless. Holding monitor of every slight is a idiot’s errand for an individual in Woodson’s place. At a sure level, you both must make peace with the truth that getting moist is a part of the deal otherwise you’ll perpetually be on the lookout for a wrench to show it off. Good luck with the latter.

Some 284 days afterward March tenth of this 12 months, Woodson held a microphone in his proper hand on Department McCracken Courtroom. His staff had simply overwhelmed Michigan State on senior day, Indiana’s fourth straight win to shut out the Massive Ten season.

Woodson took the chance to deal with followers immediately this time round. Whereas rattling off an inventory of thank yous on the prime of his remarks, Woodson ended with one for the followers. It wasn’t what they have been anticipating.

“And most of all our true followers, true followers,” Woodson stated, the second “true followers” with somewhat extra zip. “I’ll say that once more, our true followers.”

Woodson’s inflection and supply made it straightforward to identify the subtext. He was distinguishing between those that stood by him throughout a disappointing season and people calling for his head. It was a press release that harm and angered many.

It was additionally a line that got here to outline the acrimonious 2023-24 marketing campaign. Woodson’s discuss of Massive Ten titles and nationwide championships rang hole for a fanbase dying for each and as a substitute observing a staff that by no means was within the combine to make the NCAA match. One which many felt wasn’t enjoying trendy offense.

It wasn’t all dangerous.

Woodson began the season by pulling Mgbako from video games as a result of he was misplaced on protection. It ended with Mgbako successful co-Massive Ten Freshman of the 12 months. Ware shed his popularity as a lazy participant and is primed to be a first-round NBA draft decide this summer time. When all appeared misplaced, Indiana rallied to drag off a five-game successful streak close to the top of the 12 months. Trey Galloway emerged as a robust playmaker towards the fitting matchups. Anthony Leal, lengthy a rider of the bench, stepped up and gained Indiana two video games with clutch performs late. Malik Reneau took a step ahead as a sophomore, at occasions unstoppable off the fitting low block.

However Indiana completed the season at No. 91 on KenPom, its lowest score since 2009-2010, Tom Crean’s second season as head coach. Its offense completed outdoors the highest 100 on KenPom (No. 105) for the primary time since 2013-2014, when Crean’s staff completed 17-15 and wrapped up the season turning down an invitation to the CBI. The Hoosiers shot 66.4 p.c from the free throw line (No. 333 nationally) and solely 11 groups within the nation used the 3-pointer much less of their offense. In opposition to elite groups, save for Kansas, Indiana obtained crushed. UConn (20), Auburn (28) and Purdue (21, 20) all beat the Hoosiers by 20 factors or extra. Indiana ended the season getting blown out by 27 towards Nebraska within the Massive Ten match.

Within the non-conference slate, the Hoosiers didn’t put lesser opponents away with ease, which began them off on the unsuitable foot with the pc rankings. They by no means discovered the wins to assist them get well and inch in direction of the bubble or higher. In these early video games, Woodson usually tried his heavy bench lineups for stretches, which didn’t assist issues.

As Indiana misplaced eight of 10 throughout a stretch in January and February, issues turned poisonous. Followers appeared to be on the lookout for accountability from Woody. They weren’t getting it. Woodson simply stated the staff was younger. Lacking Xavier Johnson was hurting them. The staff simply wanted to maintain working. However nobody was having it. The lots assembled bigger, stronger, with extra vitriol this time round. They fanned the flames of experiences that Woodson’s job was in jeopardy, that decision-makers at Indiana have been at odds about easy methods to proceed. The silence created a void and a destructive discourse rushed in.

Lastly, Woodson broke the seal. After the eighth and ultimate loss throughout that stretch, a defeat at Penn State on Feb. 24, he supplied this.

“I’m upset with the best way we’ve performed and the best way I’ve coached this staff,” he stated. “… All coaches that coach suppose they’ll win. I’ve struggled this 12 months. I gained’t blame my gamers. I’ve all the time put it on Mike Woodson and that’s the way it needs to be. I’m an enormous boy.”

However on a Monday Zoom name with media after that Saturday loss, he hedged, placing a few of it again on the gamers.

“Despite the fact that I don’t miss bounce pictures, wide-open pictures, and don’t miss free throws, I’m nonetheless an enormous a part of it and I take quite a lot of duty,” Woodson stated.

The best clarification for why Indiana carried out the best way it did this season? Roster building. Woodson didn’t recruit over Johnson within the switch portal and guess on the very best model of him. Accidents took their toll on the sixth-year senior and he was unable to remain on the courtroom. When he did play, the outcomes didn’t measure up. Johnson’s addition to the Hoosiers was all the time a chance after he flamed out at Pitt. In his ultimate season, issues got here up snake eyes.

Gabe Cupps wasn’t a playmaker. So Indiana usually turned to Galloway as their lone creator who may break down a protection, a task he excelled in at occasions however didn’t come by naturally. Outdoors of Mgbako, Indiana had no quantity 3-point shooters it may belief, and it took him some time to get going. CJ Gunn and Kaleb Banks by no means materialized as constant contributors off the bench, so Woodson began enjoying Leal as a substitute. The staff lacked dynamic backcourt gamers and it restricted their ceiling.

As such, Woodson leaned extra closely on his frontcourt, as Reneau (first) and Ware (third) had a few of the highest utilization charges on the staff. With Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson departed Indiana followers thought they’d moved on from a two-big system that usually went down low as its first possibility. However Woodson, regardless of talking on the contrary at occasions earlier than the season, appeared to suppose that was his best choice, even when it meant his offense had poor spacing and obtained slowed down in consequence.

After a 20-point loss at Purdue on Feb. 10, when requested twice in a row in numerous methods in regards to the offseason and the longer term, Woodson let this slip.

“We’re gonna have so as to add some items,” he stated, earlier than rapidly recovering. “However the season’s not over with, guys. We nonetheless have seven extra video games to go.”

In an interview with the Hoosier Hysterics this week, Scott Dolson, Indiana’s vp and director of intercollegiate athletics, supplied this when pressed about Woody’s fashion of play.

“I believe that’s what he’s been attempting to do within the portal,” Dolson stated. “Guaranteeing that we are able to have a roster that helps the offense he needs to run.”

Backside Line: Dolson seems to be on to one thing. For all of the discuss of a mass exodus in Bloomington, all of the doom and gloom in regards to the state of this system, Woodson and his employees have knocked it out of the park within the switch portal. They’ve added Myles Rice and Kanaan Carlyle to the backcourt, two dynamic gamers the offense was sorely lacking final season. Oumar Ballo, the No. 1-rated participant, replaces Ware up entrance. Luke Goode brings 3-point taking pictures. They usually’re nonetheless after different shooters, which may come within the type of a backup massive.

Indiana has additionally retained key items in Mgbako, Reneau and Galloway, not all the time really easy on this new NIL period. Whereas externally there’s destructive chatter, internally, Woodson appears to be sustaining a tradition that’s engaging to gamers. There’s buy-in. However loads stay in wait-and-see mode for the way the staff performs on the courtroom. After a disappointing third season, it’s honest to take care of some wholesome skepticism.

Filed to: Mike Woodson