Mike Woodson’s coaching tenure at Indiana will end upon the conclusion of this season as he eyes retirement. But the Hoosiers still have five regular season games remaining, plus any potential Big Ten and NCAA Tournament games with Woodson leading the Hoosiers.
It’s a situation that cannot be easy for anyone involved, including the players and coaching staff. However, in an attempt to send Woodson out on a high note, the Hoosiers are trying to rally and make one last push for the NCAA Tournament, which mark three March Madness appearances in four years under Woodson.
“If we can go out the right way for Coach Woodson and be in the tournament three out of four years here, I’m fine with that,” IU associated head coach Kenya Hunter said on a Monday radio show.
Indiana has work to do if it’s going to be in contention for an NCAA Tournament bid on Selection Sunday, though. According to Bracket Matrix, IU is currently included in only four NCAA Tournament projections out of 97 updated brackets. As of Tuesday morning, IU sits at No. 57 in the NET rankings with a 2-11 record against Quad-1 opponents.
“Our goal is still to make it to the NCAA Tournament,” Hunter said. “I look back and I say this is our fourth year here with Coach Woodson, and our goal was to make it to the NCAA Tournament. And if we can leave Coach Woodson — he would’ve been to the NCAA Tournament three out of the four years here at Indiana, when is the last time that’s been done at Indiana? It’s been a while.”
During Woodson’s coaching tenure, Indiana made consecutive NCAA Tournaments in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons after missing the Big Dance in the previous five seasons before his arrival. The Hoosiers struggled in the 2023-24 season and received an NIT invitation, which it ultimately declined.
The Hoosiers still have a chance to get back to the NCAA Tournament this season, but it will necessitate a bounce-back effort after losing eight of its last 10 games. IU has two more Quad-1 opportunities in the regular season against No. 13 Purdue on Sunday and at Oregon on March 4, coupled with potential Big Ten Tournament matchups.
“I think if we take care of business in these last five games and we go to the tournament and we’re able to make the tournament,” Hunter said, “then that’s three out of four years (Woodson) has gone to the tournament, knowing that last year we had injuries that hampered us and still was very close to making the tournament. That’s a hell of an accomplishment for him, and that’s the way we’d like to send him out.”
Indiana still hasn’t given up on this season despite the circumstances currently facing it. While IU’s on-court results continue to struggle and its coaching search rolls along, the Hoosiers are trying to remain positive and keep the NCAA Tournament at the front of their minds.
“As far as our coaching staff, that’s something that we’ve mentioned and talked about,” Hunter said. “And I think it would be a hell of a thing if we can accomplish that in these last five games.”