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‘It’s just not right that the fans are doing what they’re doing to him’: Mike Woodson defends Trey Galloway
by Jared Kelly
Jan 28, 2:51 PM
Indiana basketball is in the midst of a struggling stretch, including four losses in its last five games, and the dissatisfaction from IU’s fanbase has only grown in recent weeks. The most notable example came two weeks ago during IU’s 25-point loss against Illinois in Bloomington, where droves of fans left the game at halftime, chants of “fire Woodson” rained down, and boos echoed throughout Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
During the game, though, a portion of the crowd’s disdain was directed toward Trey Galloway. The fifth-year guard was audibly booed in the first half after being substituted out and walking toward Indiana’s bench.
Galloway, who underwent offseason knee surgery, has been inconsistent throughout much of this season. Over the last five games, Galloway is averaging 6.0 points, 4.4 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 28 minutes per game. His shooting averages have slipped significantly during that span, shooting just 31.4 percent from the field, 38.8 percent from 2-point range (7-of-18) and 23.5 percent from 3-point range (4-of-17).
On his radio show Monday night, Indiana coach Mike Woodson addressed the negativity directed toward Galloway and defended him.
“It’s just not right that the fans are doing what they’re doing to him,” Woodson said, “because I think he’s working his butt off. He plays hard, he tries to do the right things. He doesn’t always get it right, I mean, I get that.”
Galloway was a mainstay in Indiana’s starting lineup for a majority of the season until recently. After IU suffered consecutive 25-point losses against Illinois and Iowa, Woodson opted to change the starting lineup in a road game at Ohio State and moved Galloway to the bench in favor of fifth-year guard Anthony Leal. Galloway has come off the bench in each of Indiana’s games since then.
“I love him to death. His teammates love him,” Woodson said. “I know when I put him out there he’s going to work his butt off and play hard for us. He makes mistakes just like all players make mistakes, but some of those mistakes you just gotta live with them.”
Galloway is not even a full year removed from his knee surgery last spring. He was limited for much of Indiana’s offseason workouts and preseason practices, but he returned to the court in time for IU’s season-opener Nov. 6 against SIU-Edwardsville.
While Galloway has not mentioned his knee recovery as a reason for his struggles this season, his production has notably dipped this season after a career-best 2023-24 campaign. Galloway is averaging 3.5 fewer points, 0.5 fewer assists and 7.4 fewer minutess this season compared to last season. He’s also shooting 5.5 percent worse from the field and 12.1 percent worse from 2-point range with improvements in his 3-point rate (26.0 percent to 35.0 percent) and free-throw rate (53.3 percent to 63.3 percent).
“Listen, I love everything about Trey Galloway,” Woodson said. “I’ve always loved Trey Galloway. Since I’ve had him he’s been probably one of the hardest working young men that I’ve coached.”
Added Woodson: “I’ll go to war with Trey all day long, every day.”