Indiana coach Mike Woodson not expected to return for 2025-26, AP source says

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Indiana coach Mike Woodson is not expected to return next season, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not yet been made.

The 66-year-old Woodson has been under fire most of the past two seasons because his teams have underperformed. Indiana did not make last year’s NCAA Tournament for the first time since Woodson returned to his alma mater for the 2021-22 season, and they could miss the 68-team field again this season.

Indiana heads into Saturday’s matchup against former No. 24 Michigan and coach Dusty May, a former student manager with the Hoosiers, having lost four straight and six of seven. The Hoosiers were this season’s preseason pick to finish second in the Big Ten.

The news comes just two days after Indiana never recovered from a 27-4 deficit at No. 21 Wisconsin, prompting Woodson to question his team’s mental toughness.

“We have a game like we did at Purdue where we really competed for 40 minutes, then we come in here and we lay an egg based on how we started the ballgame,” Woodson said Tuesday. “You spot teams on the road 20, it’s going to get tough to get back in them. Again, that’s on me, man. We’re pushing and pulling and scraping and just trying to get what we can get. Guys just didn’t step up again tonight.”

The move comes just months after athletic department officials made a significant names, images and likenesses investment to help Woodson win.

Instead, the Hoosiers have endured a series of missteps, including a home loss to Maryland in which Indiana blew a late lead and last Friday when Woodson said he couldn’t get the attention of guard Myles Rice to call time out as he raced up the floor with less than 10 seconds to play. The result: Rice turned the ball in over in what was a 79-76 game, leading to Purdue’s game-sealing free throws.

“Like that was our concern in that situation would have been Trey (Galloway), that’s who was torching…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/indiana-coach-mike-woodson-not-200943007.html

Author : Associated Press

Publish date : 2025-02-07 20:09:00

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