MIKE WOODSON’S SEAT IS SCORCHING

Back in the Spring of 2021, a new page was turned in the historical ancestry of Indiana University men’s basketball head coaches. It was on that day that Mike Woodson, AKA Woody, agreed to become his alma mater’s new cream and crimson commander in chief. At the time, it seemed as though the former NBA coach was the perfect candidate for this position.

Oh, how the tables have turned.

His cumulative 76-45 record (.628 W%) at IU is solid, but things have certainly been far more up-and-down than the Hoosier faithful would have wished for. After a pair of NCAA tournament appearances in the opening 2x campaigns of his tenure, the Hoosiers were excluded from the March Madness festivities a season ago. And if things continue on their wildly volatile trajectory this year, chances are that this team will once again be watching the Big Dance from the sidelines.

Despite some speculation tied to Woody’s possible replacements, fans remained patient with the skipper throughout a tragically underwhelming 2023-2024 season. Fortunately, the fanbases faithfulness was rewarded in the form of arguably the most impressive offseason roster renovation across the entire NCAA. This coaching staff rolled their sleeves up and made big things happen, and a lot of folks forecasted Woodson being crowned this year’s B1G Coach of the Year.

But those predictions are no more.

Preseason projections were much less lofty last year compared to the present, as Indiana was ranked #17 in all of the land at the start of the season. There just were/are not many other teams that boast as much talent as this bunch in B-Town, but they just have not been able to string together any type of steady success through 18 games (13-5 overall, 4-3 in conference play).

During Tuesday’s lopsided loss to Illinois in the friendly confines of Assembly Hall, the candy stripe comrades turned combative towards Woody. Through the bellowing boos that echoed throughout the arena, the chorus made their voices heard. As “Fire Woodson” chants circulated the gymnasium, it became abundantly clear that Mike Woodson is currently coaching for his job.

Will he stay? Will he go? Only time will reveal the outcome to this question, but there is no denying that Woody’s seat is scorching.