Tuesday was not a particularly fun night for Indiana Hoosiers men’s basketball head coach Mike Woodson.
Not only did his Hoosiers give up 60 first-half points en route to a 94-69 loss to the hated Illinois Fighting Illini in Assembly Hall, but Indiana students broke out in a “Fire Woodson” chant during the brutal showing. Understandable as it was one of the most lopsided home losses in program history
And a “fire Woodson” chant breaks out. pic.twitter.com/xWZKdQJ7aY
— Robert Rosenthal (@ALionEye) January 15, 2025
In his fourth season at the helm of the Hoosiers, Woodson is 76–45 (35-32) and two years removed from Indiana’s last NCAA Tournament appearance. As they begin to drift toward the middle of the pack in the Big Ten following two straight 25-point losses, it appears that many IU fans are ready to move on.
However, Woodson remains the head coach for now and he met with the media after the embarrassing loss. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to offer much explanation for the historic first-half output.
“How do you explain 60 [first-half points for Illinois],” asked a reporter. “In the 125-year history of Indiana basketball, that’s never happened. How do you explain that?”
“I wish I knew,” responded the coach. “I thought we played better in the second half. They scored, what, 34 points in the second half. 60 points is… it’s just way too many.
“You know, I just thought our defense and our intensity just wasn’t there and they exploited it.”
The questions aren’t going to get any easier for Woodson, especially if he can’t get the team back on track. No small task with a brutal Big Ten schedule ahead.
Mike Woodson did not join Don Fischer for a postgame radio interview.
“This is a first this year,” Fischer said.#iubb
— Inside the Hall (@insidethehall) January 15, 2025
It’s also probably not going to help that Woodson skipped out on his usual post-game interview with Indiana announcer Don Fischer.
