Indiana men's basketball is bracing for significant changes after their recent NCAA Tournament snub following their March 12 loss to Oregon. The Hoosiers’ hopes for the postseason flickered and eventually dimmed, as they reflected on what could have been after securing their season-ending victory against Ohio State, which saw them through senior day festivities with chants of "NIT" echoing from the crowd.
With this unceremonious conclusion to their season, Indiana’s players found themselves reeling from the realization of missed opportunities. Fifth-year senior Anthony Leal encapsulated the somber mood of the Hoosiers following their exit, expressing hope on social media with nothing but a broken heart emoji. During senior day, he delivered passionate remarks aimed at fans, declaring the team still had work to do, but the loss to Oregon shattered those aspirations abruptly.
The Hoosiers had shown promise earlier, with their season record standing at 19-13, and they had demonstrated resilience by winning five of their last seven games leading up to the Big Ten Tournament. “I think we’re one of the best 64 teams in the country,” said Leal postgame. His teammate Luke Goode shared similar sentiments, asserting, "Do we deserve to be there? 100%."
Despite these bold claims, Indiana’s nonconference strength of schedule was alarmingly ranked at 133rd and their NET ranking was only 55th. This was starkly juxtaposed by their historical achievement, as the Hoosiers have also secured only one true March Madness victory since 2016.
Indiana's head coach Mike Woodson faced mounting pressures as the season unfolded. The program found themselves affected by high expectations juxtaposed against disappointing performances, reflected by Woodson's announcement on February 7, 2025, stating he would step down at season's end. "We expected more this season, but we didn't get it done," Woodson lamented after the loss to Oregon, capturing the disappointment felt widely throughout the Indiana basketball community.
Compounding all this, the players on the roster are now pondering their futures as they navigate the turbulent waters of the transfer portal, which has recently opened for players once the coach departs. Five seniors — including Oumar Ballo and Trey Galloway — will be eligible to explore their options, with Galloway expressing intent to seek another year at Indiana, provided there is support from the new coach.
Under NCAA rules, the departure of head coaches automatically activates a transfer portal entry window for the affected players. The operative phase for these students is imminent, especially with NCAA's April 7 ruling on NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) contracts looming, which will reshape the college basketball financial playing field. It allows investments under less scrutiny initially, enabling programs to leverage less stringent rules before the guidelines take effect.
All eyes now turn to burgeoning transition plans. The quest to find Woodson's successor has accelerated due to the recent turn of events. Athletic Director Scott Dolson has prioritized maintaining focus on the candidates without distracting the current team during the tournament. Historical comparisons have drawn links to when Indiana was simultaneously wrapping up coaching searches during pivotal seasons, evoking nostalgia for the dynamic recruiting days under previous coaches.
One name consistently surfacing for the role is Chris Collins, currently holding the reins at Northwestern. At 50 years old, Collins has crafted a commendable record, leading the Wildcats to three NCAA Tournament berths, including back-to-back appearances recently. His experience under Duke’s legendary Mike Krzyzewski, alongside his tactical success at Northwestern, suggests he might find fertile ground within Indiana's storied culture.
Nevertheless, even potential candidates are cautious of distractions during tournament time, as illustrated by Collins himself. After his team’s recent victory, he said, "I’m coaching my team. I’m not ... one of these guys looking at any of this stuff." His clarity of focus could reflect the mentality expected from any potential Hoosier coach, especially under Indiana’s spotlight.
With the NCAA Tournament commencing on March 18, 2025, the uncertainty hangs palpably over Indiana basketball. The team now finds itself embroiled not only in the disappointment of the season past but also staring down the road of rebuilding and reassessing the roster. With senior emotions still raw and the memories from the season just fading, the question looms: what now for Indiana?”
The impending coaching decision will be pinnacle to how Indiana basketball can regain its footing after this loss. Yet as fans know all too well, hope springs eternal. Each turn of events will contribute to reshaping the culture, performance, and expectations, signalling another chapter waiting to be penned.
