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‘I want these guys to believe’: Indiana basketball not ready to write final chapter of season, instead ‘coming together’ and showing signs of resilience

Indiana basketball has been put in an impossible situation to succeed, yet are trying to do so to end the season on a high note.

Published

5 hours ago

February 12, 2025

Alec Lasley

Indiana basketball has been put in an impossible situation to succeed, yet are trying to do so to end the season on a high note. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

There’s no real playbook or blueprint when dealing with the current situation like what’s going on inside the Indiana basketball locker room. Amid turmoil, a season heading nowhere and the Mike Woodson era ending in just one month, the remaining few weeks of the season were put into a murky situation when the news broke that Woodson would be stepping down at the end of the season.

Indiana basketball entered this week in the middle of a five game losing streak and losing six out of the last seven games — but none of that mattered in a stunning upset win on the road against No. 11 Michigan State, winning 71-67.

It was the second game since the Woodson tenure had a clear end and the response from this group could have gone one of two ways — completely fold and throw in the towel on the remainder of the season, or fight. After a disappointing first half against Michigan on Saturday, the last three halves have showed that fight and togetherness that has been missing for much of the season.

So, the feeling after Tuesday’s win over Michigan State was one of relief.

“It means a lot, man,” Woodson said. “We’ve lost some close games — we just haven’t been able to finish. I take a lot of pride in that (finishing) as a coach because the Purdue game was a game we could have won. Maryland at home. Northwestern on the road. We didn’t win them, so we’ve got to look ahead, man, and try to figure out this next game — UCLA is next and they’re playing terrific basketball. We are playing them in our gym on our floor and we’ve just got to put a 40-minute ballgame together.”

Six regular-season games remain on the schedule, then whatever may come from postseason play. Sitting at 16-10 overall and 6-8 in Big Ten play, the Hoosiers sit at 12th in the league standings. While there have certainly been performances that IU wish it could wash away, there are numerous they wish they had back. Four of the last five losses have been by single-digits. Two of them have been by one possession.

And Tuesday showed that when this team is playing at its best, it can win big games and more importantly — close out big games. Unfortunately, that just hasn’t been the story of the season up to this point.

“We have enough talent on this team, I just have to do a better job in these las six, seven games I think that is left in getting these guys to believe in one another,” Woodson said. “Because that’s what it’s all about it. They’ve had a tough go at it, but I can’t let them quit. We’ve got to keep working and keep pushing each other and see where it leads us.”

That ‘no quit’ mentality has been tough for this group. Not only because of the mounting losses, but the unclear vision of the program moving forward. However, IU’s win over Michigan State showed there is still some of the mindset amongst the players in the locker room.

And for Mike Woodson, despite knowing his time on the Indiana sideline is getting shorter and shorter with each passing day, and each passing game, his goal still remains the same; get this team to believe they can win.

“It’s tough, man. They know I won’t be back. That’s been tough on these guys. That’s been tough on me. But we’ve still got a lot of season left,” Woodson said. “I want these guys to believe. I want them to get in the tournament and experience it. And get in the Big Ten Tournament and see if we can win it. That’s what it’s all about. It’s not just being there. You want to get there and win a Big Ten Tournament and see where that leads you. I just have to keep pushing them, keep them positive, keep them up.”

So now the attention turns to replicating Tuesday’s performance. Can it be done?

Indiana has games remaining against UCLA, No. 7 Purdue, Penn State, Oregon, Washington and Ohio State to close out the season. While IU’s NCAA Tournament hopes are slim — Tuesday’s win was enough to keep them on life support.

And with opportunities still on the horizon, there is nothing to lose for Indiana basketball, and they know it.

“Everyone knows what the situation is now,” IU forward Malik Reneau said. “So we’re just coming together and trying to play as hard as we can every time we step on the court, no matter whether we’re home or away. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

It would be easy for this group to pack it in and call it quits over the last three weeks. Instead, they’re buying in to the team, to each other, to the program and to Mike Woodson.