‘I wish I had the answer’: Mike Woodson continues to search for something — as late-game woes the only consistent part of a wildly inconsistent season for IU basketball

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Friday night was not the first time end of game situations plagued IU basketball, as it’s become the all-too-familiar storyline surrounding the program this year. Whether it is late-game turnovers, poor play designs or mental mistakes, Indiana’s inability to close out games has been the key underlying issue this season for a team that is very clearly on the outside-looking-in for postseason play.

Friday’s loss to UCLA was the fifth time in the last six losses that was by single-digits and the fourth time in the last six games that was by five points or less.

So, when Mike Woodson was asked postgame why this team hasn’t been able to learn from each loss and avoid late-game mistakes — he had no answer.

“I wish I had the answer,” Woodson said. “I go back to the Northwestern game, the Maryland game, Purdue game, Michigan game — all winnable games. If you win one or two of them, you’re feeling good about yourself when you’re in close games. Nine out of ten times, you make the plays that you need to make. The fact that we’ve lost them, it’s been guys are searching.”

IU was up five points with 2:19 left and four points with 38 seconds left at home against Maryland until late game blunders resulted in a loss. Then Indiana was up one point with 29 seconds left against Purdue before back-to-back possessions of failed execution caused IU to fumble a terrific opportunity for a resume win. Then, it was a tie game with 4:08 left against Michigan before failing, again.

Against UCLA, it was a 70-68 game with 53 seconds left. Myles Rice drove into the lane and put up a contested jumper from the right short corner that would roll off the rim and into the hands of Mackenzie Mgbako. Mgbako went up with two hands but watched his game-tying layup roll around and off the rim. Four seconds later, Mgbako had the ball hack in his hands for a wide open look from three — and once again, it rolled off the rim.

“That’s a shot he normally makes,” Woodson said about Mgbako. “He just didn’t make it.”

The theme of the season — something that should happen, just doesn’t.

Friday’s loss became the fourth straight home loss for Indiana, the longest home-losing streak since the 2018-19 season.

“I’m searching as the coach in terms of trying to get them over the finish line,” Woodson said. “I’ll never put it on the player. I’ll take the responsibility. Even though I don’t make the shots or miss the defensive assignments, it’s still my job to get them over the hump.”

IU basketball is now 15-11 overall and 6-9 in Big Ten play. The curtains are closing on IU’s season with each passing game — as it has now been Indiana’s eighth loss in 10 games.

“Any loss stings. Any time you lose, it hurts,” Woodson continued. “After coming off the Michigan State game, which was a great game for our young team and the ball club, and then to come in and not finish tonight, it hurts.”

As Mike Woodson inches closer to the end of his tenure, there will be more unanswered questions, and likely more difficult losses.

The end is near — and the difficult losses continue to mount. Unfortunately, it’s been the only consistent part of a wildly inconsistent season.

SEE ALSO: UCLA’s Mick Cronin addressed his stance on IU basketball coaching search and name potentially connected to the opening

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