How Indiana basketball successfully rebuilt its roster after its lowest point under Mike Woodson

Six months ago Indiana basketball was at its lowest point since Mike Woodson took over. Their NCAA tournament hopes were dead. The roster had major holes.  Their 2024 recruiting class had just lost their only commitment. Many were calling for Woodson’s job despite him ending a six-year tournament drought and leading the program to back-to-back tournament appearances in his first two seasons.

After whiffing in the 2023 transfer portal, Woodson could not make that same mistake again.

And he didn’t.

With just six returning players, Woodson rebuilt the roster with one of the best transfer classes in the country and also added a late commitment from five-star wing Bryson Tucker.

The new era of college basketball has completely changed the way rosters are constructed. Woodson and Indiana basketball took full advantage of it this offseason which required efforts from both the entire staff and returning players.

“We were on everybody in the portal just trying to build relationships, tell them what our goals are and see what their goals are and see if they match up,” senior guard Anthony Leal said during media day. “If they do, (we did) whatever we could to get them to come join us and try to win a Big Ten and national title.”

The work both the coaches and players put in this offseason led Indiana basketball to land the second highest-rated transfer class in the country including the number two ranked player and top big Oumar Ballo.

For Ballo, former Indiana big Kel’el Ware’s growth with the program is what stood out to him.

“I played against (Ware) and within a span of nine months he was a completely different player,” Ballo said during media day. “Stuff like that there isn’t a cheat code, it’s just the work. What the coaching staff is doing to help guys out and that for sure affected my decision to come here.”

After struggling at Oregon, Ware was unlocked by Woodson which led to him becoming a first-round pick in the NBA Draft. Under Woodson, Ware improved in nearly every facet of the game and was able to shake off the narrative surrounding his work ethic.

In his three years with Indiana basketball, Woodson has developed a reputation for his ability to develop big men. Ware, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Malik Reneau, and others have taken big steps in their game under the tutelage of Woodson.

While Ballo’s commitment filled the hole that Ware left, there were still massive holes, especially at the guard spot.

Gabe Cupps and Trey Galloway were the only returning ball handlers and they too helped recruit players in the portal.

“Whenever the coaches say they want somebody they tell all of us so we can go out there and try to tell them what we love about IU and why they should come be a part of it,” Cupps said.

Last season exemplified why Indiana needed to add guard depth.

An injury to Xavier Johnson forced Cupps into a massive role as a freshman with him and Galloway as the only two ball handlers. With Galloway also missing time due to an injury, it emphasized the need for depth at the guard spot and Cupps helped the Hoosiers add that.

His and other members of Indiana basketball’s pitch specifically resonated with Myles Rice who praised the ‘authenticity’ of Indiana.

“The authenticity. I tell everybody this all the time. That’s the main thing I was looking for and that’s the main thing I look for in life throughout people and relationships,” Rice said about his reasons for choosing Indiana.

“Woody, the coaching staff, the players were all very authentic since day one and I thought to myself if that was how it was when I first got out here, I can only imagine the more time we spend together and the bond we can build moving each day forward.”

Rice’s addition was arguably the most important for Indiana this offseason. Last season as a freshman, Rice helped averaged 14.8 points per game to help lead Washington State to their first NCAA Tournament victory since 2008.

Rice excels at scoring off the dribble and can create looks for teammates with his quickness with the ball. Both of those skills were massive needs for Indiana basketball this offseason.

In addition to Rice, Indiana further helped to bolster its backcourt with Kanaan Carlyle.

“From the system to everybody had a common attitude of wanting to win. When you come on the visit, you kind of felt the spirit that everybody felt we were close and it was like something to put us over the edge,” Carlyle said about committing to Indiana.

As a freshman Carlyle averaged 11.5 points per game for Stanford, and his ability to score from anywhere on the floor is what stood out.

With the exception of Jalen Hood-Schifino, Woodson has lacked guards who could score the ball consistently and he made sure to address that need with Rice and Carlyle.

While Ballo, Carlyle, and Rice were the top three rated transfers Indiana landed, Woodson added some other depth pieces including two who are originally from the state.

Luke Goode and Langdon Hatton both played high school basketball in Indiana but their basketball journeys led them elsewhere. Both of them now returned to the state where they will conclude their collegiate careers as Hoosiers.

“Being from Indiana, I’ve known some of the guys for a while so I talked to them a little bit,” Hatton said about his recruitment as a transfer.

Hatton’s pre-existing relationship with multiple guys on the team helped ease the transition. Hatton is expected to be the third big behind Ballo and Reneau in the Hoosiers lineup.

For Goode, his role is a lot more clear. He’s here to shoot the ball.

One of the biggest problems for Indiana last season was their lack of shooters, and Goode’s addition helped solve that problem.

Goode’s decision to play for Indiana was an easier one than most as he already understood what it meant to be a Hoosier. His father, grandfather, and uncle all played football at Indiana which made the choice easy for the former Illinois shooter.

“When you come here and embrace things and do it the right way, the school repays you in many ways,” Anthony Leal said about the message he tells players about playing for Indiana. “It’s a commitment that can help you get to your goals as a basketball player but also just in life.”

Six months ago, there were major question marks surrounding the program and Woodson has done everything he can to answer them. He’s built a talented roster that has generated high expectations.

Now the question is: Can Indiana basketball put it together on the floor and compete at the highest level?

SEE ALSO: ‘They’re game changers’: Mike Woodson wanted to play a specific style. Now Indiana basketball has the guards to do so

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