Illinois basketball might have put the nail in the coffin for Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson.
On Thursday night, Pete Thamel of ESPN reported that Woodson was in discussions about stepping down at the end of the 2024-25 season. The report also mentions that Woodson is expected to coach the rest of the way out but retaining him is not likely. This news conjures some memories of the recent game against the Illini.
Indiana and coach Mike Woodson are in discussions about the coach’s wishes to step away at end of 2024-25, sources tell me/ @jeffborzello . He’s expected coach the rest of the year, but is unlikely to return next year. The details of the exit are being discussed. pic.twitter.com/3bqvwIZKLx
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 6, 2025
While Illinois has been on a bit of a struggle bus lately, losing five out of the last eight games, in the mix of that tough stretch was a game against Indiana.
In that contest, Indiana had a 2-0 lead and a 6-5 lead. Those were the only two leads they would have in the entire game. The Hoosiers got to eight points in that game and hit the brakes. Illinois proceeded to go on a 10-0 run.
The Illini continued to pile on the Hoosiers. A 20-8 lead turned into a 37-16 lead with eight minutes left in the first half. That lead then ballooned into a 30-point lead, 52-22, with less than five minutes to go in the first half.
Illinois drubbed Indiana on that night. The Hoosiers were down 60-32 at halftime and lost the game by 25 points, 94-69. Honestly, it wasn’t even that close.
Indiana Hoosiers getting dragged by the Illinois basketball team was the finishing touches on Mike Woodson
That huge blowout was fun if you were an Illini fan. There have been a couple of games this season when Illinois played A- or better basketball, and we look like the best team in the country. That happened against Indiana, and the fans didn’t take too kindly to their current coach.
Our colleagues over at the Badger of Honor, the Wisconsin FanSided site, think they were the last straw for Woodson and his career at Indiana. They only beat Indiana by 12 points at home. That isn’t anything to write home about.
I am here to tell you, that wasn’t even close to the final straw for Woodson and the Indiana Hoosiers. In the game against Illinois, we had the Indiana student section chanting, “Fire Mike Woodson.” Do you know how bad of a drubbing that has to be for the entire student section to turn on a coach?
Tuesday night, a "Fire Woodson" chant broke out among Indiana fans in a home game at Assembly Hall vs. Illinois.
— Dustin Schutte (@SchutteDustin) January 16, 2025
Wednesday night, a "Let's go Boilers" chant broke out among Purdue fans in a road game at Alaska Airlines Arena vs. Washington.
Programs on totally different paths.
Mike Woodson, Luke Goode and Anthony Leal shared a message to Indiana fans who booed and chanted "Fire Woodson" during Tuesday's 94-69 loss to Illinois, and gave their thoughts on what must change going forward.
— Jack Ankony (@ankony_jack) January 15, 2025
Their full comments here: https://t.co/dDeyHGMyjx #iubb
#iubb vs Illinois Review:
— Hoosier Review (@RyanMcDivitt) January 15, 2025
- Largest halftime deficit in 25 years at Assembly Hall
- Ugly all around. The game, students chanting "Fire Woodson", fans booing and leaving early, Ballo ejection
- It's fold time or grit time, we're going to see who's worthy of an Indiana jersey https://t.co/ANpReEuuKt
Woodson somehow retained his job for the 2024-25 season. Indiana was 13-4 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten with a home game against then-No. 19 Illinois. The Hoosiers were in a good spot. And just like that, the Illini turned the student section on their coach by being up 30 points in the first half.
Let’s not get things twisted. Illinois was the final nail in the coffin of Woodson’s career in Bloomington. He made it to this season, but the Illini gave the one-two punch in what most believe is a TKO to Woodson’s time in the college ranks.