National Media Comments on Mike Woodson's Job, Indiana's Impact on Coaching Carousel
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The college basketball coaching carousel has already begun, with schools like Ohio State and DePaul making in-season changes.
ESPN's college basketball insider Jeff Borzello published a wide-ranging article about coaches on the hot seat, potential openings, retirements and much more.
It had plenty of relevance from an Indiana perspective, beginning with how Indiana's decision might impact the sport at large. Borzello opened the article with a big-picture question, "Are we expecting a busy carousel?"
"Although there are just two and a half weeks left in the regular season, it's still unclear how much the carousel is going to spin this spring," He wrote. "There are already three Power 6 jobs available, and another three are almost guaranteed to open. After that, a handful could go either way -- and that doesn't even include the likes of Michigan, Indiana and Villanova, which could send the cycle into overdrive and kickstart a major chain reaction."
After Wednesday's 85-70 home loss to Nebraska, Indiana fell to 14-11 overall and 6-9 in the Big Ten. It was the Hoosiers' third consecutive home loss, and fans at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall booed in frustration. In year three of the Mike Woodson era, it's nearly impossible to scroll through social media without seeing criticisms of Woodson and questions about his job security.
Borzello split the hot seat conversation into six categories: jobs already open; trending toward opening; jobs we're watching; likely not happening this year, but...; seats that have cooled; and noteworthy non-power programs to keep an eye on.
Indiana was mentioned in the fourth category of, "Likely not happening this year, but…"
"This is one of the jobs that could really get the carousel rolling," Borzello wrote. "The Hoosiers are struggling this season, they won't make the NCAA tournament and the fanbase appears ready to move on from Mike Woodson. After leading IU to the NCAA tournament in his first two seasons and with $12.6 million remaining on his contract after April, firing him might not be feasible. Could Woodson, 65, step down on his own? Or could Dusty May -- a student manager under Bob Knight -- flirting with other schools spur the Hoosiers into action?"
Woodson said Tuesday he's not going anywhere, which might put to rest the suggestion that he could step down.
“I came back to try to put this team in the best position possible," Woodson said. "I’m going to continue to do that,'' said Woodson, the former Indiana great who's wrapping up his third season as the head coach of the Hoosiers. "I’m almost 66, but I feel good and I still move around and I think that I still think well in terms of the game and I still think I can teach the game."
"I don’t know, there are coaches that are coaching into their 70s. I don’t know if that’s something I’ll do. I don’t know. But at this point, I’ll take it a day at a time, a year at a time. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon, guys. I’m just not. So I’m going to continue to build this team and try to put this team in the best position possible and see where it leads us.”
Regarding who might fill coaching openings throughout the country, Borzello listed several high profile names to watch. In that category, Indiana was one of four schools associated with current Florida Atlantic coach Dusty May.
May led Florida Atlantic to a 35-4 record and ultimately reached the Final Four last season as a No. 9 seed. The Owls moved from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference this year and have a 20-6 record. They recently fell out of the AP top-25 poll for the first time all season after peaking at No. 7 in December. May went 66-56 in his first four seasons with zero NCAA Tournament appearances, but he's 55-10 over the last two years and will likely take Florida Atlantic to its third NCAA Tournament in program history.
"After leading FAU to the Final Four last season, May returned to Boca Raton and has the Owls on track for another NCAA tournament appearance," Borzello wrote. "He's going to be linked to every high-major program that opens until he takes a job. May is perceived to be the top target at West Virginia, on the list at Ohio State, could get in the mix at Louisville -- and, as an Indiana alum, would likely be the favorite if Mike Woodson leaves Bloomington."
Related stories on Indiana basketball
- INDIANA-NEBRASKA GAME STORY: Indiana gave up 14 threes and got blown out at home by Nebraska on Wednesday night, losing 85-70 and getting booed off their own home floor. The Hoosiers are now 14-12 on the season and have lost four of their last five games at Assembly Hall. CLICK HERE
- WHAT WOODSON SAID: Keisei Tominaga led Nebraska with 20 points on its way to an 85-70 win over Indiana at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind. Here's the full transcript and video of coach Mike Woodson's postgame press conference. CLICK HERE
- WATCH RENEAU'S DUNK: Malik Reneau gave Indiana a big boost during a 20-3 run in the second half. The Hoosiers big man raced down the floor for a breakaway dunk. giving IU a major spark and getting the crowd at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall into the game. CLICK HERE
- QUEEN PICKS MARYLAND OVER INDIANA: After narrowing his list down to four schools – Maryland, Indiana, Kansas and Houston – five-star center Derik Queen officially committed to Maryland on Wednesday. CLICK HERE
