Hoosiers' Basketball: Season Over Or Hope For More?

is indiana basketball over for the season

The 2024-25 Indiana men's basketball season and the Mike Woodson coaching regime are over. Indiana was not selected for the 68-team NCAA Tournament, and the Hoosiers will not take part in the College Basketball Crown. Indiana has only been in the NCAA Tournament two times since 2016 and has not participated in a non-NCAA Tournament since 2019. The team's season ended with a 74-65 win over Chattanooga on 21 December 2024.

Characteristics Values
Indiana's participation in the College Basketball Crown Will not take part
Indiana's 2024-25 basketball season Over
Mike Woodson's coaching era Over
Indiana's NCAA Tournament participation since 2016 Twice (in 2022 and 2023)
Indiana's last non-NCAA Tournament participation 2019
Indiana's 2024-25 record under Woodson 7-2
Indiana's performance in Big Ten Tournaments under Woodson Reached semifinals in 2022 and 2023
Indiana's overall record under Woodson 82-53
Indiana's record in Big Ten conference games under Woodson 41-39

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Indiana's NCAA Tournament record

Indiana has a rich history in the NCAA Tournament, boasting five national championships and eight Final Four appearances. The Hoosiers have appeared in the NCAA Tournament 41 or 42 times, with a record of 68 or 69 wins, placing them in the top 10 in college basketball history.

The Hoosiers won their first NCAA championship in 1940 under coach Branch McCracken, who also led them to their second title in 1953. Indiana's other national championships came in 1976, 1981, and 1987, with the 1976 team being the last undefeated NCAA men's basketball champion.

The Hoosiers have experienced varying levels of success in the NCAA Tournament throughout the years. During the mid and late 1990s, under Bob Knight, they consistently won at least 19 games and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Knight led Indiana to five Final Four appearances and three national championships.

In recent years, Indiana has had mixed results. They participated in a non-NCAA Tournament postseason event in 2019 and made the NCAA Tournament in 2022 and 2023 under coach Mike Woodson, but failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in 2024 and 2025.

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Mike Woodson's coaching era

The 2024-25 Indiana men's basketball season marks the end of the Mike Woodson coaching era. Woodson, a former professional basketball player, was the 30th head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball programme. He was appointed to the role on 28 March 2021.

In his four seasons as head coach, Woodson finished with an 82-53 record. His best season was in 2023 when the Hoosiers finished 23-12. Indiana made two NCAA tournaments, in 2022 and 2023, under Woodson. In his first year, he guided the team to a nine-win improvement and an NCAA Tournament win. The Hoosiers also led the Big Ten in field goal percentage defence at 39.6% and finished second in blocked shots at 4.83 per game.

Woodson's biggest strength as Indiana's coach was his work with frontcourt players. In his final season, Malik Reneau and Oumar Ballo were two of the more reliable frontcourt scorers in the Big Ten. He also helped turn around Kel'el Ware's career.

However, Indiana missed the 2025 NCAA Tournament, and the Hoosiers never seriously challenged for the league crown under Woodson's leadership. They also suffered embarrassing losses in March Madness, including a 29-point loss to Saint Mary's in 2022 and a 16-point loss to Miami in 2023. Woodson's teams also failed to prioritise 3-point shooting, ranking 200th or worse nationally in 3-point shooting percentage in three of his four seasons.

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Indiana's 2024-25 season performance

The 2024-25 season for the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team was a rollercoaster ride. It was the fourth year under head coach Mike Woodson, a former Indiana standout. The season officially began with Hoosier Hysteria on October 18, 2024.

The Hoosiers got off to a strong start, with a 6-2 record, including an impressive 97-71 win over Sam Houston. However, they missed out on the 2025 NCAA Tournament, and with it, the end of the Woodson era. The Hoosiers finished with an overall record of 19-13 and 10-10 in the Big Ten Conference, failing to meet expectations for the third season in a row. Despite this, they secured a No.6 seed in the Big Ten Conference tournament, beating Penn State 61-59 with a last-second tip-in by Anthony Leal.

During the off-season, Indiana made some significant transfers, including Myles Rice, the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, who averaged 14.8 points, 3.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in his freshman season. They also secured Oumar Ballo, considered the number one transfer, with a field goal percentage of 64.6%. Kanaan Carlyle, ranked 10th in the transfer portal, committed to Indiana, followed by Luke Goode, an Indiana native with a career 3-point average of 38.8%.

The Hoosiers decided to conclude their season and not participate in the College Basketball Crown, bringing an end to the Mike Woodson coaching regime. In his four years, Woodson had an 82-53 record, with his best season in 2023 when the Hoosiers finished 23-12. Indiana made the NCAA Tournaments in 2022 and 2023 under Woodson, but the team's performance in his final season left them out of the NCAA Tournament field.

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Oumar Ballo's comments on Indiana fans

Indiana's 2024-25 basketball season is over, and with it comes the end of the Mike Woodson coaching era. Indiana did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament and has decided not to participate in the College Basketball Crown either.

Oumar Ballo, the Indiana Hoosiers center, made headlines with his comments about a faction of Indiana basketball fans. He described the frequent negativity and criticism from "fake" and "not true" fans, exposing a multi-layered problem and a disconnect between fans and players. Ballo distinguished between the "true" fans, who supported the team through ups and downs, and those who were toxic and wished for the team's downfall. He highlighted the mental toll of dealing with death wishes and death threats, especially on social media, throughout the season. Ballo's comments sparked varied reactions, with some fans praising his honesty and others feeling perturbed by the distinction between "true" and "fake" fans.

Following the Hoosiers' 72-59 loss to Oregon in the Big Ten Tournament, Ballo addressed the criticism from a segment of the Indiana fanbase. He acknowledged the weight of an up-and-down season and the constant negativity they faced:

> "I'm not talking about the true fans because I know they have our back. But the people who pretend to be fans and want nothing but the worst for the team, I'm talking about those people... It's mentality draining and nobody wants to deal with that for a whole five-month season... Death wishes, death threats... nobody wants to live like that. It's not helping anybody."

Ballo's comments shed light on the challenges faced by athletes in dealing with toxic fan behaviour and the impact it can have on their mental health. His distinction between "true" and "fake" fans sparked debate, with some fans feeling annoyed by the generalization. However, Ballo's honesty and emotional appeal struck a chord with others, exposing a complex issue within the Indiana fanbase.

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Indiana's 2025-26 prospects

Indiana's 2024-25 men's basketball season is over, and with it, the Mike Woodson coaching era has come to an end. Indiana did not make it to the NCAA Tournament, and the Hoosiers will also not be participating in the College Basketball Crown.

Looking ahead to the 2025-26 season, Indiana has a number of prospects on its recruiting board. Here is a list of players who have received offers from Indiana, with their position, height, previous team, and any additional comments:

  • Moody: Guard, 6'4", from Maryland. Committed to Indiana on June 27, 2025.
  • Smith: Guard, 6'2", from Virginia. Offered by Indiana in May 2025.
  • Diané: Center, 7', from Guinea. Offered by Indiana in May 2025.
  • Cloer: Wing, 6'7", from North Carolina. Offered by Indiana in May 2025.
  • Derkack: Wing, 6'6", from New Jersey. Offered by Indiana in June 2025.
  • Muurinen: Forward, 6'11", from Finland. Offered by Indiana in July 2025.
  • Howard: Guard, 6'4", from Texas. Offered by Indiana in May 2025.
  • Williams: Forward, 6'10", from Arizona. Offered by Indiana in May 2025.
  • Barnes: Guard, 6'2", from Florida. Offered by Indiana in June 2025.
  • Bryson Howard: Guard, 6'1", 185 pounds, from Overtime Elite. 5-star rating.
  • Prince-Alexander Moody: Guard, 6'4", 180 pounds, from Bishop McNamara (MD). 3-star rating.
  • Suigo: Center, 7'3", from Italy. Offered by Indiana in June 2025.
  • Allmond: Forward, 6'8", from Virginia. Offered by Indiana in May 2025.
  • Adkins: Forward, 6'8", from Texas. Offered by Indiana in May 2025.
  • Keita: Center, 6'11", from Mali.
  • County: Guard, 6'5", from Utah. Offered by Indiana in July 2025.
  • Thompson: Wing, 6'7", from Ohio. Offered by Indiana in February 2024.
  • Taylor: Center, 7'1", from Kansas.
  • Johnson: Guard, 6'5", from Wisconsin. Offered by Indiana in July 2025.
  • Wabbington: Center, 6'11", from Arizona. Offered by Indiana in July 2025.
  • Veney: Guard, 6'3", from Washington, D.C. Offered by Indiana in July 2025.
  • Smith: Guard, 6'4", from North Carolina. Offered by Indiana in July 2025.
  • Lyons: Guard, 6'3", from Maryland. Offered by Indiana in June 2025.
  • Spears: Wing, 6'7", from Texas. Offered by Indiana in June 2025.
  • Anderson: Guard, 6'2", from Georgia. Offered by Indiana in June 2025.
  • Hill: Center, 6'10", from Indiana. Offered by Indiana in June 2025.
  • Jordan: Wing, 6'6", from Tennessee. Offered by Indiana in May 2025.
  • Branch: Wing, 6'7", from Arizona. Offered by Indiana in May 2025.
  • Hampton: Wing, 6'6", from Texas. Offered by Indiana in May 2025.
  • Kinney: Guard, 6', from Kentucky. Offered by Indiana in February 2024.
  • Rippey: Guard, 6'2", from New York. Offered by Indiana in June 2025.
  • Darryn Peterson: Wing, 6'5", 195 pounds, from Prolific Prep (Napa, CA).
  • Mikel Brown Jr.: Point Guard, 6'3", 165 pounds, from DME Academy (Daytona Beach, FL).
  • Braylon Mullins: Shooting Guard, 6'5", 180 pounds, from Greenfield-Central (Green

Frequently asked questions

Yes, the 2024-25 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball season is over.

No, Indiana was not selected for the 68-team NCAA Tournament.

Indiana finished the season with a record of 19-14.

Mike Woodson, who finished with an 82-53 record over four seasons.

The College Basketball Crown is a new tournament created by Fox that takes place in Las Vegas between the end of the Elite Eight round and the Final Four.

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