Indiana University Athletics
No Let Up as Hoosiers Brace for Notre Dame
12/17/2021 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The final Crossroads Classic looms and this much we know:
Mike Woodson ain't letting up.
The Hoosiers will return to Indianapolis.
Saturday's matchup with Notre Dame (4-4) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse is rich in possibilities for an 8-2 IU squad that is just a few road plays away from an unbeaten record and a national ranking.
IU's 7-3 Crossroads record is the among the four participating teams. Butler is 6-4. Notre Dame is 4-6. Purdue is 3-7.
First, though, consider Woodson's quest to return the program to elite status. A Saturday victory wouldn't do that, but it would be a significant step against a team coming off an upset against then No. 10 Kentucky. Achieving it demands hard coaching, passionate coaching, the kind of coaching that pushes players beyond the comfort zone.
"I tell these guys all the time, coaching is coaching," Woodson says. "It's never going to get personal with me."
During his IU playing days, Woodson was coached by Bob Knight, whose demanding ways remain the stuff of legend. While Woodson isn't at that level, he gets feisty when necessary.
"Sometimes when I'm loud and boisterous," he says, "it's the message that you need to ring in on, not because I'm screaming.
"That's how I was coached. I'm not saying it works all the time, but I know when to pat guys on the back and when to push them."
Woodson learned it from Knight and a couple of decades of NBA playing and coaching.
"All guys want to be coached," he says. "I do. It's finding the right buttons to push.
"I'm sure there are days they think, 'This guy is crazy as hell.' Then there are days when they say, 'Coach is a good dude. He loves me and wants nothing but the best for me.'
"At the end of the day, that's what it's all about."
Saturday's game will end this opportunity to play in Indianapolis after an 11-year Crossroads Classic run, but not all of them. Woodson and athletic director Scott Dolson are exploring all options.
Woodson, once an all-state player at Indianapolis Broad Ripple High School, has roots in the city that run deep. He wants to have an annual presence there.
"For me, it's sentimental. I love Indianapolis and everything it has to offer.
"I don't know how it will pan out. We're working on some things. We'll have to wait and see where we go."
IU seeks its first victory away from Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. It faces a previously struggling Irish squad that stunned Kentucky 66-62 last Saturday. The Irish made seven three-pointers and shot 46.4 percent from the field.
"They're well coached," Woodson says. "(Mike Brey) has done a hell of a job for a lot of years there.
"They've got a veteran ball club that's been together for a while. Their system is in place. They know each other. We've got to combat that."
Junior guard Dane Goodwin averages 14.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. He leads in three-point shooting (42.1 percent) and three-point baskets (16).
Freshman guard Blake Wesley averages 13.0 points. Paul Atkinson, a 6-9 senior forward, averages 11.0 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 61.4 percent the field.
Irish losses came against St. Mary's of California, Texas A&M, Illinois and Boston College.
"Their perimeter play drives them," Woodson says. "They're very organized. I like the way they play on both ends of the floor.
"We've got to commit ourselves to compete for 40 minutes and see what happens."
Looking to the future, the Hoosiers have added a home-and-home series with Kansas. That reflects Woodson's preference for a strong non-conference schedule that excites fans and prepares his team for Big Ten play.
"Kansas has got a great tradition," he says. "It has a great coach (Bill Self). Fans want to see games like that. It used to be that way here."
Woodson's non-conference scheduling quest won't stop with Kansas. Yes, that means seeking to resume the Kentucky series that ended with Wildcats coach John Calipari and then IU coach Tom Crean unable to work out differing visions.
After losing to the Hoosiers in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Christian Watford's dramatic game winning jumper in December of 2011, causing fans to storm Branch McCracken Court, Calipari insisted on ending the home-and-home format to play at a neutral site in Indianapolis every year.
Crean and IU officials, refusing to give up the home court opportunity, passed.
"If I can get the Kentucky series back," Woodson says, "I'd love to with Cal. That's what fans want to see.
"If we can get a series with UCLA or somebody out west. You have to put games in place to test your team. That's important moving forward.
"Coach Knight always did it. You've got to challenge your team with big-time programs. Kansas sits right at the top."
When it comes to these Hoosiers, Woodson says they will go as far as point guards Xavier Johnson, Rob Phinisee and Khristian Lander carry them.
"It's a work in progress with all of our point guards. It's a tough position, man. I'm demanding when it comes to that.
"I'm going to keep pushing on X and Rob and Khristian to get better because as they get better, we'll benefit as a team."
For those wondering why Lander doesn't play more, Woodson says, "I will never discuss with a fan or the media playing time. Khristian Lander is in an IU uniform. If I see fit to put him in the game, I hope he's ready. He's done that."
Lander has played in seven of IU's 10 games. He averages 11.7 minutes and 3.9 points a game. However, he has 10 assists against 13 turnovers, which is not the kind of assist-to-turnover ratio you want from a point guard.
"Khristian has to keep working," Woodson says. "He's doing that. He's doing all the necessary things on and off the floor. We'll have to wait and see where it leads us."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The final Crossroads Classic looms and this much we know:
Mike Woodson ain't letting up.
The Hoosiers will return to Indianapolis.
Saturday's matchup with Notre Dame (4-4) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse is rich in possibilities for an 8-2 IU squad that is just a few road plays away from an unbeaten record and a national ranking.
IU's 7-3 Crossroads record is the among the four participating teams. Butler is 6-4. Notre Dame is 4-6. Purdue is 3-7.
First, though, consider Woodson's quest to return the program to elite status. A Saturday victory wouldn't do that, but it would be a significant step against a team coming off an upset against then No. 10 Kentucky. Achieving it demands hard coaching, passionate coaching, the kind of coaching that pushes players beyond the comfort zone.
"I tell these guys all the time, coaching is coaching," Woodson says. "It's never going to get personal with me."
During his IU playing days, Woodson was coached by Bob Knight, whose demanding ways remain the stuff of legend. While Woodson isn't at that level, he gets feisty when necessary.
"Sometimes when I'm loud and boisterous," he says, "it's the message that you need to ring in on, not because I'm screaming.
"That's how I was coached. I'm not saying it works all the time, but I know when to pat guys on the back and when to push them."
Woodson learned it from Knight and a couple of decades of NBA playing and coaching.
"All guys want to be coached," he says. "I do. It's finding the right buttons to push.
"I'm sure there are days they think, 'This guy is crazy as hell.' Then there are days when they say, 'Coach is a good dude. He loves me and wants nothing but the best for me.'
"At the end of the day, that's what it's all about."
Saturday's game will end this opportunity to play in Indianapolis after an 11-year Crossroads Classic run, but not all of them. Woodson and athletic director Scott Dolson are exploring all options.
Woodson, once an all-state player at Indianapolis Broad Ripple High School, has roots in the city that run deep. He wants to have an annual presence there.
"For me, it's sentimental. I love Indianapolis and everything it has to offer.
"I don't know how it will pan out. We're working on some things. We'll have to wait and see where we go."
IU seeks its first victory away from Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. It faces a previously struggling Irish squad that stunned Kentucky 66-62 last Saturday. The Irish made seven three-pointers and shot 46.4 percent from the field.
"They're well coached," Woodson says. "(Mike Brey) has done a hell of a job for a lot of years there.
"They've got a veteran ball club that's been together for a while. Their system is in place. They know each other. We've got to combat that."
Junior guard Dane Goodwin averages 14.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. He leads in three-point shooting (42.1 percent) and three-point baskets (16).
Freshman guard Blake Wesley averages 13.0 points. Paul Atkinson, a 6-9 senior forward, averages 11.0 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 61.4 percent the field.
Irish losses came against St. Mary's of California, Texas A&M, Illinois and Boston College.
"Their perimeter play drives them," Woodson says. "They're very organized. I like the way they play on both ends of the floor.
"We've got to commit ourselves to compete for 40 minutes and see what happens."
Looking to the future, the Hoosiers have added a home-and-home series with Kansas. That reflects Woodson's preference for a strong non-conference schedule that excites fans and prepares his team for Big Ten play.
"Kansas has got a great tradition," he says. "It has a great coach (Bill Self). Fans want to see games like that. It used to be that way here."
Woodson's non-conference scheduling quest won't stop with Kansas. Yes, that means seeking to resume the Kentucky series that ended with Wildcats coach John Calipari and then IU coach Tom Crean unable to work out differing visions.
After losing to the Hoosiers in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Christian Watford's dramatic game winning jumper in December of 2011, causing fans to storm Branch McCracken Court, Calipari insisted on ending the home-and-home format to play at a neutral site in Indianapolis every year.
Crean and IU officials, refusing to give up the home court opportunity, passed.
"If I can get the Kentucky series back," Woodson says, "I'd love to with Cal. That's what fans want to see.
"If we can get a series with UCLA or somebody out west. You have to put games in place to test your team. That's important moving forward.
"Coach Knight always did it. You've got to challenge your team with big-time programs. Kansas sits right at the top."
When it comes to these Hoosiers, Woodson says they will go as far as point guards Xavier Johnson, Rob Phinisee and Khristian Lander carry them.
"It's a work in progress with all of our point guards. It's a tough position, man. I'm demanding when it comes to that.
"I'm going to keep pushing on X and Rob and Khristian to get better because as they get better, we'll benefit as a team."
For those wondering why Lander doesn't play more, Woodson says, "I will never discuss with a fan or the media playing time. Khristian Lander is in an IU uniform. If I see fit to put him in the game, I hope he's ready. He's done that."
Lander has played in seven of IU's 10 games. He averages 11.7 minutes and 3.9 points a game. However, he has 10 assists against 13 turnovers, which is not the kind of assist-to-turnover ratio you want from a point guard.
"Khristian has to keep working," Woodson says. "He's doing that. He's doing all the necessary things on and off the floor. We'll have to wait and see where it leads us."
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballIUBB Postgame Press Conference
Friday, October 17
Darian DeVries Postgame Press Conference
Friday, October 17
MBB: Marian (Exhib.) - Postgame Press Conference
Friday, October 17
Darian DeVries Pregame Press Conference
Thursday, October 16