Indiana University Athletics
‘Win Now’ – Rebuilt Hoosier Roster Fuels Basketball Optimism
9/21/2023 10:15:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Mike Woodson contemplates his Indiana basketball team with a new knee, a new roster, and the same goal:
Win big.
"I took this job to win Big Ten titles and national titles, and I've fallen short the first two years," the third-year head coach says. "I'm always optimistic when I go into a season. This season is no different.
"We've got to win a Big Ten title. Once we're fortunate to get into tournament play, then we figure it out from there."
Woodson speaks from an elevated platform on Branch McCracken Court at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall during Wednesday's Indiana Basketball Institutional Media Day, and the view is Cream 'n Crimson good.
Why not? With one of the nation's top newcomer classes (a mix of transfers and high school standouts) joining a solid veteran group led by guards Xavier Johnson and Trey Galloway, much is expected.
Woodson wouldn't want it any other way.
"I've got to coach and push and try to get guys to do things at a higher level than probably they're used to doing," he says. "That's going to be important moving forward."
Woodson has led the Hoosiers to consecutive NCAA tourney appearances by emphasizing defense and free-flowing offense, but success ultimately comes down to the intangibles.
"What's important is getting players to play at a high level, play together, and do it the right way on both ends of the floor," he says. "That's what's going to be the driving force in winning games.
"Our guys are curious. They're eager. They come to work. They accept coaching. That's important when you're building a team.
"At the end of the day, hard work and guys dedicated to what we're trying to get done will put us in position to win games."
This is no longer a Trayce Jackson-Davis-dominated team. He's in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors. Jalen Hood-Schifino is with the Los Angeles Lakers. Race Thompson and Miller Kopp are also gone as are Jordan Geronimo, Tamar Bates, and Logan Duncomb.
IU success starts with Johnson. He's back for a sixth college season (three at Pitt, three at IU) and, at his best, is one of the Big Ten's top point guards. He has 1,674 points and 603 assists for his career. A foot injury sidelined him for most of last season.
Woodson jokingly calls Johnson, "an old man."
"I think he's hungry. This is his last go-around. He can't come back for a seventh year. He's got to give us all he can to make it right.
"I expect more, do more to help us win, and he will."
Six newcomers and four walk-ons added to Johnson, Galloway, Malik Reneau, CJ Gunn, and Kaleb Banks bring potential and uncertainty.
Mackenzie Mgbako is a five-star, McDonald's All-America. Kel'el Ware, a 7-foot transfer from Oregon, is a former McDonald's All-America.
They will join Ball State transfer Payton Sparks, Miami of Florida transfer Anthony Walker and high school guards Gabe Cupps and Jakai Newton in a newcomer group that showcases Woodson's recruiting prowess, not bad for a former NBA coach with no recruiting experience before taking the IU job.
"We've positioned ourselves to sit at the table with all the top players," he says. "It takes work. My staff has done a tremendous job of putting me in position to get with these guys and talk Indiana basketball and how I can help them."
Woodson's job is to mold them into a difference-making unit, perhaps one that will win a title as his first two Hoosiers teams couldn't.
"There's always urgency on my part," he says. "I want to win now.
"I like the players that we've landed. It's on me. I've got to coach them up and get them ready to play basketball."
It starts, he adds, by getting more from everyone.
"When you're building a basketball team, you've got to get a little bit from everybody. The freshmen who were freshmen last year are sophomores and have to step up and play like sophomores. The sophomore who are juniors have to give us more. Seniors like X (Johnson) and Galloway have got to give us more.
"There's a lot that's got to be done between now and when we start playing actual basketball."
The Hoosiers have exhibitions against the University of Indianapolis (Oct. 29) and Marian University (Nov. 3) before beginning the season at home against Florida Gulf Coast (Nov. 7).
In so many ways, IU will go as far as its players will allow. That puts a leadership burden on everyone, but especially team captains Johnson and Galloway.
"I'm hard on captains," Woodson says. "I've always been that way. Bob Knight was hard on me as a captain when I was here. You're not given that title just to be given it. You've got to earn it, and you've got to be held accountable in terms of not only putting yourself in position to help us win but getting guys to play at a high level around you. That's important."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Mike Woodson contemplates his Indiana basketball team with a new knee, a new roster, and the same goal:
Win big.
"I took this job to win Big Ten titles and national titles, and I've fallen short the first two years," the third-year head coach says. "I'm always optimistic when I go into a season. This season is no different.
"We've got to win a Big Ten title. Once we're fortunate to get into tournament play, then we figure it out from there."
Woodson speaks from an elevated platform on Branch McCracken Court at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall during Wednesday's Indiana Basketball Institutional Media Day, and the view is Cream 'n Crimson good.
Why not? With one of the nation's top newcomer classes (a mix of transfers and high school standouts) joining a solid veteran group led by guards Xavier Johnson and Trey Galloway, much is expected.
Woodson wouldn't want it any other way.
"I've got to coach and push and try to get guys to do things at a higher level than probably they're used to doing," he says. "That's going to be important moving forward."
Woodson has led the Hoosiers to consecutive NCAA tourney appearances by emphasizing defense and free-flowing offense, but success ultimately comes down to the intangibles.
"What's important is getting players to play at a high level, play together, and do it the right way on both ends of the floor," he says. "That's what's going to be the driving force in winning games.
"Our guys are curious. They're eager. They come to work. They accept coaching. That's important when you're building a team.
"At the end of the day, hard work and guys dedicated to what we're trying to get done will put us in position to win games."
This is no longer a Trayce Jackson-Davis-dominated team. He's in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors. Jalen Hood-Schifino is with the Los Angeles Lakers. Race Thompson and Miller Kopp are also gone as are Jordan Geronimo, Tamar Bates, and Logan Duncomb.
IU success starts with Johnson. He's back for a sixth college season (three at Pitt, three at IU) and, at his best, is one of the Big Ten's top point guards. He has 1,674 points and 603 assists for his career. A foot injury sidelined him for most of last season.
Woodson jokingly calls Johnson, "an old man."
"I think he's hungry. This is his last go-around. He can't come back for a seventh year. He's got to give us all he can to make it right.
"I expect more, do more to help us win, and he will."
Six newcomers and four walk-ons added to Johnson, Galloway, Malik Reneau, CJ Gunn, and Kaleb Banks bring potential and uncertainty.
Mackenzie Mgbako is a five-star, McDonald's All-America. Kel'el Ware, a 7-foot transfer from Oregon, is a former McDonald's All-America.
They will join Ball State transfer Payton Sparks, Miami of Florida transfer Anthony Walker and high school guards Gabe Cupps and Jakai Newton in a newcomer group that showcases Woodson's recruiting prowess, not bad for a former NBA coach with no recruiting experience before taking the IU job.
"We've positioned ourselves to sit at the table with all the top players," he says. "It takes work. My staff has done a tremendous job of putting me in position to get with these guys and talk Indiana basketball and how I can help them."
Woodson's job is to mold them into a difference-making unit, perhaps one that will win a title as his first two Hoosiers teams couldn't.
"There's always urgency on my part," he says. "I want to win now.
"I like the players that we've landed. It's on me. I've got to coach them up and get them ready to play basketball."
It starts, he adds, by getting more from everyone.
"When you're building a basketball team, you've got to get a little bit from everybody. The freshmen who were freshmen last year are sophomores and have to step up and play like sophomores. The sophomore who are juniors have to give us more. Seniors like X (Johnson) and Galloway have got to give us more.
"There's a lot that's got to be done between now and when we start playing actual basketball."
The Hoosiers have exhibitions against the University of Indianapolis (Oct. 29) and Marian University (Nov. 3) before beginning the season at home against Florida Gulf Coast (Nov. 7).
In so many ways, IU will go as far as its players will allow. That puts a leadership burden on everyone, but especially team captains Johnson and Galloway.
"I'm hard on captains," Woodson says. "I've always been that way. Bob Knight was hard on me as a captain when I was here. You're not given that title just to be given it. You've got to earn it, and you've got to be held accountable in terms of not only putting yourself in position to help us win but getting guys to play at a high level around you. That's important."
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