Indiana University Athletics
Saturday, February 8
Bloomington, Ind.
1 p.m.
Indiana University
vs
Michigan
IU Seeks Late-Season Surge Starting with Michigan
2/8/2025 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Amid looming retirement for Indiana head coach Mike Woodson, math remains a Hoosier basketball friend. Opportunities dominate the season's final month, starting Saturday when No. 24/22 Michigan (17-5 overall, 9-2 in the Big Ten) comes to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
The Hoosiers (14-9, 5-7) have eight remaining regular-season games, five at home, to deliver a strong finish, generate Big Ten tourney momentum and, perhaps, duplicate last season's remarkable North Carolina State Final Four run.
After losing their final four regular season games for a 17-14 record, the Wolfpack won five straight ACC tourney games in five days to win the title and earn the automatic NCAA tourney bid, then won four more games to make the Final Four before losing to Purdue.
Coach Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers seek a similar late-season surge despite losses in six of the last seven games.
"We're running out of games," Woodson says. "I've got to figure these next eight games out because it's going to be very pivotal for our team in terms of making tournament play."
IU has shown flashes of special play, including the way it pushed Purdue to the limit at Mackey Arena in a Jan. 31 81-76 loss. If it learns to sustain that intensity, all things remain possible for a team that has formidable talent with players such as center Oumar Ballo (14.0 points, 9.9 rebounds, 35 blocks), swingman Mackenzie Mgbako (13.2 points, 4.7 rebounds), forward Malik Reneau (12.1, 5.5), Myles Rice (11.5 points), Luke Goode (8.8 points, team-leading 45 3-pointers), and Trey Galloway (7.6 points, team-high 97 assists).
"You got to lean on them, but you've got to help them, too," Woodson says. "These guys, they're kids playing at a big-time program, playing big-time basketball. And the Big Ten ain't no joke. We have to help each other. That's how I look at it."
IU has to bounce back from Tuesday's 76-64 loss at top-20 Wisconsin. It still has games against No. 7 Purdue, No. 9 Michigan State, UCLA, Oregon, and Ohio State to boost its NCAA tourney at-large-bid prospects.
"It's not rocket science," Woodson says. "Our backs are against the wall. We're not playing great basketball. We're playing in spurts. I've got to figure out a game where we can get these guys feeling good about themselves and see where it goes from there."
The Hoosiers have beaten the Wolverines four straight times, including last year's 78-75 win in Ann Arbor.
As far as Woodson's retirement, a statement from Scott Dolson, vice president and director of athletics, said Woodson will step away after the season. They encouraged Hoosier fans to rally around the program and its players and coaches and positively support them, starting with Saturday's game.
Michigan is coming off an 80-76 home win over Oregon. It has won three straight since a blowout loss at Purdue. It is tied with Michigan State in the Big Ten standings, half a game behind the Boilers.
Forward Will Tschetter had 17 points (10 points above his season average) in 17 off-the-bench minutes against Oregon. Vladislav Goldin, a 7-1 center, is the top scorer at 15.6 points while shooting 64.8% from the field. Four other Wolverines average in double figures – guard Tre Donaldson (12.7 points), forward Danny Wolf (12.3), guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (11.1), and guard Nimari Burnett (10.5).
The 7-foot, 250-pound Wolf is the leading rebounder at 10.0. He is the only Big Ten player averaging a double-double for the season and is a finalist for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award. He also averages 3.6 assists and 1.6 blocks.
The Wolverines average 9.5 3-point baskets per game. Donaldson and Burnett have each made 43 3-pointers. Michigan is 4-2 on the road (including a win at Wisconsin) and 11-0 at Crisler Arena.
Vulnerability comes with its Big Ten-worst 14.8 turnovers-per-game average.
Coach Dusty May, a former IU basketball manager under Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight, is in his first season with the Wolverines after a strong run at Florida Atlantic that included a 2023 Final Four appearance.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Amid looming retirement for Indiana head coach Mike Woodson, math remains a Hoosier basketball friend. Opportunities dominate the season's final month, starting Saturday when No. 24/22 Michigan (17-5 overall, 9-2 in the Big Ten) comes to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
The Hoosiers (14-9, 5-7) have eight remaining regular-season games, five at home, to deliver a strong finish, generate Big Ten tourney momentum and, perhaps, duplicate last season's remarkable North Carolina State Final Four run.
After losing their final four regular season games for a 17-14 record, the Wolfpack won five straight ACC tourney games in five days to win the title and earn the automatic NCAA tourney bid, then won four more games to make the Final Four before losing to Purdue.
Coach Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers seek a similar late-season surge despite losses in six of the last seven games.
"We're running out of games," Woodson says. "I've got to figure these next eight games out because it's going to be very pivotal for our team in terms of making tournament play."
IU has shown flashes of special play, including the way it pushed Purdue to the limit at Mackey Arena in a Jan. 31 81-76 loss. If it learns to sustain that intensity, all things remain possible for a team that has formidable talent with players such as center Oumar Ballo (14.0 points, 9.9 rebounds, 35 blocks), swingman Mackenzie Mgbako (13.2 points, 4.7 rebounds), forward Malik Reneau (12.1, 5.5), Myles Rice (11.5 points), Luke Goode (8.8 points, team-leading 45 3-pointers), and Trey Galloway (7.6 points, team-high 97 assists).
"You got to lean on them, but you've got to help them, too," Woodson says. "These guys, they're kids playing at a big-time program, playing big-time basketball. And the Big Ten ain't no joke. We have to help each other. That's how I look at it."
IU has to bounce back from Tuesday's 76-64 loss at top-20 Wisconsin. It still has games against No. 7 Purdue, No. 9 Michigan State, UCLA, Oregon, and Ohio State to boost its NCAA tourney at-large-bid prospects.
"It's not rocket science," Woodson says. "Our backs are against the wall. We're not playing great basketball. We're playing in spurts. I've got to figure out a game where we can get these guys feeling good about themselves and see where it goes from there."
The Hoosiers have beaten the Wolverines four straight times, including last year's 78-75 win in Ann Arbor.
As far as Woodson's retirement, a statement from Scott Dolson, vice president and director of athletics, said Woodson will step away after the season. They encouraged Hoosier fans to rally around the program and its players and coaches and positively support them, starting with Saturday's game.
Michigan is coming off an 80-76 home win over Oregon. It has won three straight since a blowout loss at Purdue. It is tied with Michigan State in the Big Ten standings, half a game behind the Boilers.
Forward Will Tschetter had 17 points (10 points above his season average) in 17 off-the-bench minutes against Oregon. Vladislav Goldin, a 7-1 center, is the top scorer at 15.6 points while shooting 64.8% from the field. Four other Wolverines average in double figures – guard Tre Donaldson (12.7 points), forward Danny Wolf (12.3), guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (11.1), and guard Nimari Burnett (10.5).
The 7-foot, 250-pound Wolf is the leading rebounder at 10.0. He is the only Big Ten player averaging a double-double for the season and is a finalist for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award. He also averages 3.6 assists and 1.6 blocks.
The Wolverines average 9.5 3-point baskets per game. Donaldson and Burnett have each made 43 3-pointers. Michigan is 4-2 on the road (including a win at Wisconsin) and 11-0 at Crisler Arena.
Vulnerability comes with its Big Ten-worst 14.8 turnovers-per-game average.
Coach Dusty May, a former IU basketball manager under Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight, is in his first season with the Wolverines after a strong run at Florida Atlantic that included a 2023 Final Four appearance.
Players Mentioned
Center
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Forward
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Forward
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Forward
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