The 2024-2025 basketball season was one, not many Indiana Hoosier fans will forget. With its ups and downs and twists and turns and highs and lows, this season was certainly something. Head coach Mike Woodson certainly won't forget it, as it was his final one on the court as the Hoosiers head coach.
During the season, in the middle of a five-game losing streak, it was announced that Woodson would be stepping down as head coach for the Hoosiers and retiring at the end of the season. Some questioned whether this was truly Woodson's decision or whether he was given an ultimatum to be fired or retire.
Either way, Woodson is done at Indiana, even though he left some wondering if he would make a comeback with what he said after the Ohio State win at the end of the season. Woodson eluded that maybe he was leaving too soon, but the administration would probably have the final say as to whether Woodson would come back or not.
Either way, with the Indiana Hoosiers not making the NCAA Tournament, they had a chance to be a high seed in the NIT or even in another postseason college basketball tournament, but instead, they chose to end their season, and it probably wasn't a good idea.
This Indiana Hoosiers team is full of seniors, a lot of key players that most likely won't return for Indiana. Players like Trey Galloway, who played his entire college career with the Hoosiers, Luke Goode, Oumar Ballo, and Anthony Leal, won't get a chance to wear the Hoosier name again on the court.
If the players made the choice to turn down postseason tournaments, that is one thing, but the administration chose to turn down tournaments simply because they are ready for a new era at Indiana, that seems pretty selfish.
Let's also not forget about Woodson. While a lot of people were not fond of Woodson, he still coached this team for four seasons, as well as played for the Hoosiers during his college career. Woodson has given a lot to this program, and giving him one last time on the court with his final team would have been something special that won't happen now.
This Indiana team could have had one final ride together, but instead, their season is over, and everyone is already looking ahead.