Bruce Pearl to Bloomington? Well...a lot has to happen first.

Indiana Basketball Does Have a Head Coach

#BrucetoBloomington is making its rounds through social media:

According to Mid-Major Madness contributor Jordan Majewski, Bruce Pearl would take the job today without any reservations if he were offered the position.

Majewski's Tweet came in response to ESPN's Jeff Borzello giving details about Woodson's buyout. There are two problems with Bruce Pearl coming to Bloomington: He's employed by Auburn and Indiana has a head coach.

A Silver Lining in Buyouts

If the Hoosiers want to make this happen, there is a silver lining regarding the buyouts from former coaches. First, former football head coach Tom Allen agreed to reduce his buyout to 15.5 million dollars from 20.8 million. Second, donors handle former basketball coach Archie Miller's 10.3 million dollar buyout.

After Allen receives his second lump-sum buyout payment this year, Indiana is done paying him. Mike Woodson's 12.6 million dollar buyout can be paid in annual payouts of one million dollars, which would ease the burden of his settlement. Potentially, that could open the door to hire a new head coach.

Pearl is the Type of Hire Dolson Must Make

After Indiana played Auburn early this season, Pearl told Tom Brew of Hoosiers Now, "Indiana was my dream job, it really was. I love everything about Indiana basketball, really loved and admired Coach Knight as a young coach myself, and it's one of the great programs in America."

If Dolson is to replace Mike Woodson, he must go after a big name to come to Bloomington. Scott Drew, Nate Oates, and Brad Underwood are the type names Dolson needs to attract. Pearl belongs in that company.

#FireWoodson?

There is the matter of Indiana Basketball not hiring at the moment. Mike Woodson just signed an extension last year, and there has been no chatter out of Bloomington that Dolson, the boosters, or anyone holding the purse strings want to get rid of him.

Indianapolis Star Hoosiers beat writer Zack Osterman is reporting that Woodson is going to be back for the 24-25 season.

That could be smoke, or it could be legitimate. Indiana could have leaked this in order to slow the Bruce Pearl chatter behind the scenes. However, let's just wait and see what happens.