Indiana basketball’s roster overhaul hasn’t impacted Mike Woodson’s sense of urgency
BLOOMINGTON — Indiana basketball coach Mike Woodson got a preview of what the transfer portal era would look like when he coached in the NBA and his rosters with the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks looked completely different from one year to the next.
That experience will come in handy this year with the Hoosiers adding 10 newcomers to the roster for the 2023-24 season including three transfers, three high school recruits and four walk-ons.
Among the players Woodson needed to replace were the program’s two best players Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino.
It’s the kind of drastic overhaul Woodson faced when he was an assistant with the Knicks and they built their roster around Carmelo Anthony.
“We surrounded Carmelo Anthony with nine different players and were able to go and win the division and get to the second round of the Playoffs,” Woodson said.
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Woodson didn’t make any predictions for how well Indiana will fare this year, but his goals remain the same as when he took over.
Even with all the new faces.
“I took this job to win Big Ten titles and national titles and I've fallen short the first two years,” Woodson said. “‘I'm always optimistic as a coach when I go into a season. This season is no different.
“We've got to go and win a Big Ten title, and then once we're fortunate to get into tournament play, then we figure it out there.”
Woodson’s sense of urgency was a recurring theme during his 20 minutes on the stage with Indiana’s five championship banners casting a wide shadow over the proceedings.
He said the 77-73 loss to Penn State in the semifinals of the Big Ten tourney and IU’s second-round exit in the NCAA tournament to Miami still haunt him.
“In the tournament we were right there,” Woodson said. “I just didn't get them over the hump, man, and that's something that I live with every day of my life. Somehow I've got to get them over the hump. I'm the coach, and I've got to get them over the hump where we can hang another banner in here.”
It might not look pretty in the early going as Indiana faces a tough schedule with a group of youngsters still trying to figure out their role, but don't expect for Woodson to make any excuses.
“There's always urgency on my part,” Woodson said. “I mean, I want to win now. Yeah, losing Jalen and Trayce, that's huge. But hell, it gives other guys an opportunity to step up and play and be noticed and make a difference and help your team win basketball games, because that's what it's all about.”
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on Twitter @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: IU basketball enters 2023-24 with sense of urgency for retooled roster
