BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The timing of the latest Indiana basketball coaching search has created a contrasting sentiment. There’s more intrigue from some fans toward the candidates than the actual basketball, despite the Hoosiers still being on the NCAA Tournament bubble.
It could be a long month or so of back-and-forth thinking between the present and future. The timing of certain matchups and news has added to that dynamic.
Indiana’s first game since announcing Mike Woodson will be stepping down at the end of the 2024-25 season came against Michigan and Indiana alum Dusty May, who received an ovation from the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall crowd.
Just hours before its next home game, the dream hire, Brad Stevens, was crossed off Indiana’s list, according to a report from Jeff Goodman. And coincidentally, another candidate would be in town Friday night as Indiana hosted UCLA and coach Mick Cronin.
Cronin always has tough, defensive-minded teams, and the Bruins smothered the Hoosiers in the first half. They pressured the ball on the perimeter, and heId Indiana bigs Oumar Ballo and Malik Reneau to just seven combined first-half points. Indiana trailed 35-25 at halftime and shot just 32.1% from the field.
