[6BS] Woodson Stepping Down As IU Loses Two More Games

Women Win Two Games To Close In On Sixth Straight NCAA Tournament Bid

Welcome to another edition of 6-Banner Sunday, a joint production between The Assembly Call and Inside the Hall, and presented by our friends at Homefield Apparel, where we highlight the five most essential IU basketball stories of the past week, plus take a look at how the other IU sports programs are doing.

The big story this week came off the court rather than on it. With the turmoil surrounding IU coach Mike Woodson’s job, it was officially announced that he will finish this season but not be back in 2025-2026.

Besides this, Indiana took two losses on the hardwood while the women won a couple of times. We will as usual conclude with weekly shows and a look at other Hoosier sports led by softball opening their season this weekend.

The Assembly Call is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Here is what is in this week’s edition:

• Woodson Stepping Down After The Season

• Hoosiers Fall Short In Comeback Effort Vs. Michigan

• IU Dominated By Wisconsin

• Women Get Wins Over Nebraska And Rutgers To Close In On Sixth Straight NCAA Tournament Berth

• Weekly Shows

• Hoosier Roundup-Softball Opens Season 3-1

IU men’s basketball will play six games this season on Peacock and the women will play five contests on Peacock, making the streaming service a must-have for IU basketball fans. Sign up for Peacock using Inside the Hall’s link to help support the site and also enjoy Big Ten hoops all season long! In total, over 70 men's and women's games featuring Big Ten teams will air on Peacock this season (The link is an Inside the Hall affiliate link, so a commission will be paid to ITH if you click and subscribe to Peacock. Alex and the ITH team appreciate your support!)

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Banner #1: Woodson Stepping Down After The Season

For a game to not be the lead story of 6-Banner at this time of year is quite rare with conference play in full swing. However, this week was one of those unusual times when something off the court happened that was far more significant than anything on it.

The announcement many have been potentially expecting finally came down. After reports on Thursday that IU coach Mike Woodson was contemplating retirement, an official announcement came from Indiana on Friday that 2024-2025 would indeed be Woodson’s last on the sideline.

Where the Hoosiers will turn next for their fourth head man since 2016-2017 remains to be seen. However, Woodson’s tenure was clearly headed in thee wrong direction after returning IU to the NCAA Tournament in his first couple of seasons in Bloomington.

Banner #2: Hoosiers Fall Short In Comeback Effort Vs. Michigan

One potential successor was on the other sideline when former IU manager and current Michigan head coach Dusty May brought his Wolverines to Assembly Hall on Saturday. May’s squad jumped out to a huge lead and led by 16 at halftime.

However, the Hoosiers rallied with a terrific second half before falling short 70-67. Indiana trailed 43-27 heading into the final 20 minutes but got to within 53-52 and tied the contest at 59. From there though Michigan made a couple of more plays in the final three-plus minutes to leave Bloomington with the victory in what was the Back Home Network’s annual meetup.

Afterward, Woodson spoke, Inside the Hall had a photo gallery, Ryan Corazza wrote a Minute After, and Will Foley penned a column about Indiana being back at square one.

Banner #3: IU Dominated By Wisconsin

In one of the ugliest defeats this season, Indiana was run off the floor 76-64 by Wisconsin where that score was far closer than how the game played out. The Hoosiers fell behind 26-4 less than eight minutes into the contest and never seriously challenged the rest of the way. Indiana still has not left Madison victorious since 1998.

Afterward, Woodson spoke, Corazza wrote a Minute After and Film Session, Alex Bozich put together Five Takeaways, and Matt Press penned a column about the lack of mental toughness.

The Hoosiers are now 14-10 overall and 5-8 in the league after the defeats this week which were their seventh in eight games. They sit well outside the NCAA Tournament picture now and have a massive challenge at Michigan State on Tuesday on Peacock at 9 pm Eastern time.

Banner #4: Women Get Wins Over Nebraska And Rutgers To Close In On Sixth Straight NCAA Tournament Berth

On the other side of Assembly Hall, things are going far better for the women’s squad recently. They picked up two dominant home victories over Nebraska and Rutgers this week to improve to 15-7 overall and 7-4 in the league. With these results they are closing in on a 6th straight appearance in March Madness. They face Minnesota today at 3 pm Eastern time in Minneapolis on BIG+.

In other news, the Hoosiers announced that starting guard Yarden Garzon is in the final 10 for the Cheryl Miller Award. Also, former star Grace Berger was claimed by the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx after being waived by the local professional squad.

Presenting Sponsor: Homefield Apparel

Homefield’s annual Black Friday sale has already begun. Use the promo code BLACKFRIDAY at checkout to get 20% off your entire order.

The item of the week for this week is the new “Hurryin’ Hoosiers” snapback hat. Both

Jerod Morris

and

Tony Adragna

have it, and can attest to its quality and fit.

Plus, how cool is it to have an item celebrating the great teams under Branch McCracken?

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Banner #5: Weekly Shows

Podcast on the Brink was recorded twice this week. The first episode featured Scott Caulfield of Crimson Cast to discuss the struggles of IU this season. The other show featured Inside the Hall’s own Corazza to talk about the pending Woodson retirement news.

The Back Home Network was on-air multiple times in the last few days. Assembly Call Postgame, Crimson Cast, Doing The Work, Dribble Drive, and Xs and Joes all were on-air.

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Banner #6: Hoosier Roundup-Softball Opens Season 3-1

• Softball has opened its season this weekend and is 3-1 so far in Miami. Also, a trio of Hoosiers were honored by the Big Ten as players to watch.

• Football finalized its 2025 recruiting class.

• Baseball had several players honored with the season about to get underway.

• Women’s soccer had a former player sign a professional contract overseas.

• A couple of IU’s swimmers were honored by the conference.

• Water polo went 1-1 to start the Midwest Invite after finishing with two more victories at the Bruno Classic.

• Men’s Tennis defeated both Brown and Toledo as well as Middle Tennessee.

• Women’s Tennis fell to Marshall.

• Women’s golf competed at the PDI Intercollegiate.

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Thanks for your continued support for The Assembly Call and Inside the Hall. We’ll be back next weekend with a new roundup.

Now go enjoy yourself a 6-banner Sunday.

Aaron (Ari) Shifron
Assembly Call Contributor

The Assembly Call is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.