The Hoosiers fell against the Wildcats on Wednesday.
The last time Northwestern logged a five-game winning streak over Indiana in men’s basketball…
- Woodrow Wilson was President of the United States
- The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the event that incited World War I, happened between loss four and five
- The Men’s Gymnasium, now Bill Garrett Fieldhouse, was two years away from opening
Yes. It’s been that long.
Indiana got absolutely worked in the second half against Northwestern. The defense fell off as the Wildcats’ offense, 80th in KenPom’s efficiency metrics, tore them to shreds in a few different ways.
A few late 3s and buckets ended up being for naught. Just another loss for a sinking ship that’s taking on water.
In his four seasons leading the program, Mike Woodson has yet to win a game against the Wildcats. It remains the lone Big Ten program he lacks a coaching win against, with the exception of most of this year’s additions from the West Coast.
Unless the two match up in the Big Ten Tournament, there’s a chance that win never comes.
Woodson entered the 2024 offseason armed with resources that would be the envy of almost every other NCAA Division-I men’s basketball program. He signed a star-studded portal class and a McDonald’s All-American wing.
This roster, on paper, could have been (and still could be, again on paper) among the best teams in the country.
Indiana could more than afford to finish in the top four of the Big Ten. An appearance in the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament probably would’ve done it. It being earning Woodson more time.
This was, and is, a prove it year. Woodson, again, was given plenty of resources and rein to build this team as he saw fit. He boosted the backcourt talent and got one of the best centers in the country in an Indiana uniform.
It’s not enough.
What Indiana could not afford was being bad. Or listless. I would not say the Hoosiers have been the former. The latter? Absolutely.
The end of January is creeping up and Indiana still doesn’t have a win over an NCAA Tournament team. The losses have almost all come in blowout fashion and the wins just haven’t been nearly good enough.
If either of Ohio State’s last minute shots, in regulation or overtime, had fallen, Indiana is looking right at a four-game losing streak.
The last time the Hoosiers were at Assembly Hall, chants of “Fire Woodson” rained down onto the court from the student section. The program has had the benefit of two road games since, but heads back home to what could very well be another toxic environment to take on Maryland.
As of now, Indiana is projected to win just two of their remaining 11 games. Home against Penn State by a point and on the road at Washington by two.
The Hoosiers will probably end up with more wins than that. Either way, it’s a letdown given the talent on the roster and preseason projections that had this group firmly contending for the Big Ten crown.
There’s still time, but we’ve seen enough to understand what this team is. Probably even what this program is.