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No loss in March is ever easy. The Indiana Hoosiers fell short of a Sweet Sixteen appearance losing to Miami (FL.) 85-69. As the seconds started to count down on the game clock, Trayce Jackson-Davis began to realize the inevitable. The Indiana bench shared the same reaction as disappointed faces stared blankly down at the hardwood floor.
Indiana may have lost in search of their sixth banner, but this program is right where it needs to be.
Indiana fans want one thing, championships. The expectations in the small town of Bloomington are some of the highest in the country, but the Hoosiers weren’t going to win it all this year. The injury to Xavier Johnson set everything back multiple steps and the Hoosiers were forced to be too dependent on Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino.
A lack of speed and athleticism on this year’s team didn’t help the situation either, but it was clear early on that this roster would have a tough time going up against some of the best teams in the country. Indiana woke up this morning disappointed in the early exit but there’s a time and a place for everything.
It’s just the second year of the Mike Woodson era but there’s already something looming around in the Bloomington air that has been missing on campus from quite some time, and that’s hope.
Last year Indiana was fighting to get into the tournament, but this year they were a top four seed with a sneaky chance. The Hoosiers went five years without a tournament appearance, they now have made back to back showings. What feels like just yesterday, Indiana was going through arguably the toughest patch in its history, now there’s a hopeful perspective back in town.
The feeling of hope is back. Woodson and his team has brought Indiana back to relevancy. If you think back at some of the highlights this season, there hasn’t been a feeling like this in quite some time for Indiana fans.
The Hoosiers finally had a big name recruit on their roster. For the first time in what felt like forever, Indiana was projected to be at the top of the Big Ten, the number one team in the country came to town for what became an unforgettable night in Assembly Hall, and on top of all that they go on and sweep Purdue in style.
This year had moments that Indiana fans could only dream about a couple of years ago. But now, those early promises are starting to come into fruition.
The promises that Woodson brought to the program are starting to be seen. This team was miles better than last year’s team and they brought excitement both on and off the court. People are talking about the Hoosiers again. Everyone may want to look at the end goal, but progress is being made. The sense of a successful future is back in sight. Woodson has a firm grasp of that locker room and it's clear as day.
Following the Miami loss, the Indiana locker room was full of tears. Hood-Schifino fell into the arms of Jackson-Davis as they embraced each other for one final time as teammates. This year’s team believed, something that can’t really be said about other teams in recent years. Woodson has this program back with hopeful hearts.
This upcoming off-season will be an interesting one. With their All-American moving on with his career, Indiana will have to look for a new identity. Lots of young faces are set to be apart of the program and in the day an age of the transfer portal, you never know who can be on that opening day roster. Woodson is going to have to adapt this off-season, but he’s proven to be plenty capable.
There will be no championship parade for the Hoosiers this year, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. There’s new life in the Indiana program. It may be next year or it may take a couple more years but the Woodson era is working. It's starting to bring back the old ways of the championship Hoosiers.
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