LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — On Sunday afternoon, three hours before the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee announced the 68-team field for the 2025 tournament, Mike Woodson’s Indiana University was predicted to be part of the field in 89 of the 110 projected brackets posted at the BracketMatrix website.
But around the IU program, the Hoosiers did not seem like a team with an 81% likelihood of making the field.
It seemed closer to 60%, with IU competing against San Diego State, Texas, Vanderbilt and North Carolina for three of the final five at-large spots.
Turns out most of the bracketologists were wrong.
Indiana missed the field for the second consecutive season, failing to earn one of the 37 at-large berths. North Carolina, San Diego State, Texas and Xavier earned the final four at-large berths. According to the Tournament Selection Committee, North Carolina earned the final at-large bit. West Virginia was the first team out. IU was second.
As Woodson might say, the Hoosiers could not get over the hump, in part because of a lack of any quality wins outside the Big Ten.
The snub left Indiana with a 19-13 record. It also signaled the end of Mike Woodson’s four-season run as the Hoosiers coach. On Feb. 7, Woodson announced his “retirement,” a move many will file as a forced retirement inspired by anger at Woodson’s performance as the Indiana coach.
It was a stinging rebuke for Woodson, whose team started the season ranked in the Top 25 as well as an NIL investment reportedly at more than $5 million
He leaves with an overall record of 82-53 (.607), with a 41-39 mark in Big Ten play. All four of his teams lost at least a dozen games. His teams made the 2022 and 2023 NCAA Tournament but lost by double figures in both seasons.
IU has hired TurnkeyZRG search firm to assist athletic director Scott Dolson in hiring Woodson’s successor.
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