The Covid eligibility extensions have had a big impact and I agree the expirations will have an equally big impact.Improving your team means filling in a role. e.g., Using one, maybe two portal players max.
Woodson dumpster dives because he has to fill a roster with portal players.
That dumpster will get a lot more full of trash after next year when all the 5th and 6th year COVID guys finally use up their eligibility. There will be fewer transfers -- and way less impactful transfers.
Anyone hoping to build rosters from the portal beyond 2025 will be in for a rude awakening.
IU is pretty much screwed right now.
Even if they hit the jackpot in the portal next year, then what? They would have to start all over, and they're not currently prioritizing building relationships with high school recruits -- unless the athlete attends Monteverde. Then Woodson is all over them (along with everyone else).
Would lightning strike twice -- in a year when the COVID players are all gone, and the pool of available plug-in-play players will be much smaller? Doubtful. Woodson couldn't even pull off that feat this year, coming off 2 back-to-back tourney finishes, a rabid fanbase, a NIL war chest, and a TON of available playing time.
What's the pitch for the next two years? "Come play at IU and help me from getting fired? Don't mind the chatter on social media; everything is just fine." More than likely it's "Hey we got some cash, do you want some?"
That's not going to end well either. Woodson is a dead man walking whether that comes in 2025 or 2026 will only depend on if he can do "just well enough" next year buying up the scraps.