This'll be a long one...fair warning...
Short version is I think he's a really, really good man, that isn't a good basketball coach.
Longer version...
The good man part...there are just too many stories and examples of people, on and off the basketball court, that use words like "love" and "friend" when describing Woody, that I think its ridiculous for any of us on this board to start questioning his character, or the type of man he is.
The basketball coach part... The more I think of it, I think he's just another example of a great basketball player, that isn't able to relate and/or teach the game of basketball. Michael Jordan comes to mind, Isaiah Thomas...there aren't a lot of good basketball coaches that were great basketball players. I think a lot of that is because its very difficult for those types of people to relate to players that aren't, in any way, on their level. I'm sure its frustrating for Woody that a kid like Mack can't step over into a gap and help, and then react and recover back to his man. I can see/hear Woody yelling at him in practices and in game huddles..."Why can't you figure this out? Help and recover, help and recover!"... An effective coach would have spent long periods of time from August to the start of the season teaching Mack...1) proper defensive stance (he rarely goes that correctly or effectively)...2)What it looks and feels like to attack the gap from helpside (Mack likely has no idea, and thinks he's doing it properly)...3)How to move and react to recover back on to his man (this is something that absolutely needs tought, and through lots of repetition). The evidence is showing that Woody has not invested the time teaching Mack the gritty details of effective help and recover defense.
I used this example because I think it covers a ton of other detail level issues, that I just don't think Woody knows how to, has the patience to, or feels like he should have to...teach his players at IU. Mack is one of the more gifted and talented players we've had at IU in a while, pure skill wise. But we're seeing that he's pretty raw, likely hasn't really ever been taught these fundamental things that we're seeing exposed right now. For that, I think its probably been very difficult, and frustrating, for Woody coaching him.
I also think this is why TJD, and JHS to a smaller extent, appeared to have blossomed or thrived under Woody. Trayce is on Woody's level...physically, skill wise, and probably his mentality as well. So it makes sense that he would have taken Woody's direction differently, and better, than a Mack would.
This brings me to what I think is probably Woody's biggest problem, as a basketball coach. His greatness as a player likely stemmed in no small part from being supremely confident in his own abilities. And I have no doubt he thinks that way about himself as a basketball coach too. You can here it in the way he talks in press conferences at times. Even though he does regularly say things like "Its on me..." or "I've got to be better..."...there are many, many other comments that scream that he doesn't believe those things, at all. And I think he has a HUGE lack of self awareness on all these shortcomings...or else he'd fix them!
So where do I go from here? And where should IU go from here?
I continue to follow IU basketball, and hope that Woody ends up being more like Larry Bird, than like Michael Jordan. Bird, one of the more confident basketball players to ever play the game, also learned when he got in to coaching, and in to managing basketball programs, that humility is very important. And because of that, I think, he was able to recognize that people below him needed help. Jordan, when it comes to coaching and managing, never found the humility side of things. And he's never been successful because of it. Jordan's success on the court, and with his own Jordan brand, is from his own force of nature skill and willpower. But managing a basketball program, either by coaching or deciding on the players, can't be done through osmosis, or by association.
IU decision makers need to decide what they want IU basketball to be. Obviously what we're seeing right now isn't it. But that doesn't automatically mean Woody should be fired. If there's any level of contrition on Woody's part, when he's talking with Dolson...ANY level of curiosity on how he can be better, on what needs to be done for the program to be better... Woodson has enough good things about him, that keeping him on wouldn't necessarily be a horrible decision. The BEST thing that could happen for IU basketball, right now, is for Woodson to "figure it out", and turn it around next year. And it wouldn't take a huge change for that to happen. A little bit of self awareness would lead to Woody knowing he needs help...good, go find a proven college basketball coach at some lower level, and hire him as an assistant coach. And then hit the recruiting trail...and use your awareness of your own shortcomings, and what's needed to be successful in college bball, to guide you on the kids you go after. You need proven leaders...you need proven winners...you need dynamic perimeter players...hell, you need players that have proven they can play consistently at a high level, on both ends of the court, for coaches and programs similar to yourself...OR, you need players that have played multiple years already for programs that you know will have drilled in to them core fundamental basketball principles. There's a reason why top Ivy League players often thrive as portal guys.
If Woodson doesn't show any contrition, doesn't show any signs of curiosity, between now and the end of the basketball season...I think you have to let him go. Another year like this will do quite a lot more harm to IU basketball's brand...and will further separate it from the wonderful legacy that McCracken and Knight built. Whatever the backlash, whatever the financial ramifications, you have to take those on by making the move immediately.
And if that's the move you make...the next hire needs to be a proven COLLEGE basketball coach. Someone that's widely lauded as a teacher of the game. Someone who's teams are solid and efficient. But that has shown an ability to adapt and change with the times. So someone that has shown an ability to improve their team in the portal, as an example. Someone that focuses heavily on perimeter play. That doesn't need to be any sort of "IU guy". If he comes and continues to do all those things effectively, he'll quickly become an "IU guy". He'll become a part of our rich history. And if he teaches and coaches the game the right way..."Knight's guys" will naturally all gravitate towards him and the program.
The only thing that's holding this very thin thread together right now between the team today, and all the rich history, former players, etc... Is the memory of Woodson playing for Knight in the early 80s. Its time for more than a thin thread. We need gorilla glue...and that will ONLY come from a basketball program that gets back to playing high level basketball, the right way. Efficient basketball on both ends of the court. Gritty, team oriented basketball that the fans can all recognize and be proud of.
If Woody is aware of that, and open to changing to get to that...keep him. If he's not, or if he's not, move on and find someone that will.
