Welcome to “That’s A Wrap,” our recap of the 2021-2022 Indiana Hoosiers. Today we conclude our series with a look at Mike Woodson.
Previously: Logan Duncomb, Tamar Bates, Anthony Leal, Trey Galloway, Jordan Geronimo, Khristian Lander, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Parker Stewart, Xavier Johnson, Michael Durr, Miller Kopp, Rob Phinisee, Race Thompson, Team Offense, Team Defense
Mike Woodson did not win the press conference.
There was no rah-rah attitude. No hucksterism or showmanship. No nervous energy.
There was just Woody. Cool. Collected. Poised. Unshaken by the moment. Sure of himself.
“It you’re interested in Mike Woodson, either I get on a plane or you get on a plane to come see me,” Woodson said in his opening remarks as Indiana coach on March 29, 2021, rejecting the concept of getting on a Zoom video call with athletic director Scott Dolson to interview for the position.
Dolson made the trip the next day.
“Scott, I thank you for making that trip to come see me,” Woodson added.
The new coach had work to do early. Six Hoosiers (Race Thompson, Jordan Geronimo, Khristian Lander, Parker Stewart, Armaan Franklin and Al Durham Jr.) were in the transfer portal. There were shooting needs. An upgrade at point guard could help. And then there was the matter of Trayce Jackson-Davis. It was presumed he’d head to the professional ranks after the conclusion of the 2020-2021 season. But Woodson quickly changed his mind.
“I was almost dead set on entering the draft and hiring an agent,” Jackson-Davis said at the time. But after meeting with Woodson and hearing the plan to improve his game and some thoughts on the team, Jackson-Davis was intrigued. He really liked Woodson. But he still needed to convince his parents. So Jackson-Davis asked his dad to come to Bloomington to meet with Woodson. According to Jackson-Davis, the talk lasted two hours and his dad asked for five minutes alone with him after the meeting.
In that time, dad said…