Despite a late-season push, the Indiana Hoosiers men’s basketball team fell short of earning a spot in the 2025 NCAA Tournament for March Madness. For the second consecutive season, Indiana missed the cut, as their 19-13 record simply wasn’t enough. This marks a stark contrast to just a few years ago when the Hoosiers were ranked as the fifth most valuable collegiate program in the country. Now, with back-to-back tournament misses, the impact is evident—especially for head coach Mike Woodson, whose tenure has officially come to an end. How could spectators not respond??

They didn’t hesitate but dived into the comment section to deliver their unique perspective after Woodson officially coached his final game. It all came after the Hoosiers failed to secure an NCAA Tournament bid. Adding to the disappointment, the program declined any postseason tournament invitations. After four seasons at the helm, Woodson stepped down and announced his retirement, bringing his time with the Hoosiers to a close. But here’s where the twist comes in.

Woodson’s retirement was announced at a particularly turbulent time for the Indiana basketball program. The team was in the middle of a five-game losing streak, and chants of “Fire Woodson” echoed through the stands whenever Indiana took the court. Whether his decision was entirely personal or influenced by the mounting pressure from fans remains unclear. Though, what added fuel to the wildfire was the hiring of West Virginia head coach Darian DeVries.

And why not? In his four-year tenure, Woodson led the Hoosiers to two NCAA Tournament appearances, but they failed to advance past the second round in both instances. While his first two seasons showed promise, the last two ended without a postseason appearance, ultimately leading to his departure.

But Woodson’s time at Indiana wasn’t without its successes. One of the most notable players he coached was Trayce Jackson-Davis, who now plays for the Golden State Warriors. Upon hearing the news that Indiana had missed the tournament, Jackson-Davis took to social media to express his gratitude for his former coach.

“You didn’t have to take the job, but you did,” Jackson-Davis wrote. “After all the criticism and threats, you stood tall. Hell of a coach, regardless of what the trolls say. Love you, Coach.”

During his final two seasons with the Hoosiers, Jackson-Davis averaged 20.9 points per game in 2021-22 and 17.9 points per game in 2022-23—both seasons in which Indiana made the NCAA Tournament. While Woodson’s tenure may be over, his impact on the program and the players he coached remains undeniable. But that’s not the only reason fans are talking.

Hoosier and Mike Woodson fans erupt: doubts or disbelief?

Following Woodson’s retirement, Indiana announced that Darian DeVries would be stepping in as the new head coach. While one might expect fans to be primarily focused on Woodson’s exit, much of the discourse quickly shifted to skepticism surrounding DeVries’ hiring.

“They hired a guy who couldn’t even make the NCAA tournament at WVU,” one user commented.

The frustration is understandable. DeVries comes to Indiana after just one season at West Virginia, where his team posted a 19-13 (10-10 Big 12) record—ironically, the same record as Indiana. Despite the similarities, West Virginia fans felt their NCAA Tournament snub was unjustified. The disappointment was so significant that Governor Patrick Morrisey even announced an investigation into the selection committee’s decision.

“Nearly every single sports fan, pundit, and bracketologist had WVU as a shoo-in for the tournament,” Morrisey stated. “This was a miscarriage of justice and robbery at the highest levels.” While West Virginia’s tournament snub may have been a tough pill to swallow, it did free DeVries to explore other coaching opportunities. And when Indiana came calling, he didn’t hesitate.

“This is unquestionably one of the top jobs in America,” DeVries said in a statement. “There’s a passion to succeed at the very highest levels both within the Big Ten and in the NCAA Tournament, and that’s a desire that, as a coach, I share.” But for many Indiana fans, those words weren’t enough to instill confidence.

“INDIANA IS NOT A BLUE BLOOD, I REPEAT, INDIANA IS NOT A BLUE BLOOD. THEY CAN’T EVEN GET BRAD BROWNELL OR WILL WADE,” a fan penned on X. “Loser” added another.

Well, the scepticism surrounding DeVries is somewhat understandable, but his resume isn’t without merit. Before his brief stint at West Virginia, he spent six seasons at Drake, amassing an impressive 150-55 record. Under his leadership, the Bulldogs secured three NCAA Tournament appearances, won two Missouri Valley Conference Tournament titles, and claimed one regular-season championship.

Still, the question remains: Can DeVries build upon Woodson’s 82-53 overall record and improve on his 41-39 mark in conference play? If you ask the fans, the answer is a resounding “no.” “Really? Wow, Indiana isn’t the powerhouse anymore,” one user remarked.

And, truth be told, they have a point.

Historically, Indiana ranks sixth with their 41 NCAA Tournament appearances, seventh according to their 68 tournament victories, and tied for eighth in Final Four appearances. But with their recent struggles, the once-dominant program is no longer the powerhouse it used to be. The real question now is whether DeVries can change that narrative. Only time will tell.