Basketball is a game of quick decisions, and no one knows this better than Mike Woodson. Call a timeout or let the play unfold? Take the last shot or pass it off? These choices define careers, shape legacies, and sometimes, haunt coaches long after the final buzzer. On Friday night, Woodson found himself in one such moment—a split-second decision, or lack thereof, that once again left Indiana on the losing end against Purdue.

The irony? A week ago, Woodson called a late timeout in a close game and was criticized when the strategy backfired. This time, he held back, allowing Myles Rice to attack the basket in the closing seconds. The result? Another costly mistake, another missed opportunity, another loss.

According to a post on X by a beat writer for Indiana, “Couldn’t get his attention,” Woodson admitted post-game. “We got to connect better, that’s just the bottom line.”

For fans, the frustration boiled over on social media. One post on X summed it up perfectly: “He didn’t call a TO because last game he called it and lost and got grilled. Now he doesn’t call it so he has plausible deniability because it also didn’t work. That happens in a split second in his mind, but that’s the way people who think they are the smartest always think.”

In other words, Woodson found himself stuck between past criticism and present disaster—a coach who tried to adjust, only to meet the same fate. The loss to Purdue was another gut punch in what has been a brutal stretch for the Hoosiers.

Indiana’s late collapse exposes Mike Woodson’s recurring flaws—missed chances, and a season slipping away

Despite a season-high 25 points from Mackenzie Mgbako and a halftime lead, Indiana watched its advantage slip away in the final minutes. The game was there for the taking, with six lead changes in the last four minutes. But with 3.3 seconds left and the Hoosiers down by one, Rice lost the ball on a drive to the hoop. Purdue recovered, hit free throws, and sealed an 81-76 win.

It was a winnable game, and Indiana had played one of its best halves of basketball all season. Yet the same old issues reared their heads. 20 turnovers, compared to Purdue’s 10. A 26-15 scoring disadvantage off those giveaways. Poor free-throw shooting, hitting just 9-of-16 from the line. These weren’t just mistakes; they were recurring nightmares.

For all the talk about resilience, Indiana has now lost six of its last seven games. The Hoosiers have struggled all season against top teams, and despite showing flashes of potential, they continue to fall short in defining moments. “We got to connect better,” Woodson said, but at what point does the disconnect become a fatal flaw?

The loss also highlighted a stark contrast in coaching styles. Purdue’s Matt Painter has turned his program into a model of consistency, emphasizing toughness and execution. His team had a full week to prepare, started slow, but found a way to win late. Braden Smith, with 24 points, and Trey Kaufman-Renn, who hit the go-ahead shot, made the right plays at the right time. That’s what well-coached teams do.

Woodson, meanwhile, is searching for answers. His team had the higher shooting percentage (56.6% to 52.7%), hit more threes (7 to 2), and out-rebounded Purdue 32-26. Yet the same self-inflicted wounds continue to haunt them. And when it mattered most, there was no timeout, no reset—just another late-game misstep.

Indiana now heads to Wisconsin on Wednesday, desperately needing a turnaround. The season isn’t over, but the clock is ticking. The Hoosiers need a different result, or they might find themselves right back here, stuck in an endless loop of déjà vu defeats.