It’s been a tale of two halves for Indiana basketball, and head coach Mike Woodson is squarely in the hot seat. After yet another second-half meltdown in a loss to Northwestern, the Hoosiers now find themselves at the center of a firestorm of criticism, with fans demanding Woodson’s ousting. The cries of “Fire Woodson,” first heard during a humiliating 94-69 loss to Illinois, are no longer whispers—they’re a deafening chorus fueled by missed opportunities, defensive missteps, and an inability to play a full 40-minute game.

Woodson expressed frustration following the Hoosiers’ 79-70 loss to Northwestern, admitting he’s still searching for answers to the team’s struggles with consistency. “I wish I knew,” Woodson said when asked about the difficulty of playing cohesively for a full 40 minutes.

Reflecting on the game, he added, “We just didn’t play well in the second half.” The comments, as highlighted by Michael Niziolek, Indiana University athletics beat writer for The Herald-Times, underscore the growing disappointment surrounding the Hoosiers’ recent performances.

He highlighted key issues, including turnovers, poor second-half defense, and the team’s failure to guard simple plays, stating, “The same things they ran in the second half, we didn’t guard it well, and they made us pay for it.”

Mackenzie Mgbako led Indiana with 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting, bouncing back after a rough stretch. Luke Goode contributed 14 points, including key 3-pointers late in the game, while Oumar Ballo added 15 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Malik Reneau, returning from a knee injury, struggled with his shot, going 0-for-6 in 11 minutes. Trey Galloway played through a hand injury and hit a floater to give Indiana its first lead.

Ballo, Leal, Reneau, and Galloway drew fouls and helped spark a first-half run, but the team couldn’t recover after a nearly five-minute field goal drought in the second half. Reneau’s limited practice time and Bryson Tucker’s injury kept them from reaching their full potential, while Gabe Cupps remained out.

The Hoosiers have now dropped three of their last four games, including their fifth consecutive loss to Northwestern, adding to a string of underwhelming performances. With the team struggling to find solutions, fans are increasingly calling for Woodson’s removal as head coach.

Indiana fans demand change with Woodson as frustration fuels up

The tweet, “Fire Mike Woodson #IUBB,” reflects the frustration of an Indiana basketball fan calling for a coaching change, likely driven by recent performances. The team committed 17 turnovers, including sloppy passing in the first half, and failed to sustain defensive intensity, allowing 54 second-half points. Indiana’s struggles were compounded by scoring droughts and lapses in communication, particularly in defending the 3-point line, where Northwestern’s Ty Berry scored seven 3-pointers.

Another fan chimed in, saying, “Seniors at Indiana have endured four tough years of Mike Woodson basketball. Students and fans deserve better. Respect for his contributions to the program, but it’s time for a change. #firewoodson.” The sentiment highlights growing frustration with the program’s direction while acknowledging his past efforts for Indiana basketball and the Bloomington community.

Woodson’s comments after the Illinois game, where he said, “You got to continue to work, and I got to make some changes,” still ring hollow as the same issues—second-half collapses, defensive lapses, and lack of connectivity—resurfaced against Northwestern. The loss adds to Indiana’s troubling trend of failing to perform against quality competition.

A fan took a jab with a lighthearted yet pointed tweet, saying, “Mike Woodson and Fred Hoiberg next year when the Shanghai Sharks play the Guangdong Tigers in the CBA championship.” The comment humorously suggests a scenario where both coaches might find themselves coaching overseas.

Another fan tweeted “Embarrassing. #FireWoodson,” while one fan expressed frustration with Indiana University basketball’s performance, tweeting, “Oh gosh IU basketball sucks again #FireWoodson.” The tweet reflects mounting disappointment among fans as the team’s struggles continue. The hashtag #FireWoodson suggests that the coach’s tenure is being heavily criticized, with fans losing patience due to recurring issues on the court. This post is part of the larger wave of fan dissatisfaction, amplifying calls for change within the program.