Indiana coach Mike Woodson was Jon Rothstein’s visitor this week on the Faculty Hoops At present podcast launched Monday afternoon.
You possibly can hearken to the total episode right here, however we’ve additionally transcribed all the things Woodson stated, which is offered under:
On the place he goes within the offseason to unwind:
“I’ve a house out in California, out in Palm Springs and I spend somewhat time on the market. And I am going again to Atlanta and hold on the market at my residence however more often than not is spent in Bloomington.”
On whether or not it’s exhausting to consider he’s coming into 12 months 4 at IU:
“No, probably not. I imply seasons come and go and time is transferring, man. I’m in season 4 and searching ahead to it. However no, probably not. It’s what it’s, man. Yearly you undergo the summer time and also you don’t have an entire lot of time to your self since you’re eager about the upcoming season and the way you’re going to construct your crew and all that. And this summer time for us was very productive and a whole lot of work put in. Didn’t have a lot day without work however wanting ahead to this subsequent season.”
On the largest issues final season’s crew lacked:
“Properly we lacked a senior level guard (laughs). We put a lot strain on Gabe Cupps who I assumed performed extraordinarily properly for us as a freshman. Make no mistake about it, it’s a studying curve when highschool gamers make the soar to varsity and it’s no completely different from faculty to professionals. Gabe performed his butt off however you already know, I didn’t come into the season considering that he was going to play just about all of the minutes on the level guard and never having Xavier Johnson. So I assumed that was an enormous setback for us, not having X. After we did have him, we weren’t a nasty basketball crew in order that form of immediate me this summer time to exit into the portal and ensure that we bought sufficient expertise that if we’re caught like that once more, it wouldn’t have an effect on us, we might hold issues transferring, hopefully.”
On the largest issues he needed to deal with within the portal:
“Perimeter play, taking pictures. I believe we’ve executed all of that. Dropping (Kel’el) Ware, we had to verify we discovered one other large. We picked up principally three bigs within the portal. However primarily, I’m hoping and feeling good about us addressing our taking pictures from the perimeter by bringing in (Luke) Goode and getting Mack (Mackenzie Mgbako) again. , I believe Kanaan Carlyle and guys like Myles Rice can knock photographs down. Gabe is taking pictures the ball extraordinarily properly this summer time after which we bought Gallo (Trey Galloway) and Anthony (Leal) and Jakai Newton coming again. I imply I be ok with our perimeter play. We simply gotta put all of it collectively and get ‘em comfy after they’re on the ground making photographs.”
On the area Oumar Ballo carves out within the submit and the way it may assist IU to turn into a greater taking pictures crew:
“I imply, I take a look at our final three years. We’ve gotten beauty from the perimeter. We simply didn’t know them down. And I’m hoping this 12 months you’re going to get a number of the similar seems. We gained’t play … individuals thought with Trayce Jackson-Davis and Ware, we strictly performed inside-out. We ran extra pick-and-rolls than we did postups with Trayce Jackson-Davis. So I’m seeking to hopefully run extra pick-and-rolls this 12 months and nonetheless make the most of Malik (Reneau) and massive fella Ballo on the within when now we have to. Nevertheless it ought to open up the doorways somewhat bit in the event that they’re double teamed for guys to nonetheless get those self same seems and be ok with knocking them down.”
On a Myles Rice-Kanaan Carlyle backcourt:
“I imply it offers us a distinct look. Gallo continues to be in rehab attempting to get again. That’s to not say that he gained’t be within the lineup. Competitors and placing sufficient expertise on the ball membership I believe is wholesome and ultimately will play its method out when it comes to who performs and who don’t play an entire lot. This summer time play we’ve had, the eight-week program has been very aggressive and we nonetheless haven’t had Gallo or Jakai Newton, two guys that I believe are powerful and exhausting nosed gamers which are very aggressive. So I’m seeking to get each of these guys again. Jakai has been out and in somewhat bit however Gallo continues to be rehabbing from knee surgical procedure so I’m wanting ahead to once we formally begin and see the place we’re however I’m very happy with Jakai and Rice and their play this summer time and hopefully they will proceed to develop and get higher for us.”
On a timetable for Trey Galloway to be absolutely cleared:
“I believe he may be able to go first day of observe. We form of gradual walked him and didn’t rush issues as a result of we don’t must. Once more, there’s sufficient expertise round him that we don’t must rush him again. So he’s executed his work this summer time when it comes to persevering with to develop to get again on the ground. Nevertheless it takes time from these knee surgical procedures, man. He’s on course and I’m hoping that from day one, he’ll be again on the ground able to go. However solely time will inform with that.”
On the returning gamers that may make the largest soar subsequent season:
“Properly, you wish to assume that guys like Gallo and Malik and Mackenzie, all three performed properly for us final season. Gabe has actually performed properly for us this summer time. I simply assume he’s made a pleasant soar from his freshman 12 months coming into summer time play. I believe he’s going to be regular and stable for us as properly. I wish to assume the fellows which were right here and know our system and know what we’re doing ought to make a faster soar however you by no means know with the brand new guys as properly, man. Something can occur. Goode has actually performed extraordinarily properly for us this summer time. So I’m searching for large issues out of him as a result of he’s a senior and he has expertise in taking part in within the Massive Ten.”
On the kind of soar that’s practical for Mgbako as a sophomore:
“Solely time will inform, man. I don’t sit right here and predict something. He’s nonetheless bought to undergo observe. He’s nonetheless bought to develop each day in observe and there’s gotta be a carry over within the ball recreation. However I’m anticipating large issues out of him. He bought off to a considerably gradual begin final season and he was capable of flip it primarily based on the physique of labor and him persevering with to work exhausting in observe and he bought higher because the season went alongside which is form of good to see.”
On whether or not it was simpler to place a crew collectively through the switch portal due to expertise as an NBA head coach with free company:
“Properly I imply it’s helped me. However I’m not taking something away from these faculty coaches. All these guys can coach and so they construct groups and so they attempt to do the perfect job they will probably do, man. Teaching is hard. It truly is. I don’t care what degree you coach at. However the truth that I’ve come out of the NBA and I’ve some expertise in coping with free company and draft picks and constructing groups, it’s helped me personally, I believe. And that’s to not take something away from the opposite faculty coaches as a result of I’m positive they be ok with what they do for his or her ball membership as properly.”
On how distinctive it’s to be coming into a season with the brand new applications from the Pac-12:
“It’s completely different. From the time I performed till now. Once more, I say this on a regular basis, competitors is wholesome. And UCLA and USC and the opposite two faculties are superb applications, man. It will probably’t assist however push the motion somewhat bit extra and now we have to journey a good distance. However that’s nothing new to me. I’ve executed that within the NBA for a very long time going from east coast to west coast, west coast again to east coast. However I believe it’s wholesome, man. I believe it’s going to be very aggressive. While you enter the Massive Ten season, it’s powerful. All these groups can play and so they’re properly coached and also you gotta be in your greatest recreation with the intention to win at residence and on the street as a result of it’s not simple.”
On not being within the match final season and what it was wish to be residence watching:
“It wasn’t enjoyable my man. In no way. I made it very clear to our ball membership after we realized that we weren’t going to make the match that I’m not going to take a seat one other 12 months and watch basketball on TV throughout March Insanity and that we needed to exit and get higher as a ball membership after which we gotta come again and put all of it collectively and we made that begin this summer time and it’s gotta be a carry over into official observe after which prepare for this upcoming season as a result of it’s a whole lot of work. That’s irritating. You don’t play faculty basketball to observe it on TV throughout March Insanity. You wish to get a shot at it and see the way you fare and see if you can also make all of it to the Closing 4 and win it. That’s what it’s all about.”
On whether or not he seems like that is his greatest roster he’s had at Indiana:
“Properly it’s. There’s little doubt it’s the perfect expertise and it’s the perfect roster we’ve had. And that’s not taking something away from the final three earlier seasons. However we’re deeper than now we have been prior to now. And that’s essential while you undergo a grueling season, particularly the Massive Ten, I really feel good now that if someone occurs to journey somewhat bit and may’t play, there’s somebody there to again him up and provides him some assist till he’s capable of get again. So we bought harm the previous couple of years, we had our struggles till key guys bought again. I’m hoping that gained’t be the case this season.”
On what has to occur between now and subsequent March to be in rivalry for a Massive Ten title after which earn a top quality seed within the NCAA match:
“Properly we simply gotta come collectively as a ball membership and consider that we are able to do this. I imply the primary two years we had been a recreation away from going to the Massive Ten match finals. After which final 12 months we don’t even make the NCAA match. Yearly expectations are excessive right here at Indiana. It ought to be that method. I’ve by no means doubted that one second after I took the job. That’s the one method you need it. So it’s going to be a whole lot of work that’s gotta be put in on my half when it comes to me and my employees getting these guys to return in and play at a excessive degree and do what’s anticipated of them on and off the court docket as a result of that’s what it’s going to take to win the Massive Ten title and probably a nationwide title.”
Filed to: Mike Woodson
