Any chances that Indiana’s men’s basketball team had of making the NCAA Tournament came to a crashing end on Friday night, as the Hoosiers were trounced by Nebraska, losing 99-63 in their quarterfinal matchup to the Cornhuskers.
With his team down 80-53 in the game’s final minutes, Indiana’s Xavier Johnson drove into the lane and attempted a layup. There was light contact between Johnson and Nebraska forward Rienk Mast but no foul was called and the shot missed. The Huskers secured the rebound and brought the ball up the court.
There was no clear disagreement from the Hoosiers bench. Woodson, as well as the rest of the Indiana coaches, stayed seated. But shortly after Nebraska crossed midcourt, a whistle was blown. Woodson was called for a technical foul — his second of the game. With that, he was ejected.
With his Hoosiers down big, Indiana coach Mike Woodson is ejected from the Big 10 Tournament quarterfinal against Nebraska. pic.twitter.com/4T2YGuq7wI
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) March 16, 2024
Woodson played at Indiana under coach Bobby Knight. His demeanor after being ejected, though, was nothing like his former coach’s in his many ejections. Woodson did nothing to protest the ejection. When he realized what happened, he stood up, said something to another coach on the bench and then quietly strolled back to the locker room.
Several observers noted that Woodson didn’t exactly seem heartbroken by the ejection.
Mike Woodson chose to walk out of this movie.
— Sam McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) March 16, 2024
I think Mike Woodson wants to get a jump start on a shower.
— Mike Sautter (@MikeSautter_) March 16, 2024
Mike Woodson ejected. He's probably not overly bummed getting out of here, to be honest.
— Brian Christopherson (@Husker247BC) March 16, 2024
https://twitter.com/rickbozich/status/1768836744944775268
The ejection marked the end of a disappointing season for Woodson and the Hoosiers, who were looking to build off of NCAA Tournament trips in each of Woodson’s first two years leading the program. Things have the potential to be even worse for Indiana next season. Liam McNeeley, who had previously committed to Indiana, decommitted earlier in March. Not only was McNeeley a five-star recruit, but he was the Hoosiers’ only recruit for the Class of 2024.
So, while Woodson’s ejection might have given him a slightly early end to a bad season, it also gave him an early beginning to an offseason that figures to be important and challenging.
