Indiana coach Mike Woodson was Jon Rothstein’s visitor this week on the School Hoops As we speak podcast launched Monday afternoon.
You possibly can take heed to the total episode right here, however we’ve additionally transcribed every little thing Woodson mentioned, 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 dwelling however more often than not is spent in Bloomington.”
On whether or not it’s laborious to consider he’s getting into yr 4 at IU:
“No, not likely. I imply seasons come and go and time is shifting, man. I’m in season 4 and searching ahead to it. However no, not likely. 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 serious about the upcoming season and the way you’re going to construct your group and all that. And this summer time for us was very productive and lots of work put in. Didn’t have a lot day without work however trying ahead to this subsequent season.”
On the largest issues final season’s group lacked:
“Effectively we lacked a senior level guard (laughs). We put a lot stress on Gabe Cupps who I believed performed extraordinarily nicely for us as a freshman. Make no mistake about it, it’s a studying curve when highschool gamers make the leap to school and it’s no completely different from school to execs. 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 believed that was an enormous setback for us, not having X. After we did have him, we weren’t a nasty basketball group in order that sort of immediate me this summer time to exit into the portal and make it possible for we bought sufficient expertise that if we’re caught like that once more, it wouldn’t have an effect on us, we might maintain issues shifting, hopefully.”
On the largest issues he needed to handle within the portal:
“Perimeter play, capturing. I believe we’ve executed all of that. Shedding (Kel’el) Ware, we had to ensure 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 capturing from the perimeter by bringing in (Luke) Goode and getting Mack (Mackenzie Mgbako) again. You realize, I believe Kanaan Carlyle and guys like Myles Rice can knock photographs down. Gabe is capturing the ball extraordinarily nicely 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 publish and the way it would possibly assist IU to turn out to be a greater capturing group:
“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 yr you’re going to get a number of the similar appears. 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 trying to hopefully run extra pick-and-rolls this yr and nonetheless make the most of Malik (Reneau) and massive fella Ballo on the within when we have now to. However 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 appears and be ok with knocking them down.”
On a Myles Rice-Kanaan Carlyle backcourt:
“I imply it offers us a special look. Gallo remains 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 manner 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 robust and laborious nosed gamers which are very aggressive. So I’m trying to get each of these guys again. Jakai has been out and in somewhat bit however Gallo remains to be rehabbing from knee surgical procedure so I’m trying ahead to after we formally begin and see the place we’re however I’m more than 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 could be able to go first day of observe. We sort of sluggish walked him and didn’t rush issues as a result of we don’t should. Once more, there’s sufficient expertise round him that we don’t should 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. However it takes time from these knee surgical procedures, man. He’s on the right track 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 leap subsequent season:
“Effectively, you wish to assume that guys like Gallo and Malik and Mackenzie, all three performed nicely for us final season. Gabe has actually performed nicely for us this summer time. I simply assume he’s made a pleasant leap from his freshman yr coming into summer time play. I believe he’s going to be regular and stable for us as nicely. I wish to assume the blokes which have been right here and know our system and know what we’re doing ought to make a faster leap however you by no means know with the brand new guys as nicely, man. Something can occur. Goode has actually performed extraordinarily nicely for us this summer time. So I’m on the lookout for large issues out of him as a result of he’s a senior and he has expertise in taking part in within the Huge Ten.”
On the kind of leap 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 sport. However I’m anticipating large issues out of him. He bought off to a considerably sluggish begin final season and he was in a position to flip it primarily based on the physique of labor and him persevering with to work laborious in observe and he bought higher because the season went alongside which is sort of good to see.”
On whether or not it was simpler to place a group collectively by way of the switch portal due to expertise as an NBA head coach with free company:
“Effectively I imply it’s helped me. However I’m not taking something away from these school coaches. All these guys can coach and so they construct groups and so they attempt to do one of the best job they will presumably do, man. Teaching is hard. It truly is. I don’t care what stage 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 school coaches as a result of I’m certain they be ok with what they do for his or her ball membership as nicely.”
On how distinctive it’s to be getting 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 colleges are excellent applications, man. It might probably’t assist however push the motion somewhat bit extra and we have now to journey a great 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. Whenever you enter the Huge Ten season, it’s robust. All these groups can play and so they’re nicely coached and also you gotta be in your finest sport with the intention to win at dwelling 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 dwelling watching:
“It wasn’t enjoyable my man. Under no circumstances. 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 sit down one other yr 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 lots of work. That’s irritating. You don’t play school 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 may make all of it to the Last 4 and win it. That’s what it’s all about.”
On whether or not he looks like that is his finest roster he’s had at Indiana:
“Effectively it’s. There’s little doubt it’s one of the best expertise and it’s one of the best roster we’ve had. And that’s not taking something away from the final three earlier seasons. However we’re deeper than we have now been previously. And that’s vital once you undergo a grueling season, particularly the Huge Ten, I really feel good now that if someone occurs to journey somewhat bit and may’t play, there may be somebody there to again him up and provides him some assist till he’s in a position to get again. So we bought damage the previous couple of years, we had our struggles till key guys bought again. You realize 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 Huge Ten title after which earn a high quality seed within the NCAA match:
“Effectively we simply gotta come collectively as a ball membership and consider that we are able to try this. I imply the primary two years we have been a sport away from going to the Huge Ten match finals. After which final yr we don’t even make the NCAA match. Yearly expectations are excessive right here at Indiana. It needs to be that manner. I’ve by no means doubted that one second once I took the job. That’s the one manner you need it. So it’s going to be lots of work that’s gotta be put in on my half when it comes to me and my workers getting these guys to return in and play at a excessive stage 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 Huge Ten title and presumably a nationwide title.”
Filed to: Mike Woodson
