Everything Mike Woodson said during his first appearance at B1G Media Days
Excitement always surrounds the beginning of the season for Indiana Basketball, but now with Hoosiers legend Mike Woodson at the end of the IU bench, the new head coach is looking to turn things around after the four years of woes that the program has suffered through.
2022 should be a far cry better than last season, with its 12-15 record and tie for 10th in the B1G.
During B1G Media Days interviews, Woodson addressed some of the issues facing the program on its move to turn things around. He said he will be looking for leadership from junior point guard Rob Phinisee, who arrived in Bloomington as a freshman and started 29 games, scoring in double-figures during eight games and was a stopper on defense, but struggled last season with some injuries.
Woodson had plenty to add during his meeting with the press at the Media Days event, and some of his comments are below.
Fans know what @TrayceJackson did for @IndianaMBB last year. Here's how @MikeWoodsonNBA is approaching building his team this season.#B1GMediaDays pic.twitter.com/h6WFMd1psM
— Indiana On BTN (@IndianaOnBTN) October 8, 2021
Mike Woodson at his first Big Ten media day: "It's good to be back in Bloomington. It's good to be back in Indianapolis, where I was born, where I was born and raised." #iubb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) October 8, 2021
Woodson on the Bahamas: "That trip was great for me because it allowed me to put some things in on both sides of the ball and it allowed our guys to go to the Bahamas and bond."
— Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) October 8, 2021
Woodson name checking a lot of guys he's challenging to step up:
"We can't just depend on Trayce to carry the load." #iubb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) October 8, 2021
Woodson asked about how he's evaluated Rob Phinisee, responds with something revealing more broadly: He won't discount what a guy did in his past, but Woodson's most important analysis of a player comes from how he responds to working with them. #iubb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) October 8, 2021
Woodson asked if he thinks being in the NBA gives him advantage in dealing with NIL. Says it's simply different and the guys who have been coaching in the Big Ten still have an advantage on him for having been in it.
— Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) October 8, 2021
Woodson: "I'm happy with my staff because without them I would be lost, being new at this.
— Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) October 8, 2021
Woodson on Phinisee: "He's been one of the biggest bright spots on our roster in the past three months. … I'm going to need his leadership as we move forward."
— Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) October 8, 2021