BLOOMINGTON- Indiana basketball Coach Mike Woodson hasn’t ruled out making changes to his starting lineup after his team suffered one of its worst home losses.
The Hoosiers (13-5; 4-3 Big Ten) lost 94-69 to No. 20 Illinois in a game where they trailed by as many as 30 points in the first half. Things got so bad during the first half that the student section began chanting “Fire Woodson” during several timeouts.
While Woodson hopes injured forward Malik Reneau returns to the lineup sooner rather than later, he told reporters of the team’s disappointing first-half effort — IU gave up 60 points while shooting 38 .2% from the floor and coming out 29-18. – he will evaluate his starting lineup.
“I have to make some changes,” Woodson said. “We didn’t get off to a good start in terms of who we started. Of course, we miss Malik. He’s an important piece of the puzzle. But I have to put guys in there who I think are going to get us a Good start and let’s see if we can keep the pace going for a 40 minute match.
More: IU basketball: Student section takes on Mike Woodson in disastrous first half vs. Illinois
It was the second straight game the Hoosiers trailed by double digits at halftime. They then lost 85-60 at Iowa. Woodson described the losses as “embarrassing” and their recent opponents have both exploited the team’s lack of intensity.
“It’s tough,” Woodson said. “You know, I mean, when you prepare and you work, because we work in practice, we do everything you’re supposed to do before the game. The guys just didn’t respond tonight and did not react in the Iowa game.
Indiana’s starting lineup with Reneau sidelined included Myles Rice, Trey Galloway, Mackenzie Mgbako, Luke Goode and Oumar Ballo. Galloway and Mgbako have had notable struggles of late.
Galloway, who didn’t score against Iowa, scored 10 points Tuesday night, but much of that production came after the game was already decided. He was 0 of 5 in the first half and missed a series of open 3-pointers in the second half as IU tried to get back into the game. He also made four turnovers and was booed by the home crowd on several occasions.
He began the season coming off the bench after missing much of the offseason while recovering from a knee injury he suffered late in the 2023-24 season.
Mgbako has just 10 points in IU’s previous three games and has shot a combined 3-of-24 from the field during that stretch while going 0-of-11 from 3-point range. His only successful field goal against Illinois came on IU’s second possession of the game. He didn’t score again until he made two free throws with 14:23 remaining.
It was the third consecutive game he played in less than 20 minutes.
“I don’t think we’re going to continue as usual,” Indiana guard Anthony Leal said after the game. “Obviously things need to be worked out between the players and themselves and between the players. I think that’s really the root of the problem. We just need to lock ourselves in, look in the mirror and understand how much it’s embarrassing and unacceptable and understand that no one gets where they want to go if the team doesn’t win.
“Just reevaluating everything and setting our priorities straight man to man and man to man and finding ways to win games.”
Indiana enjoys another quick turnaround with a game at Ohio State on Friday with the program in the midst of a tough 11-game streak against quad one teams.
“We can’t let this have a snowball effect,” Woodson said. “Like I said, we have a long way to go in this Big Ten. Do I think we’re good enough to win? Yes, I do. I just have to make us believe that and continue to push these guys in the right direction.”
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana reporter for the Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on @michaelniziolek and read all of its coverage by clicking here.
This article was originally published in the Herald-Times: Why IU Basketball’s recent lopsided losses could lead to starting lineup changes
