Indiana’s Basketball Misery on Full Display in Men’s National Title Game
Sports Illustrated • • sports
Key Points:
- Indiana faces a basketball crisis as local talents like coach Dusty May (Michigan) and player Braylon Mullins (UConn) shine elsewhere, highlighting the Hoosiers' prolonged struggles with no Final Four appearance in 24 years and a 39-year national title drought.
- Indiana's decision to retain men's basketball coach Mike Woodson for a fourth season, instead of hiring Dusty May, is seen as a critical misstep that may have cost the program a chance to rebuild around top local talent.
- Dusty May has rapidly transformed Michigan into a national title contender, while Mullins, Indiana Mr. Basketball 2025, has become a key player for UConn, illustrating how Indiana's basketball prospects have flourished outside the state.
- The trend of Indiana basketball stars excelling for out-of-state programs continues, with recent Mr. Basketball winners and prominent players often choosing schools like UConn, Kansas, and Purdue over Indiana University.
- Indiana's basketball future may hinge on new coaching under Darian DeVries, but fans must endure watching former local stars succeed elsewhere, with the football spring game on April 23 offering a brief distraction.
