Indiana coach Mike Woodson expressed disappointment in his team's performance following another loss to Rutgers. He was particularly critical of his starting two guards, describing them as 'awful,' and pinpointed the team's 27 points conceded from turnovers as the difference in the game. Woodson sought more from his bench players, but despite going to them for support, he felt they let Rutgers back into the game. The loss adds to Indiana's five straight defeats at the RAC, a venue where Woodson acknowledges the team's struggle, especially with making free throws on the road. The ejection of a senior guard compounded Indiana's challenges, which included facing a team adept at offensive rebounding. Woodson, surprised by the closeness of the game despite these issues, emphasized the need for the team to be more solid and took it upon himself to help them improve.
Mike Woodson’s full Q&A after Indiana lost again to Rutgers. #iubb https://t.co/NdWzEYEKVF
Sixth-year IU senior Xavier Johnson has been around too long to be this ineffective. Then again, the same can be said of #iubb coach Mike Woodson. Yeah, the loss to Rutgers was that bad. https://t.co/GaP8JCSJf0
Woodson: “We have to continue to work. It’s my job, I gotta get them over the hump.” #iubb
Woodson on the RAC: “I’m two of those five (straight losses), so I know that we haven’t played well here. When you can’t make free throws, it’s hard to win on the road.” #iubb
Woodson: “We just gotta be more solid.” #iubb
Woodson: “(The bench) didn’t kill us, but we let (Rutgers) back in the game.” #iubb
Woodson: “I need our bench to give us more, so that’s why I went to the bench. We didn’t get it. I just didn’t like the way we were playing.” #iubb
Mike Woodson: “You don’t expect your senior guard to get kicked out. We came into the game knowing this team was a good offensive rebounding team, so that hurt us, and then the turnovers hurt us. I’m surprised we were even that close.” #iubb
Indiana coach Mike Woodson: “Our starting two guards were awful tonight.” #iubb
Woodson: "We basically gifted them 27 points on turnovers. That was, I thought, the difference in the game tonight." #iubb