Jeff Goodman calls on Indiana to call Rick Pitino to potentially replace Mike Woodson

After news broke of Mike Woodson’s plans to potentially step down and retire as Indiana head coach, the conversation quickly shifted to who could replace him. According to The Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman – who broke the story – name should jump out if the top targets aren’t available.

Goodman said IU should call Rick Pitino, who’s putting together an impressive second season as the head coach at St. John’s. But even with that, he wondered if Pitino could come in and have an impact similar to Curt Cignetti on the football side, revitalizing the program in just one year.

Of course, the big names are sure to be Brad Stevens, Scott Drew and Billy Donovan. But if they don’t gain traction, Goodman said Pitino should be the big swing.

“My big name, if I’m Indiana and Scott Dolson and I strike out on Brad Stevens, Scott Drew? Rick Pitino,” Goodman said. “That’s who I’m calling. I’m calling Rick Pitino. I’m calling Rick Pitino and saying, ‘Hey, I know you’re doing well at St. John’s. I know you like New York. You built this thing in two years, rebuilt it into something where you’re back. But man, last I checked, St. John’s ain’t Indiana.’ Indiana’s got that campus feel, their support is much different. The feel is much different than St. John’s. There’s no campus at St. John’s. They’ll show up for games, but it’s a different type of feel among the basketball program.

“For me, Rick Pitino – I know he’s older, but who gives a shit? If you’re Indiana, these days, you’re not playing for like five, 10 years down the road to hire a coach that’s gonna be there forever. No. Like, three years. And for Indiana? Give me a year. They just had a year of football with Curt Cignetti. You don’t think they’d take that right now in basketball? Give me a Final Four this year, and they don’t give a shit after that. Give me another couple average years.”

Rick Pitino turned St. John’s around quickly

Pitino took over a St. John’s program that went 7-13 in Big East play in 2022-23 and took the Red Storm to an 11-9 mark in league action in 2023-24. The program declined a spot in the NIT. This year, the Johnnies are one of the top teams in the country with a 20-3 overall record and an 11-1 mark in the Big East.

That’s quite the turnaround – one that could revitalize the state of affairs at Indiana. Frustration mounted around Woodson this season amid high expectations and an influx of NIL funds in what was a make-or-break year for the Hoosiers great.

Woodson entered this season with a 58-35 record through his first three seasons at his alma mater, but Indiana missed out on the NCAA Tournament a year ago after going 19-14 overall and 10-10 in league play. Despite multiple big transfer portal splashes, the results on the court haven’t been there this season.

Indiana enters Saturday’s game against Michigan with four straight losses and six losses in its last seven games. That adds to the mounting pressure as “Fire Woodson” chants broke out multiple times throughout the season as fans voiced their frustration.