Louisville absolutely pummeled No. 14 Indiana in the Bahamas

Mike Woodson being bad at his job isn’t new news. He’s led Indiana to campaigns of 14, 12 and 14 losses since taking over the program in 2021 — just good enough to not get fired with two NCAA Tournament appearances, but bad enough to keep the program where it belongs in mediocrity.

Things appeared to be trending in the right direction this season with the Hoosiers jumping up to No. 14 in the latest AP Poll following a 4-0 start. It’s a group that features high-profile portal additions and prized returnees, plenty of depth and talent to bring the program “back” to the promised land — whatever that means when you haven’t been to a Final Four since 2002, then a decade before that in 1992 for the one before.

Then reality hit for the Hoosiers in a game Big Blue Nation would rather root for the power to go out in Nassau for the day instead of either team in the 12 PM ET matchup. It was IU against the fighting Pat Kelseys of Louisville, a battle where energy makes up for height on one side and height absorbs all of it on the other. Woodson was asleep on the bench as the Cardinals ran laps around the Hoosiers in the Battle 4 Atlantis, an 89-61 win for UofL that was miles apart than even the 28-point margin indicated. It wasn’t even close, the Cards leading by as many as 38 points while forcing an absurd 23 turnovers while holding the competition — if we want to call it that — to 33.3 percent shooting on 21-63 overall.

THE FRESHMAN MAKES IT 30

💻 https://t.co/LHXRYqBVDi#GoCards x @Khani_Rooths pic.twitter.com/qXQRCGvv2c

— Louisville Men's Basketball (@LouisvilleMBB) November 27, 2024

If the result comes as a surprise to you, remember Indiana has now gotten destroyed by Louisville, Auburn, UConn, Kansas and Arizona in high-profile non-conference games under Woodson dating back to 2022. Time and time again, the Hoosiers have taken care of the cupcakes and failed to compete in national events before playing average ball in conference play to finish with a mediocre season product and nothing to show for it. This is the latest example — and the last to explain why the Hoosiers will never amount to anything with Woodson leading the program.

As for the Cardinals, they may have gotten steamrolled at home by No. 12 Tennessee a few weeks ago, but the team is good and they’re well-coached — a fun team to hate with big personalities if you’re Kentucky. I’m personally excited for that fanbase to start dreaming big again, only to be brought back down to earth by big brother on December 14.

Keep winning and winning big, Cards. Give us a ranked matchup inside Rupp Arena for ultimate bragging rights. I need it like air.