Mike Woodson wants series with Kentucky, Louisville

BORDEN — After taking it straightforward on his first workforce at IU, Mike Woodson has pushed so as to add marquee matchups towards powerhouse applications within the nonconference schedule and already has a home-and-home set and a impartial website blockbuster apparently on the best way.

However since he took the job late final March, Woodson has been excited about rekindling rivalries with the facility applications in Indiana’s border state to the south. He hasn’t been profitable but, however he is pushed and mentioned he plans to proceed doing so. 

Woodson spoke Wednesday on the annual IU booster occasion at Huber’s Orchard and Vineyard, and as is typical, he was requested concerning the state of negotiations for video games towards each Kentucky and Louisville. Woodson mentioned he is had discussions with Wildcats coach John Calipari over bringing again the IU-Kentucky rivalry, however indicated that Calipari nonetheless is not biting. 

“It is one thing I’ve to return to the desk with Cal,” Woodson mentioned. “He and I’ve addressed it early on after I bought the job. However I am not going to let it die. I will keep on his heels and making an attempt to get a Kentucky-Indiana collection again on the desk. I simply assume, over time, man. that was a hell of a sport. Happening to Lexington and them coming to Bloomington.” 

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In fact, a part of the rationale Calipari has resisted bringing again the rivalry is that he isn’t massive on the concept of returning to Meeting Corridor. The final time Kentucky performed there was, in fact, Dec. 10, 2011 when Christian Watford’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer gave the then-unranked Hoosiers a shocking upset of then-No. 1 and eventual nationwide champion Kentucky, resulting in a courtroom storming. Although Calipari and then-IU coach Tom Crean are shut mates, Calipari mentioned he wished to discontinue the collection until it was moved to impartial websites. IU and Kentucky in the end could not come to an settlement on that and the collection stopped, The Hoosiers and Wildcats met within the 2012 and 2016 NCAA tournaments, however not within the common season. 

Woodson mentioned in a speech to followers after his assembly with the media that he particularly introduced up the concept of enjoying at house websites to Calipari and was rebuffed. 

“He did not need any components of that,” Woodson mentioned. 

Woodson mentioned he’d be OK with impartial websites. A lot of the matchups between 1987 and 2005 alternated between Indianapolis and Louisville. 

“It may not be Bloomington-Lexington, I do not know,” Woodson mentioned. “Nonetheless we gotta get it executed, I am going to take it. We simply gotta determine that a part of it out.” 

Throughout his speech, Woodson indicated to his athletic director Scott Dolson that he considers the collection a precedence.

“Scott,” he mentioned, “We gotta get this executed.” 

Woodson mentioned he is additionally engaged on a matchup with Louisville, who the Hoosiers final performed in December of 2018. Woodson labored with new Louisville coach Kenny Payne as a part of the New York Knicks workers in 2020-21 earlier than he was employed at IU. 

“I’ve had the chance to speak to Kenny and their A.D.,” Woodson mentioned. “He promised me one thing in two years. As soon as Kenny will get up and operating, we will presumably get a sport with Louisville in a few years. I am going to take that each one day lengthy as a result of I do know it will likely be a aggressive sport.” 

For this season, IU has already introduced it is going to start a home-and-home collection with nationwide champion Kansas, enjoying at Phog Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence this yr after which internet hosting the Jayhawks subsequent season. It is also been reported the Hoosiers are near scheduling a impartial website sport with Arizona in Las Vegas. Arizona gained the Pac-12 title final season and had a No. 1 seed within the NCAA event earlier than being upset by Houston. 

Woodson did not trace at any extra massive additions, although the Hoosiers may even be enjoying within the ACC/Large Ten Problem and the Gavitt Video games. Their opponents haven’t but been introduced. Woodson didn’t give any additional hints on potential nonconference video games

“I don’t know who we’ll be enjoying there,” Woodson mentioned. “However I do know they’ll be good.” 

Observe Herald-Occasions IU Insider Dustin Dopirak on Twitter at @DustinDopirak or e-mail him at DDopirak@gannett.com.