My Two Cents: Come On, Mike Woodson, Give Us 40 Minutes Of Indiana's Best vs. Kansas

Indiana coach Mike Woodson needs to have a chat with Mike Woodson the player, who routinely played all 40 minutes of a game for Bob Knight during his playing career with the Hoosiers. He needs to keep his best players on the floor again Saturday when Indiana takes on No. 2 Kansas.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — I've said it repeatedly that the greatest college basketball accomplishment I've ever seen is watching first-hand as Mike Woodson won the Big Ten Player of the Year — and the team Big Ten title — in 1980 despite only playing the last SIX games of the year.

Woodson missed the first two months of the conference season after having major back surgery in late December. This was his senior year — mine too, and I was covering the team for a second year for the Indiana Daily Student — and he worked feverishly through his rehab week after week, hoping for a return.

No one expected that, of course. This was major back surgery, something that's usually a six-month recovery time. Woodson was back on the court in under three.

He played in the final six Indiana regular season games — and the Hoosiers won all six. They finished 13-5 and won the league on the final day, beating Ohio State at Assembly Hall. Woodson averaged 20.5 points per game — and won the player of the year award for all he did in that three-week run.

Three amazing weeks.

Why do I bring this up now, on the morning of the Indiana-Kansas game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, a huge nonconference game for Woodson, who's in his third year of coaching at his alma mater after four decades in the NBA as a player and coach?

Because I wanted to share this other telling stat about what Mike Woodson did in 1980, and it is so relevant today.

During the six games in that heroic run, Mike Woodson averaged 40 minutes of playing time per game.

40 minutes!!!

Woodson the coach has been getting criticized often — especially this year — for pulling his starters out of games too often. He was ripped hard — by fans and media alike — for taking all three frontline starters out at the same time last Saturday against Auburn and watching a 12-point lead turn into a 28-point rout in a 104-76 loss in Atlanta.

Woodson the coach tried to justify it by saying they ''needed a blow'' and that ''you can't just burn them.'' 

Woodson the player would have a serious problem with Woodson the coach. He three best players — Kel'el Ware, Malik Reneau and Mackenzie Mgbako — played a combined 83 of a possible 120 minutes against Auburn. That's 37 combined minutes on the bench, sitting next to him.

Totally unacceptable. 

And that's not necessarily me saying that, that's what Woodson the player would have said, too. 

That's why I'm imploring Woodson to keep his best players on the floor in this 12:30 p.m. ET national-TV showdown with No. 2 Kansas. It's your best chance to win. Maybe you're ONLY chance to win. Don't sub for the sake of subbing. 

They can all rest on Sunday. They do — as we are well aware— know how to get some late-night food in Bloomington. They'll be fine.

Bob Knight used to say that about his best players. Game day was no day to rest, he'd say. Mike Woodson the player was one of those guys.

When I wrote our book "Missing Banners'' with the great Terry Hutchens, I wrote three long chapters on that 1980 team, and a lot of my favorite parts were of that final stretch by Woodson. He'd give his all for 40 minutes, and then could barely walk. Teammates would carry him, help him to their car, and drive him home, where he would lay in bed and get treatment.

He could barely move — until the next game. Then he'd go out AND PLAY 40 MINUTES and lead the Hoosiers to another win.

I really hope Mike Woodson the coach hears that voice of Mike Woodson the player between his ears. Let Ware and Mgbako and Reneau go as along as they can today against Kansas. Hell, let guards Gabe Cupps and Trey Galloway go all 40 too, if they're playing well enough to be out there.

It's a must-win game, so give it your all. They can rest on Sunday.

Give us 40 minutes. Please.

Other game-day ramblings

 A few other thoughts before we all head over to Assembly Hall for what should be a fun afternoon of basketball.

• HOME-AND-HOME SERIES: I love these home-and-home series against big-time basketball brands. Last year was my first trip to Phog Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence for the first Indiana-Kansas game, and it was special. I've been in a hundred buildings — at least — but it was nice being there. And Saturday will be nice, too. I met a lot of Kansas fans out Friday night who were feeling the same way, that it's really cool to finally get to watch a game at the iconic Assembly Hall. So let's keep putting things like this together. It's really fun, for all involved.
• GOT A CHANCE?: I've told y'all before about the point spreads on games. I don't gamble, but I do write our story about the latest line for every game. I try to guess what the number will be, and I wasn't even close this time. Kansas is a 6.5-point favorite, but I really thought it would be closer to 9 or 10. Maybe the experts think this will be a close game. I'm only going by what Indiana has done against UConn and Auburn in high-profile games — and it what Kansas did last year, winning by 22 as 5.5-point favorites. I'm certainly hoping I'm wrong, but I don't see this as being a close game. Weird things do happen in Assembly Hall, though.
• KEEP SHOOTING, GABE: We're four games in to the Gabe Cupps experience at point guard with Xavier Johnson still out with a foot/ankle injury. He's a tough kid and a fan favorite, but he's been very hesitant to shoot. He finally did against Auburn, making 4-of-6 shots. He was 0-for-7 in his previous SIX games. He needs to at least be some kind of scoring threat for Indiana to have a chance to win going forward. When you're open, kid, shoot the dang ball.
• BE GOOD HOOSIERS TODAY: I sometimes get a little ticked off at Indiana fans for boorish behavior at Assembly Hall, especially the students. I know it's probably an older man ''get off my lawn'' thing. But remember this: Last year, Kansas fans were very gracious to all the Indiana fans who showed up in Lawrence. We should do that same. For Kansas fans, they've had Bloomington on their bucket list for several years. So treat the fans great, and be welcoming. Direct all your loudness at Bill Self and Hunter Dickinson, they can be the villians. Be loud, for your Hoosiers, but treat those Kansas fans well. They're ardent college basketball fans, just like you.

Related stories on Indiana basketball

• HOW TO WATCH: Indiana continues the 2023-24 season on Saturday against the No. 2 Kanas Jayhawks at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. Here's how to watch, game time and TV information, the point spread and over/under, the coaching matchup, series history, stats, rankings and more. CLICK HERE
• POINT SPREAD: Indiana gets Kansas on its home floor at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Saturday as the two teams wrap up their home-and-home series. The No. 2-ranked Jayhawks are favored. Here's the latest on the point spreads, and what both teams have done against the spread this season. CLICK HERE
• JACK ANKONY COLUMN: Based on its résumé, individual talent and having arguably the best coach in the sport, Kansas seems like the logical pick Saturday against Indiana. But history suggests the home court advantage of Assembly Hall gives Indiana a chance. CLICK HERE
• BILL SELF PREVIEWS INDIANA: Entering Saturday's game against Indiana, Kansas coach Bill Self shared his thoughts on the Hoosiers, Assembly Hall, the possibility to extending this home-and-home series and a few notes the No. 2 Jayhawks. CLICK HERE
• XAVIER JOHNSON QUESTIONABLE: Indiana has an important matchup against the No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, but the Hoosiers could be without senior point guard Xavier Johnson for a fourth consecutive game. CLICK HERE
• 3 MATCHUPS TO WATCH: From the interior matchup between 7-footers Kel'el Ware and Hunter Dickinson to a point guard matchup between freshman Gabe Cupps and veteran Dajuan Harris Jr., here are three individual battles to watch when Indiana hosts Kansas Saturday. CLICK HERE
• KANSAS BREAKDOWN: Indiana's last chance to pick up a résumé-boosting nonconference win is Saturday against No. 2 Kansas, which is led by the trio of Hunter Dickinson, Kevin McCullar Jr. and Dajuan Harris Jr. Here's a breakdown of the Jayhawks. CLICK HERE