March came and went for both Indiana men’s and women’s basketball team as fast a hurricane hitting the Florida shores in August.
On Sunday, March 19th, Mike Woodson’s Hoosiers were defeated by the Miami Hurricanes 85-69. Less than 24 hours later, Teri Moren’s squad lost to Miami’s women’s team 70-68.
On the men’s side, Indiana trailed by as many as 13 in the first half but battled back to take a three-point lead two minutes into the second half. From that point on, it was all Miami. The Hurricanes closed the final 12 minutes on a 36-20 run.
“We didn’t do the things to put us in position once we got the lead to win this game,” Woodson said. “When I look at the stat sheet and look at the paint points and the rebounding, that’s just not Indiana basketball. And that’s where the game was won.”
In his final game as a Hoosier, senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis left it all out on the court, finishing with 23 points and eight rebounds. Jackson-Davis and freshman standout Jalen Hood-Schifino, who added 19 points, could not outduel the duo of ACC player of the year Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller who combined for 39 points.
“Just two years ago, we were getting booed at our home city, Indianapolis off the court by the big 10 tournament,” Jackson-Davis said. “Two years later, it’s really special to me, to have the Indiana fans on your back. I know this guy right next to me is going to make sure that things stay in the right direction.”
The man right next to him, was his head coach.
“I mean, I don’t think we’re sitting here today if it wasn’t for Trayce Jackson Davis,” Woodson added. “He could have left two days after I got the job. But he decided to stay on board. He worked his butt off. I pushed him on and off the court and a lot of nights and days it wasn’t pretty for him but he got better he benefited from it and our team benefited from it so I wish him nothing but the best moving forward.
Woodson is one of two head coaches that have changed the perception of Indiana basketball in the last 10 years. The other one is Moren, whose team had arguably the best season of basketball by an Indiana women’s team in the history of the program.
Led by all-American Mackenzie Holmes and senior stand-out Grace Berger, The Hoosiers finished the regular season 26-2 and won the Big Ten regular season title for the first time since 1983.
However, the Hoosier historic season sputtered out when tournament time came. After a disappointing exit in the Big Ten tournament losing to the four seed Ohio State, Indiana escaped Tennessee Tech in the first round of the NCAA tournament despite being tied after the first quarter.
Enter the Hurricanes. Yet again.
Miami was lucky to be in this situation. They had to claw their way into the round of 32 with an upset win over Oklahoma State by 1 point. This was a team dealing with their own internal issues after the recruitment of Haley and Hanna Cavinder, which resulted in head coach Katie Meier receiving a three-game suspension to start the year.
But the Cavinder’s and Miami had a point to prove. They walked into the most hostile environment in college basketball and did what many believed they couldn’t. They upset the number two team in the country on the road.
“I’m sure Coach is excited that they stepped up and you know, delivered them a victory, you know, over our basketball team,” Moren said. “We fight our way back in two games, it took us a minute to get it tied up. But then, you know, seesaw back and forth. And, you know, we just we ran out of time there, unfortunately.”
Despite a questionable no call that came with the game’s winning basket, the game ended Indiana best chance at a national title and the career of Grace Berger, who has been with Teri Moren since stepping on campus in 2018.
Berger finished the game with 17 points along with 22 from Holmes, but it was not enough to overcome 19 points from Lola Pendande and 18 from Destiny Harden. Thus, ending the Berger-Holmes era of Indiana basketball.
“Obviously, I’m upset,” Holmes said after the game. “You know, my last game with grace. And it’s been a privilege to play with these guys for years. So, I just I just hate that it has to end like this for her. But yeah, just a lot of emotions in our locker room right now.”
While the Miami women’s team’s season ended with an elite eight loss to LSU, the men are still in play for a spot in the championship game. As for the Hoosiers, all eyes turn to offseason to see what moves the teams will make to reload for November and another chance for their one shining moment.