Column: Facing a big challenge this offseason, IU men’s basketball rebuilt a strong roster

Indiana men’s basketball went into this offseason with a lot of work to do and very little margin for error.

With the program opting to stick by head coach Mike Woodson despite some recruiting misses in the class of 2024 and a disappointing 2023-24 campaign, this became a critical offseason for the Hoosiers. And with seven open scholarships, thanks to Liam McNeeley decommitting, Kel’el Ware going to the NBA Draft, and three outbound transfers, IU was looking at a major roster overhaul.

Woodson was playing the transfer portal on expert mode. Given some of his swings and misses in the transfer portal in previous years, some concern was justified.

But Indiana has emerged from that position pretty strongly.