Auburn head basketball coach Bruce Pearl was linked to the Indiana job on Thursday as Mike Woodson's Hoosier's future became a question mark. The Field of 68's Jeff Goodman reported doubt about Woodson's future and reported his potential exit plan.
"Indiana head coach Mike Woodson is contemplating stepping down and retiring, sources told The Field of 68," Goodman wrote.
"The Hoosiers have lost 6 of their last 7, Woodson has lost the support of high-level boosters and there have been ongoing discussions today about his future, source told the Field of 68.
"If Woodson does retire, the current plan would be for him to finish out the season. Indiana faces Michigan on Saturday at Assembly Hall."
In response, the IndyStar's Scott Horner penned a piece looking at the Hoosiers' potential Woodson succession plans. It was titled "Indiana basketball fans react to news of coach Mike Woodson's future. Bruce Pearl? Chris Beard?"
Subtle? Not so.
Pearl was last linked to IU last March. Mid-Major Madness's Jordan Majewiski claimed that Pearl would take the Indiana job "today without any reservation" if Woodson left.
"Oodles of Bruce Pearl chatter around (Indiana) from very informed sources," Majewski wrote before saying in a separate tweet, "He would take it today without reservation from what I understand."
"Well from the IU side, they seem to know for a fact he’ll take the job, just one person needs to sign off on it. There’s a reason the Woody buyout clause is leaking. It’s very real and will happen if one key person signs off (and it’s not Scott Dolson)," Majewski would later add.
Pearl has called Indiana his dream job, telling On SI's Tom Brew as much in December 2023.
The rumor isn't completely unfounded, but it's unlikely. Perhaps if Pearl can win a title with Auburn, he can hand the program over to Steven Pearl and take his dream job before sailing off into the sunset.