Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson comments on Big Ten expansion: ‘I think it’s healthy.’

By this time next year, the Big Ten conference is going to look much, much more different than what everyone has gotten used to over the years. With this change, The Indiana basketball, football and many other Hoosier athletic programs are going to have different opponents they are going to have to prepare for.

The addition of UCLA, USC, Oregon and Washington next year is going to expand the Big Ten to 18 total teams which means Indiana basketball and other veteran conference teams are going to face teams they haven’t normally faced in recent times. The competition in the Big Ten is going to get a unique added twist with these west coast teams now in the play.

With the added competition, is that a good or bad thing for the Big Ten? While not being able to speak for other current teams in the Big Ten, Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson welcomes the addition of the four programs.

“I think it’s healthy. It’s great competition for us,” said Mike Woodson when speaking to FOX Sports Reporter John Fanta. “I’ve never run from competition as a player or head coach. The way the Big Ten is run, you can tell it will benefit us.”

Especially on the business side of things, yes this is a beneficial move by the Big Ten. It allows them to compete with other conferences like the SEC and Big 12 with their respective program additions. All-and-all…UCLA, USC, Oregon and Washington are different yet tough programs in their own right that don’t exactly fit the style of what the Big Ten basketball conference has been known for.

It’ll be a challenge, especially with the travel, but it is a challenge that Mike Woodson knows he has to spearhead with his ball club.

“It’s my job to get my team ready because those teams coming to our league are damn good,” Woodson added. “Look, we’ll make that West Coast swing as long as they’ll come east to play us. And who knows? There could be other teams that could possibly join the Big Ten down the road. We’ve just got to worry about your team, build your team and see what happens.”

Mike Woodson made it clear when speaking to the media on Wednesday that his internal clock is ticking at 65-years old. He is in ‘win now’ mode.

The additions of the four west coast teams is not going to change his mindset with the goals he has to bring this Indiana basketball program back to the mountain top and win championships.

Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers are not scared by the added competition.

“I like competition. That’s just my nature. That’s how I’ve been all my life as a player and coach,” Woodson said. “You can’t be scared of competition, man, or you’re in the wrong game.”

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