Mike Woodson 'forbids' IU players from participating in Hoosier Hysterics NIL events

IU men's basketball coach Mike Woodson has "forbid" his players from participating in NIL events sponsored by Hoosier Hysterics, according to the hosts of the IU-centric podcast.

Since NCAA athletes were allowed to profit off their name, image and likeness in the summer of 2021, Hoosier Hysterics has been one of the most active NIL collectives for IU Athletics, specifically the men’s basketball team. The men's program has among the deepest NIL resources in the country, in large part through official NIL partners Hoosiers for Good and Hoosiers Connect, but the decision to prohibit Hoosier Hysterics events could cut into potential NIL revenue for players.

Founded and owned by IU alums Eric Pankowski and Ward Roberts, Hoosier Hysterics began a fan fest in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in 2021. It gave fans a chance to see IU’s basketball teams do light scrimmages, 3-point and dunk contests while having the chance to take pictures and get autographs. Last season, the NCAA shut down the scrimmage, 3-point and dunk contest portion, citing a rules violation.

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On Tuesday, Hoosier Hysterics announced via podcast the fan fest — along with the coinciding fantasy camp and golf outing — has been canceled for 2024. According to Pankowski, the decision to cancel the events was spearheaded by Woodson, who Pankowski said has “forbid” his players from participating in those events.

Pankowski claimed Woodson called him in April and requested Pankowski — who lives in Los Angeles — meet him in-person in Bloomington. Pankowski says a private meeting between him, Woodson and athletic director Scott Dolson occurred in May.

Pankowski said when the meeting happened, Woodson expressed he didn’t like the podcast's criticism of his team during its underwhelming 19-14 season in 2023-24. 

“(Woodson) said that at one point he heard that I called him stubborn, and he was really (upset) about that,” Pankowski said. “He said, ‘You don’t know me well enough to call me stubborn.’”

Pankowski added Woodson said it was “absolute bull****” for Hoosier Hysterics to have former IU forward Brian Evans (1992-96) criticize IU on their podcast on Feb. 22, a day after IU fell to 6-9 in Big Ten play.

Hoosier Hysterics’ brand has been polarizing among IU fans and observers. Pankowski and Roberts have played the role of fans, media, NIL collective and athletic department insiders all at once, which has rubbed some the wrong way. Pankowski and Roberts started the podcast in 2018 and quickly gained a following. Their NIL partnerships with IU’s athletic department and exclusive access to players and assistant coaches only amplified their voice.

While Hoosier Hysterics was the first NIL collective to partner with IU’s athletic department, Hoosiers For Good and Hoosiers Connect have become the department’s official partner collectives. IU’s NIL purse is one of the largest in the country in basketball, and its football resources are more than double what they were a year ago.

IU hasn’t completely separated from Hoosier Hysterics despite this week’s announcement. Near the end of the podcast episode, Pankowski said Hoosier Hysterics’ relationship with the athletic department has “never been better,” as he said the collective will still hold IU volleyball and women’s basketball camps.

In a statement to IndyStar, Pankowski and Roberts said, “While very disappointed for IUBB fans and players that the events this year have been cancelled, we said everything we wanted to say about it on our podcast this week.”

IU did not respond to IndyStar’s request for comment regarding the cancellation of Hoosier Hysterics events surrounding the men’s basketball team.

“Overall, this whole situation is just really sad,” Roberts said on the podcast. “For one person, thousands of people are going to lose out on something that has become really important and really beautiful.”

Barring an announcement of a new event, October’s Hoosier Hysteria (no association with Hoosier Hysterics) will be the only place fans can watch the 2024-25 team on a court before exhibition and regular-season play begins.