Wilkinson Hall, Where The Hoosiers Beat Colorado On Friday

Volleyball Kicks Off Arguably Biggest Athletic Weekend Ever With A Bang

Bloomington-Volleyball’s match on Friday night was a kickoff of maybe the biggest weekend in IU sports history across the board. It got off to a terrific start. After easily taking out Toledo in straight sets to open the NCAA Tournament, the Hoosiers had a much greater challenge in Colorado to try to reach the Sweet 16. Mission accomplished.

Indiana swept a good Buffaloes squad in straight sets (25-20, 25-17, 25-23) to kick off the monster weekend for Hoosier athletics. Now it remains to be seen how the basketball and football teams do just up the road in Indianapolis. The hoops squad looks for a signature win over Louisville in Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 2 pm, while the gridiron will see the Cream and Crimson chase their first Big Ten Championship since 1967 at 8 pm in Lucas Oil Stadium against Ohio State. Also, the women’s basketball squad opens league play with a massive contest in Champaign at noon versus Illinois.

Hoosier fans have to hope Friday night was a sign of things to come for Saturday, given the stakes. Certainly. these results got things off on the right note.

Sustained Success This Time Can Only Be Maintained If Hoosier Fans Increase Support For The Volleyball Program

In 2010, Indiana had its best season in program history. Led by All-American Ashley Benson (daughter of former IU great Kent Benson), the Hoosiers made their furthest run in the NCAA Tournament ever, reaching the Sweet 16.

Instead of building on the momentum, a lack of support and awful facilities sent Indiana right back to the bottom of the Big Ten, the best conference in America, and this year is its first postseason appearance since. Some of those factors have been corrected with a new facility in Wilkinson Hall and far more top prospects showing up on campus.

However, other challenges might remain, and the program has work to do to not be another quick flash in the pan. For starters, fans have to do a far better job of showing up and giving their time to the team. While the crowd that showed up Friday Night was incredibly rowdy and energetic (something IU coach Steve Aird complemented afterwards), being only 2/3 full (attendance: 1937) in a 3,000-seat venue for a postseason match is a non-starter regardless of circumstances.

If Indiana fans want sustained success, filling this intimate venue on a nightly basis is a must. Other Big Ten squads that win regularly with arenas this size do see capacity crowds for most matches, and recruiting will not sustain itself without support and NIL.

With all programs in Bloomington competing for NIL dollars, will IU be willing to allocate resources to one that does not fill its arena on a nightly basis and lacks full support? Also, a lack of a facility at capacity will absolutely be used against the Hoosiers in recruiting battles that are must-wins to remain relevant.

While IU is unlikely to be like Nebraska, which is constantly at the very top of the sport and averages greater than 10,000 a night, support and success at the level of arch-rival Purdue is certainly obtainable. However, this means crowds that are full on a nightly basis and increased media coverage.

If this occurs, only then can Indiana make the NCAA Tournament regularly and have deep runs consistently, rather than an occasional high-water mark followed by many low points. The volleyball program deserves to be fully embraced, and hopefully, more fans will follow.

The ones who are there (including a rowdy student section) are top-notch and loyal, but support has no reason not to grow. After all, Rome was not built in a day, but the construction must continue.

Slow Start Leads to Fast Finish In First And Third Sets For Hoosiers

While Indiana swept the match, it was not all smooth sailing. The Hoosiers trailed early in both the first and third sets before rallying for the victories. IU took control of the first set relatively easily as they turned a 10-6 deficit into a 19-13 lead and cruised from there.

However, the third set was much more dramatic with IU trailing 22-17 late. However, they rallied for the next six points and a 23-22 lead. With a 24-23 lead and going for match point, Deja Vu struck from the 2010 appearance.

Back then, it was a 14-13 lead and a do-or-die match point in the final winner-take-all set. Tennessee served just long, allowing the Hoosiers to survive 15-13 to advance to the Sweet 16. However, the celebration in the Bloomington venue (University Gym at that point) was a half-second delayed as no one was sure if the ball was long or had caught the line. However, once it was realized the Vols’ ball had gone completely out, bedlam erupted as IU won.

This time, it was the third set, and IU had room to play with, having two sets in the bag already. However, a briefly delayed celebration was again the situation on a do-or-die set point. This time, it was whether Colorado had caught the sideline on an attempted kill that was quite close. Just like in 2010, the officials confirmed the ball was completely out, sending Indiana’s crowd into a frenzy and their second Sweet 16 ever (likely at top-seed Texas), after a momentary pause.

_____________________________________________________________________

Leave a comment

Armstrong Stadium, Where The Soccer Match Took Place On Sunday

Soccer’s 2025 Season Starts With A Bang And Ends With A Whimper

Bloomington-Led by the humble Palmer Ault’s 16 goals, the 2025 Indiana soccer team had its most legitimate scoring threat since Eriq Zavaleta (18 goals) led the squad to its eighth and to date last national title in 2012.

As a result, the Hoosiers had a very high NCAA seed and an easier path to the College Cup than in any year recently. Much like in 2014, the team ran through the non-conference with multiple elite wins early, including against the same St. Louis squad that ended their season today.

This quick start was completely the opposite of recent seasons, when results came more slowly early and then a fast finish led to a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. As some struggles came on the road in conference play down the stretch, early-season results held up for two guaranteed home games and would have been all the way through to the College Cup with the loss by no. 3 Princeton today.

Instead, many of the same issues that have plagued the squad down the stretch did IU in. After a quick start, the Billikens keyed in on Ault and ground the IU attack to a halt, as has happened more and more lately. Also, a lack of elite goalkeeping and momentary defensive lapses have led to conceded goals, as happened in the 16th minute, and it was SLU’s only legitimate chance all afternoon.

IU coach Todd Yeagley said this regarding the conceded score.

“The goalie played the long ball and we didn’t win the first one,” Yeagley said. “Great finish, and he just struck it really well. Could we have dealt with the moment better? Sure? Yeah, we could have dealt with the moment better. We’ve had a couple of those this year, and you learn for the future for those that were involved.”

St. Louis possesses both an elite goalie and defense, and easily made their only score hold up. As a result, this fall mirrored 2014 in every way, results-wise, and succumbed to a lack of a second scoring option behind Will Bruin and a struggling back line, as happened in 2010.

2012 also played out similarly to 2010 in personnel, but this time, Indiana used their main goal horse in Zavaleta to get hot and win their most recent national title. However, for the best chance to be a serious title threat, as the team from 2017-2020 was, it requires top-flight goalkeeping and defense, and multiple scoring options, as happened these seasons.

What Team Needs To Do To Take A Serious Shot At The Title In 2026

To get back to the results seen in 2017-2020, a couple of areas need shoring up. While Indiana will always be a title contender, to give itself the best shot, a few improvements are needed.

First off, the goalie is the most important position in soccer. Behind the elite keeper play of now pros Trey Muse and then Roman Celentano, the Hoosiers always had the best player between the pipes.

JT Harms gave the squad a solid option until 2024, but lacked the size to truly wow. However, his awareness made up for most of that.

For this season, the goalkeeper position was never settled, and the Hoosiers alternated between two bigger bodies in Holden Brown and Judewellin Michelle. However, both struggled with bailing out the defense, which did them no favors, and were not always in the right spot.

Michelle, as a freshman, has all the tools and could follow the career trajectory of Luis Soffner, who went from a liability in 2010 to a big reason they hoisted their ninth star in 2012. Brown, meanwhile, is a finished product who is reasonably reliable.

However, Indiana needs a higher level of play from this position to give itself a shot to hoist their ninth title. Also, improved defense play on the wings and more scoring options are a must to truly put themselves in the driver’s seat for maximum success.

Yeagley said he is still evaluating any personnel changes.

“I think we will have to assess what we have,” Yeagley said. “There will be roster changes with the team. We have huge departures like last year, and every team takes on a little bit different makeup. The roster management is ongoing as early as tomorrow. You have to be ready to move and quickly rebuild again.”

In A Rarity, This Soccer Team Was More Of The Disappointment Of IU’s Fall Sports Than The Typical Bright Light

Generally, the pitch is where Indiana makes its hay in the fall. Instead, it has lagged behind several other IU athletic squads in 2025. Usually, the conclusion of the soccer season sees the Hoosiers’ only legit chance at a title shot end. Instead, it is the first of several chances to raise a trophy that did not happen.

To start, 2025 will be the first time since 2010 that Hoosier volleyball will end at least a couple of weeks after men’s soccer. After several years of competitiveness and improvement from their spot as a typical cellar dweller, everything has clicked this year. Indiana remains ranked in the top-20 here and is trying to make sure soccer is not the only team to host NCAA Tournament games at home.

After 15 long years, this volleyball squad will be playing into December and in the postseason. The only question is whether it is in Bloomington or on the road as they chase their first-ever championship.

And then, of course, football has emerged from the cellar as a national title threat. The only reason they will not likely be playing postseason games in Memorial Stadium is that they are almost certain to earn a bye and skip straight to a neutral site in the round of eight in the playoffs.

Also, men’s and women’s basketball are off to strong starts and appear either headed towards yet another March Madness (women) or ending a bit of a drought (men). With modern offenses and strong guard play, these squads should make for a fun winter (and I will be providing women’s basketball coverage throughout the season) viewing.

Also, the recent success of the pro teams in Indiana this season, with the Pacers and Colts, Indiana soccer has become one of many rather than a bright light surrounded by struggles.

In many ways, given their historical success and falling short recently, the pitch has faded into the background in Bloomington. As a result, Hoosier Soccer needs a deep College Cup run soon to emerge from the shadows, as this has been taken for granted for many years.

Finally, some lower-profile sports at IU, such as Field Hockey, had their best fall in many years. Also, men’s swimming has a legit shot at its first national championship since 1974 and has come closer and closer each spring.

Generally, the end of men’s soccer sees the only chance at a national championship go by the wayside. However, in 2025-2026, it is only the first to fail, with several others having a shot at hardware also.

_____________________________________________________________________

Leave a comment

Armstrong Stadium, Where The Soccer Match Took Place On Tuesday

Soccer Blows Out Wisconsin In Microcosm Of Early-Season IU Athletics

Bloomington-The soccer Hoosiers dominated Wisconsin on Tuesday night, 4-1, to improve to 11-3-1. The performance was a microcosm of IU’s fall athletic season (more below).

Led by the humble Palmer Ault’s 14 goals, the team has its most legitimate scoring threat since Eriq Zavaleta (18 goals) led the squad to its eighth and to date last national title in 2012. While the conference record is not sparkling at 4-3, the RPI is in the top few spots in college soccer.

Ault said he is focused mostly on now when asked about the last national title squad and comparisons to Zavaleta.

“When I came in the spring, I knew that the team that was being built had aspirations to do great things this fall,” Ault said. “Comparing us to 2012, it’s great to hear, but at the end of the day, it’s all about this team right here.

As a result, the Hoosiers will have an easier path to the College Cup than recently, likely hosting multiple home games. An undefeated non-conference with multiple signature victories is driving this.

With a boatload of league championships recently and no national titles to show for it (although four College Cup appearances since 2017), a focus on chasing that ninth star over a conference championship seems prudent right now. At this point, Indiana is in the best position to do so since earning a top-seven seed from 2016-2020, getting as high as a number two seed.

Indeed, the committee had IU as a five seed in its first reveal, which would guarantee two postseason home matches. A victory over Maryland in the next game might move the squad into the top four, which is critical to guaranteeing matches at Armstrong Stadium until the College Cup.

Defender Alex Barger, who scored the first goal of Tuesday’s match, said chasing a national title absolutely matters to him, although he would not commit to saying he was OK with it coming at the expense of conference supremacy

“That’s a tough question,” Barger said. “Honestly, our biggest goal here is just to win championships, and if that means trading something for something bigger, I don’t know if I can trade stuff in. I think our only goal here is to get the job done.”

Volleyball Headed Towards First NCAA Tournament In 16 Years

2010 was a signature season for IU volleyball. After several years of competitiveness and improvement from their spot as a cellar dweller, everything clicked that year. Led by All-American Ashley Benson (daughter of former Hoosier great Kent Benson), Indiana hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament and made the Sweet 16 for the only time in program history.

After Benson left, though, the program went back to the bottom of an elite conference. It was not until many years later that the program built a modern facility on campus and then hired current head coach Steve Aird that another turnaround occurred.

While the team has been competitive the past several seasons, this fall is when everything has finally come together, seemingly. The squad sits at 15-3 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten. This includes a ranking in the top 25 (currently 23) and an RPI in the top 15 with multiple top-50 wins.

Indeed, the selection committee has IU as a top-16 squad and hosting as of this moment. Whether they hold on to this spot or not, a long drought without postseason play appears on the verge of ending, barring a collapse.

Success Occurring Across The Board Elsewhere As Well

After years of struggles, the state of Indiana can seemingly do little wrong in 2025 when it comes to sports (and this extends beyond IU to the state’s other colleges and professional squads in many cases). Outside of the well-documented case of football (and men’s soccer and volleyball as described above), other Olympic sports are thriving as well.

Field hockey broke into the national rankings at No. 20 after a slow start with a massive upset of Maryland on the road. Women’s soccer under new head coach Josh Rife has brought up the rear, but the squad still had far worse years in reason history and currently sits at 5-5-6.

In the individual sports, cross country won an early home meet and finished top seven in another. Men’s golf’s highest finish is third so far, while women’s golf has gone as high as second.

The other of the 24 sports have yet to get underway and will start up either for the winter or spring. Either way, though, multiple home postseason events and a potential 25th NCAA championship may be in the cards somewhere.

IU men’s soccer coach Todd Yeagley praised all the success this autumn for his squad and across the board with Indiana athletics

“I’m born and raised in IU gear,” Yeagley said. “I’m as proud as anyone. You’ve got to love the jobs that our coaches are doing. I think when you have a winning culture in the department, it motivates and it continues to recruit. The more we win every sport, there will be more top prospects that want to be here, regardless of what sport. We’re red hot, and people want to be at IU. I think it’s sustainable.”

_____________________________________________________________________

Leave a comment

Armstrong Stadium In Bloomington, Where The Match Took Place

Offense Led By Palmer Ault Look Championship Ready,

Bloomington-Senior transfer Palmer Ault has unlocked a dimension to the IU offense that has been sorely missed since Victor Bezerra departed for the pros several years ago. Recent players like Sam Sarver and Tommy Mihalic had the potential to score goals. However, the danger Ault provides in the attack to finish from anywhere at any time has been the missing piece to to take things to a whole new level.

Ault’s eighth goal of the season to open the night was symbolic of the element he creates. Junior Collins Oduro’s speed has been a threat from the moment he stepped on campus. However, having Ault to finish the chances Oduro creates with his quick feet has taken the latter’s game to a whole new level.

Despite Ault’s prowess in finishing chances, he credited the team as a whole for the high number of early goals he has scored.

“We’ve got so many dangerous pieces on our team that offer a variety of different things,” Ault said. “It just feels free-flowing when we’re out there playing together.”

As Good As Offense Has Been, Defense Needs Shoring Up

While the attack as a whole looks championship-ready, the defense still needs to kick it up a notch. After racing to a 3-0 lead less than 19 minutes into the match, defensive mistakes from that point forward allowed UCLA to close the gap to 3-2 and get back into the game. Also, a penalty review was waved off late, saving Indiana from allowing the Bruins an easy chance to tie off another miscue.

While the Hoosiers held on for a 4-2 win, the troubles on the back end need shoring up. Otherwise, IU may waste a golden chance (more below) for their ninth star.

Is A Potentially Worse Big Ten Season With A Higher NCAA Seed Worth The Tradeoff?

IU has gotten off to slow starts the last few seasons before ramping it up come Big Ten play and finishing at or near the top of the league. The damage at the beginning of the year was done, though, and Indiana ended up with lower seeds in the NCAA Tournament and traveling on the road for the most part.

However, in 2025, the Hoosiers dominated non-conference play and were ready from the get-go. Despite their 2-2 start to Big Ten play (7-2-1 overall), IU maintains the number one RPI in the nation and is on pace for a very high seed come postseason with multiple home games regardless of their record in league play.

This, in a way, mirrors the 2014 season, where Indiana was a .500 team in the Big Ten but got one of their highest seeds of the last two decades, with multiple signature victories outside of conference play. While the result was not good in the NCAA Tournament, IU still had one of its best chances at the College Cup.

Fast forward to this fall, where the Hoosiers have won five out of the last seven league championships. This raises the question of whether a lower finish in the Big Ten, combined with a better draw come postseason, is worth the tradeoff given the recent domination of the conference.

IU coach Todd Yeagley said he thinks that a good league finish will allow these numbers to work themselves out.

“I don’t really pay attention to RPI,” Yeagley said. “It really doesn’t matter for a couple of weeks. For us, we want to surge in the Big Ten and be a contender, and if that gets us the RPI we need, then great.”

_____________________________________________________________________

Leave a comment

Armstrong Stadium In Bloomington, Where The Match Took Place

Has Beginning At Home Finally Flipped The Slow Starts To Recent Seasons?

Bloomington-Since COVID, Indiana has flirted with missing the postseason multiple times the last few autumns due to uncharacteristically slow starts. However, nearly perfect Octobers sprang playing long into November and December in the end, as has happened each year since 1987.

However, 2025 may be different. Taking advantage of a five-game homestand to open the season, Indiana has gotten a result each time to improve to 3-0-1 following a 2-0 victory against Oregon State on Sunday Night.

The competition has still been top-notch, but being in the friendly confines has avoided what has seemed to be an early-season dud away from Bloomington in the past few years. The Hoosiers do have a massive test in match six at Notre Dame. However, by then, IU appears to be building confidence to finally get out of the gate on the right foot.

Indiana coach Todd Yeagley said that while playing in Bloomington helps, there are other factors involved

“Homes always great,” Yeagley said. “We’ve dropped some tough games at home, though, too. We play a tough schedule. Luckily, we’ve been able to earn these (wins) the hard way coming from behind. Being undefeated against this competition, home or away, is a good sign.”

This homestand ends with another tough test against St. Louis on Wednesday, which has yet to give up a goal. However, tonight’s result shows the Hoosiers may be well on their way to not having to scratch and claw with a near-perfect finish to get a good seed come postseason as they chase a ninth national title.

Transfers Contributing Early This Fall

IU never truly rebuilds in soccer, but it did need to reload this season. While a few holdovers in Alex Barger, Josh Maher, and Collins Oduro offer familiarity, a combination of transfers and freshmen will determine the ceiling.

Moving over from other colleges and expected to contribute are Virginia’s Victor Akoum and Butler’s Palmer Ault, among others. While transfers have thrived under Yeagley, they often take a while to gel in the system.

Early returns, though, are extremely positive for the newcomers, finally contributing from the get-go. Ault scored both goals in tonight’s match to get to four on the young season, while Evansville transfer Jacopo Fedrizzi has found the net three times. Also, Akum and Michigan State transfer Cristiano Bruletti have anchored the back line.

Ault said he is glad to see so many players who are new to the squad get off on the right foot.

“The guys we’ve got in this locker room are so unselfish,” Ault said. “It’s all about the team for us. We know the talent that was lost the last few years. It’s cool to come in with new players that are all hungry to contribute to the team.”

If these contributions from the veteran newcomers continue all year, Indiana could run through the fall with few defeats. This at Indiana is the ultimate goal for a program that, both historically and in the present, has had more success than almost any other in NCAA soccer.

A Potentially Weak Big Ten Makes Strong Non-Conference Results All The More Important

In 2023, IU was the best in a very weak conference and the only one to get into the NCAA Tournament out of the league. However, the slow start and lack of signature wins before Big Ten play made it so it was one of just two times in Yeagley’s tenure that the team did not obtain a seed as one of the best 16 in the country.

In 2024, the conference was once again among the best in college soccer, and as a result, Indiana was once again seeded despite the early struggles. Turning to 2025, the data is still in its early stages. However, so far, the conference as a whole looks much more like 2023. IU and Maryland are well inside the top 16 of the RPI, while the rest of the league is struggling to maintain top-70.

This makes this early-season success all the more important. Combined with what might be another Big Ten Championship, Indiana could then take the easier path to try to get to the College Cup as they did in 2017, 2018, and 2020. This would involve at least two home games against inferior competition and only one heavyweight matchup in the Elite Eight, either in Bloomington or somewhere else, depending on how high they are come November.

_____________________________________________________________________

Leave a comment

Armstrong Stadium In Bloomington, Where The Match Took Place

IU Needs To Start Faster Than Past Seasons, But Tonight Will Not Dictate That

Bloomington-The past few seasons for IU Soccer ended short of the program’s ninth national title but with a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. However, the strong postseason results have not been because of how the year started.

Since COVID, Indiana has flirted with missing the postseason multiple times the last few autumns. However, nearly perfect Octobers sprang playing long into November and December in the end.

While tonight’s 2-2 tie was a start, it was not what will determine how 2025 goes early on. Indeed, Clemson looked like the national title contender it is, while the Hoosiers looked like a squad replacing over half of their starters, but with championship potential if they gel, as shown in their two-goal comeback.

After Thursday, it will be a measuring stick to see if IU can avoid the early pitfalls of the past. The runway gets quite soft for the next four matches, all at home, and anything worse than 3-0-1 could be cause for some panic (even if the typical success comes later).

While the Tigers are elite, San Francisco, Green Bay, Oregon State, and Saint Louis offer anywhere from struggles to solid back-end tourney teams. Indeed, the only potential matchups of Thursday’s caliber comes later in the season and on the road against bluebloods Notre Dame, Kentucky, and conference foe Maryland.

However, what was seen in front of the largest crowd in 12 years (6,395) and the third biggest ever was excellent soccer. The result in the end was a step towards strong results and perhaps a faster beginning to the season.

How Does IU Respond To The Roster Turnover

IU never truly rebuilds in soccer, but it does need to reload this season. While a few holdovers in Alex Barger, Josh Maher, and Collins Oduro offer familiarity, a combination of transfers and freshmen will determine the ceiling.

Moving over from other colleges and expected to contribute are Virginia’s Victor Akoum and Butler’s Palmer Ault, among others. While transfers have thrived under Yeagley, they often take a while to gel in the system.

With so many new faces, these new veterans don’t have the benefit that those in the past have. Indeed, how quickly they thrive will determine the team’s ceiling.

Early returns, though, are positive for the newcomers. Ault scored on a penalty to cut the deficit in half, while Evansville transfer Jacopo Fedrizzi equalized on a half volley late.

Fedrizzi said he was happy to be able to contribute his important score.

“It was a volley with my right,” Fedrizzi said. “I am a lefty, so it was actually exciting and big time helping the team.”

Goalie Change Offers Unknown, But Potential For Higher Ceiling

Departed goalie JT Harms was a fixture in goal the past few seasons. However, his eligibility expired after 2024.

While Harms’ steadiness and high floor created a formidable presence, his lack of size and athleticism presented limitations. A similar situation occurred after 2016 when Colin Webb graduated.

This led to a bit of an unknown for the following fall. However, current Portland Timbers goalie Trey Muse was signed at the last minute and started right away. He made an immediate splash and gave the Hoosiers arguably their best presence in goal (along with current Cincinnati FC goalie Roman Celentano) of the last decade, leading Indiana to back-to-back College Cups in 2017 and 2018.

What was a potential question mark turned into a massive strength as Muse’s length allowed for several miracle saves in his career and just 20 goals given up in 49 matches. Fast forward to 2025, and late freshman addition Judewellen Michel offers similar potential to Muse.

While it is a bit early to compare Michel to future pros, the ceiling is higher than in the recent past with Harms (although the floor is lower due to inexperience). However, if the past is any indication, the more athletic upside of Michel is much more intriguing than anyone since Celentano.

While two goals were scored by the opposition tonight, neither was Michel’s fault in the least. The first came on an error from the IU defense on a perfectly placed long shot from just outside the box. The second was a penalty kick, which is a complete guess for even the most elite goalies out there.

In the end, tonight’s result leads to intrigue, particularly in goal as IU moves forward. If Michel meets his potential, 2025 could be special.

_____________________________________________________________________

Leave a comment

Bart Kaufman Field In Bloomington Where Indiana And Purdue Played Saturday

Pitching Woes Continue To Be Yearly Issue

Bloomington-The last four years since IU pitching coach Dustin Glant assumed the role continues to be an inconsistent adventure. Without fail, it takes the team at least half a season to figure out established roles and find constant starters during his tenure.

While the ERA and overall numbers are not perfect, this could be overlooked if not for the above issue. The reality is hitting is up in college baseball, and stats on the mound look bleak for many.

However, what has occurred under Glant with the lack of set roles is unique to his time in Bloomington compared to others. During his time, Indiana has had what would be considered two weekend starters (Luke Sinnard in 2023 and Conor Foley in 2024), who were guaranteed to give length pending a bad outing in his four spring tenure.

That number is what the vast majority of squads find in one year not four. This weekend’s opponent in IU’s archrival Purdue has struggled mightily (more below) almost without fail for its entire history. However, they still have at least two starters picked out and identified each campaign that go each weekend from the start to varying degrees of success.

This contrasts with Glant, who seemingly can’t get this basic part of managing a staff on the mound in defined roles. Whether this is due to development, or lack of recruiting talent, or something else, the status quo cannot continue.

Hoosier coach Jeff Mercer said the mixing and matching is out of necessity and not his preferred method.

“You’d love to be able to do that,” Mercer said. “You can define those as much as you want, but the game tells you (differently). You’ve got to finish games when you have a chance to win them. The fear is always you have a winnable game in hand and you hold a guy that will win the game for you for a situation that may come. Ideally, you can line guys up and have defined roles, but you have to problem solve and find the best way to be successful.”

With all this said, Ryan Kraft and Ben Grable (Saturday’s starter) have come on down the stretch. However, their role is not always defined. A few pitchers figuring it out late in the season after early struggles has been another typical trait of Glant’s time. Workman Ty Bothwell, who had his eligibility expire after 2024, was the best example of someone who struggled each spring early and was nearly perfect down the stretch.

The bottom line with all of this is while other struggles have occurred since 2022, the inability to find defined roles in Bloomington for the pitching staff is unique. The ability for this to change is what will define if the success of the last decade-and-a-half can continue and make 2025 an anomaly.

Archrival Purdue Is Not IU’s Measuring Stick When It Comes To Baseball

While how good IU is in men’s basketball can often be measured by its performance against its arch-rivals, the same cannot be said for this sport on the diamond. The Boilermakers have arguably been the worst program in the Big Ten both historically and recently.

The Hoosiers were on the same struggle bus with Purdue until 2008. However, since then, Indiana has been arguably the league’s most consistent program with six conference championships and nine postseason appearances with just a single year with a losing record overall in that time. While, the lack of having a sub .500 record will continue, another Big Ten title or NCAA appearence is not likely (more below).

For reference, the Boilers in this same period had one miracle season in 2012 that featured a 45-14 record and hosting a regional and one other NCAA appearance in 2017. Outside of this, almost nothing has gone right either historically or currently.

As a result, while the rivalry between IU and Purdue is a lot of fun, the success of Indiana’s program does not rest on results against them and is mostly for state pride. The Hoosiers’ ability to win big is much more looked at based on matchups with other teams near the top of the league.

Where Indiana Stands Currently And For The Future

Despite being one of the favorites to win the league and coast into another NCAA Regional, IU’s issues on the mound (see above) have kept reality much lower. They sit at just 28-22 overall and 13-13 in the league after losing Saturday’s 5-1 result against the Boilers.

With an RPI hovering well outside at-large range, the Hoosiers must win the conference tournament. It should be noted winning the Big Ten Tournament in Omaha has gotten somewhat easier with IU now requiring this auto bid to reach June baseball. The competition will increase to 12 schools and with four pods of pool play now, it will only take four victories to win the event. However, with double elimination gone, any slip-ups are likely to be fatal.

Going 2-0 in your round-robin pod is a virtual must to reach the semi-finals, as only the winner of each pool advances. However, once there, just two more victories would be needed to be the champion.

The Hoosiers have made it come to this though due to the continued issues on the mound that have manifested each spring since 2022. As a result, they have basically thrown away (barring winning it all in Omaha) the performances of two very high draft picks in this summer’s draft in Devin Taylor and Korbyn Dickerson.

Taylor is the Hoosiers’ all-time home runs leader, and led his team to the postseason in 2023 and 2024 and will go down in Indiana lore as an all-time great. However, barring a surprise in the league tourney in a couple of weeks, his career will end in May instead of June, like it has in the past.

While the offense had its own struggles Saturday and has at times this season, the lack of strong consistent pitching is why the team is where they are. As a result, this performance on the mound cannot continue into 2026.

While attendance is much more based on weather (Saturday’s beautiful day saw a solid 2,534 attend), the overall engagement of the fan base depends on continued postseason appearances. The Indianapolis Indians just north of Bloomington and other minor league squads draw huge numbers on nice days in the summer.

However, this is much more to take in a baseball game and experience the nice weather. For true investment in a college program, NCAA appearances and winning are required. While Indiana’s fan base needs to do a better job in general of supporting non-elite teams that win, massively underachieving and likely missing postseason, as has happened this spring, really doesn’t endear anyone to want to devote more time to following the squad this spring.

The future though could be different. Pending transfers, Indiana has a solid core of elite freshman on offense in Hogan Denny, Jake Hanley, Cooper Malamazian, and Will Moore. However, this will only matter if all of these guys stay and the performance on the mound improves and defined roles here are found.

A Personal P.S. Note

As some may have noticed, this is only my third game I have covered for IU baseball this season after being present for nearly every Big Ten series start to finish since my role with Assembly Call began in 2019. A combination of the struggles by the team and a change in life circumstances (nothing negative), have made getting out to Bart Kaufman Field more difficult for me.

Rest assured, I will be back this fall with full coverage of all Hoosier sports as I do each academic year. While it may not be quite as often as in the past, I am not going away and take pride in my work. I will see everyone again for a full season of men’s soccer and other autumn sports beginning in August.

Thanks to all for continuing to read my stories. I appreciate everyone’s devotion to following myself, as well as the Assembly Call and Back Home Network in general. Our site and my role would not be possible without our subscribers and readers!

_____________________________________________________________________

Leave a comment

Bart Kaufman Field In Bloomington Where Indiana And USC Played Saturday

Pitching Woes Will Likely Be Solved But Yearly Issue Continues

Bloomington-The last four seasons have been a yearly ritual it seems for Indiana baseball. Take half or more of the season to figure the pitching situation out and then go on a big run.

Since IU brought in Dustin Glant to be the pitching coach, the same thing has happened each spring. In 2022, 2023, and 2024, the pitching was atrocious at the start of the year. Each time it was figured out and in 2023 and 2024 it was enough to still make the NCAA Tournament. In 2022, the squad came up short of the postseason despite the late rally.

Now in 2025, the same problem has happened again. Despite multiple high draft picks and an offense that is raking, the arms and depth here have kept things from being anywhere near the predicted ceiling. It remains likely the Hoosiers will solve this and make a run at June baseball. However, continually falling into a hole seems to be a tradition for these boys on the diamond.

The latest example was Saturday’s 13-12 loss to USC where the Hoosiers built a 12-3 lead only to have the performance on the mound fall apart for the rest of the afternoon. The offense did go quiet and a couple of injuries to key pitchers played a role in this.

The bottom line though is that a dozen runs and a large lead through the first few frames should be more than enough for a victory. However, the continued problems of finding enough depth to cover 27 innings over a weekend series for the first part of a season reared its ugly head yet again.

What Does USC And West Coast Additions Bring To Big Ten

IU women’s basketball coach Teri Moren talked about how the addition of the four West Coast schools made her realize that her squad and the rest of the Big Ten need to get bigger and more athletic. These comments came after her side’s season-ending loss to South Carolina in the second round of March Madness.

Turning back to baseball, the addition of the four former Pac-12 teams in a traditional power conference means the rest of the league will have to step up their game. While the Hoosiers’ have been a leader in their current conference’s massive improvement from essentially a one-bid low-major to a 2-4 bid high-end mid-major similar to the Mountain West, the addition of the newcomers from an even more prestigious league will require another step-up.

The additions are likely to finally make the Big Ten on the level with the SEC, ACC, and Big 12 as they are in other sports. Which programs are able to the step up their games and resources now to an elite level with the west coast schools will be the ones who continue to win.

IU coach Jeff Mercer said he understands what the newest additions bring.

“The West Coast is a different brand of baseball,” Mercer said. “They’re incredibly talented. They’re deeper on the mound. They’re really physical through the lineup. They play great defense. The Big Ten is a different animal than it was a year ago. Everyone is going to have to learn to adjust and manage their way through it. You don’t get to get away with mistakes. They’re great teams. We’re gonna have to learn to play at a higher level. They’re gonna change the way the game is played for sure.”

Where Indiana Stands Currently

Despite being one of the favorites to win the league and coast into another NCAA Regional, IU is off to another slow start due to the issues on the mound (see above). They sit at just 15-13 overall and 6-6 in the league after losing three of the first four conference series they have competed in. The only exception was sweeping lowly Ohio State at home two weeks ago.

With an RPI hovering around 100 the Hoosiers have lots of work to do. However, the schedule lightens up considerably over the next few weeks and Indiana will need to be near perfect to get back into contention for an at-large birth to postseason as they did in 2023 and 2024.

The team has been in this position each spring recently of needing to be nearly flawless down the stretch and have met the challenge after slow starts. Whether they can do it again in 2025 remains to be seen.

It should be noted winning the Big Ten Tournament in Omaha has gotten somewhat easier should IU require this auto bid to reach June baseball. The competition will increase to 12 schools and with four pods of pool play now, it will only take four victories to win the event. However, with double elimination gone, any slip-ups are likely to be fatal.

Going 2-0 in your round-robin pod is a virtual must to reach the semi-finals, as only the winner of each pool advances. However, once there, just two more victories would be needed to be the champion.

The Hoosiers would be better off if it didn’t come to this. However, given their current position, another nearly perfect finish will be needed to not require this life line.

Also, whether boxing themselves into this position each year is acceptable will need to be evaluated once the season concludes. This is the case whether the team makes their annual big-time rally down the stretch to make the postseason or not.

_____________________________________________________________________

Leave a comment

Denver Soccer Stadium Where Indiana’s Season Ended In The Sweet 16 On Saturday

Don’t Be Fooled By Denver Being A Mid-Major

Denver-As the famous John Denver hit “Rocky Mountain High” was played in a celebratory manner on the loudspeaker following the match, 14-seed IU’s soccer season ended in the Sweet 16 (their 10th straight year advancing at least this far). This hit song showed where Indiana was playing in the county as their 2024 campaign came to a frustrating end.

While the University of Denver is not a name that necessarily strikes fear in fans, it should be reviewed more carefully regarding to soccer. Like Akron, this is the one sport that the Pioneers have been an elite squad at for a decade now. Led by Jamie Franks, they have been a national contender every year.

While many mid-majors get seeded high after a sudden flash-in-the-pan season, then often upset once tournament time rolls around, Denver is not part of this group. Instead, as the three-seed they have a squad as talented as any in America and could be the ones to raise a national championship banner in a couple of weeks as they have come close to doing in the recent past.

With a designated drummer and top atmosphere of a standing-room-only crowd, it is very clear this city has fallen in love with the soccer program at this smaller school. As a result, no one should be surprised they went pound-for-pound with the Hoosiers and were better for much of the afternoon.

IU coach Todd Yeagley praised what the Pioneers have managed to build in the Mile High City.

“Denver’s done a good job for the last 10-15 years,” Yeagley said. “There’s a lot of good players out west they’ve been able to keep here. They’re well coached, they have a good culture so I’m not surprised they are able to be competitive in these rounds.”

Not Losing In Golden Goal Or Penalty Kicks To End Season Still Heartbreaking

From 2016-2023 IU’s season and NCAA Tournament run almost always ended in the most heartbreaking fashion possible. Whether it be losing on a golden goal or in penalty kicks, every run but 2018 ended this way.

While that is of little solace to the team and fans, it did make the loss less sudden and devastating in some ways. This time Denver got an early goal as they dominated the first half and Indiana was fortunate to not concede further scores. The Pioneers then held off the hard-charging Hoosiers late in the match to win 1-0.

Yeagley said any loss is equally hard even if his team gives it their fall.

“They’re all tough,” he said. “We couldn’t find the goal today. You’re not seeing any round with us not performing though.”

IU Will Always Be A National Title Contender But Slow Starts Need To Be Addressed

Many IU fans have dove headfirst into following Indiana’s football squad this season. This is likely because the history of winning is not there and any time a team is ranked near the top in most sports at IU, that particular year might be the best and only chance to hang a banner.

This is not the case with the soccer program though who is a title contender year in and year out. This season’s closing loss is no different and will give way to another national championship chase in 2025. Some players will change, but anytime the Hoosiers take the pitch, a final victory as the best in the sport is always possible as has happened eight times previously.

The only tweak that needs to be made are recent slow starts. The last four seasons have seen terrible Septembers followed by nearly perfect Octobers. This has set up less-than-ideal draws come postseason and on the road more often than not.

If Indiana wants to have their best chance at a ninth star, they need to be ready from the get-go moving forward. However, the fact that the team always rebounds and makes a run shows the rock-solid foundation the program is built on.

Yeagley said the early-year swoons will be addressed this offseason.

“We’ll dig at that,” he said. “We’ll dig a little bit when we have a chance to recap the season and see what we could have done a little different to start the year.”

_____________________________________________________________________

Leave a comment

The postgame press conference can be seen below:

Armstrong Stadium In Bloomington Where The Match Took Place

Yeagley Is Not A Fan Of Golden Goal OT But It Works Perfectly For Him This Time

Bloomington-The NCAA Tournament overtime format has changed back and forth in the last few seasons. Up through 2021, overtime in the postseason was golden goal where the game ended as soon as a score happened. Then in 2022 and 2023, it was changed to all 20 minutes of overtime being played out regardless.

IU coach Todd Yeagley has never been a big fan of the sudden death format. However, in 2023 his team scored first early in extra time at Wake Forest in this round and still had to hold on for nearly 20 minutes which they did.

For this fall, the NCAA has gone back to sudden victory and once again Yeagley’s side was the first to find the back of the net in the 99th minute ending the match. Because of the reversion back to the old rules, no further playing was needed and the Hosiers had won 2-1 over Akron as senior Jansen Miller headed in a long serve in front of goal.

Yeagley said while it worked out today he prefers the 2022 and 2023 rule.

“Of course I’m gonna feel better if we win with it,” Yeagley said. “I still would be not opposed to not doing golden goal. I do feel the better team will over the 20 minutes if you just play it out but in this case we’ll take it and move on.

IU’s Bracket More Steady Competition This Year

Last season the Hoosiers had a brutal side to their bracket. While they opened up with a middling Lipscomb squad in Bloomington, their feet were thrown into the fire for the next three rounds. This involved successive road trips to elite ACC teams in the aforementioned Demon Deacons followed by Virginia and Notre Dame.

Indiana managed to upset Wake and the Cavaliers but ran out of steam against the Fighting Irish. Turning to 2024, there is no softer landing like the Bison to start. However, a solid Zips side will give way to a road trip to the very good but still Mid-Major power Denver next weekend (4:00 pm Eastern time Saturday on ESPN+).

While IU cannot look too far ahead, a rematch in Charlottesville or hosting UMass awaits in the Elite Eight if the Hoosiers take out the Pioneers. Overall, Indiana got a slightly easier bracket this time. It is more similar to 2022 when they advanced to the College Cup rather than the brutality of 2023 when it ended just short of that.

Yeagley said his squad is ready for the challenge regardless of who they are paired up against given their conference.

“We’re gonna see different styles,” he said. “You’ve got to be able to win different ways which the Big Ten prepares you for that.”

Hoosiers Take Advantage Of Backup Goalie

The biggest moment of the game may have happened at 38:01 of the first half. IU’s Clay Murador had a breakaway against Akron star goalie Mitch Budler. Budler put his body on the line to stop Murador and the two collided in the box.

Budler ended up taking the worst of it as he was down for several minutes before leaving the game for good with an injury. The Zips were forced to go to freshman backup Brett Kaminski.

Kaminski had never seen any collegiate action before today and was thrust into the spotlight. Whether the Hoosiers could have gotten the same two goals past Budler will never be known. However, it certainly gave IU an unexpected advantage for the rest of the match.

Senior Justin Weiss was responsible for the first score in the 70th minute to tie the game on a chip shot from the top of the box. Weiss said while who was in the net mattered little when his ball went in, they certainly wanted to put the heat on the second stringer.

“I don’t think (it made a difference) as much on that goal,” Weiss said. “I think in general the team wanted to get shots on him. Obviously for that goalkeeper to come in he had some nerves. He probably didn’t expect to play today. I think guys started shooting the ball. I think we got a confidence going that he was a little nervous.”

_____________________________________________________________________

Postgame press conferences can be seen below:

Leave a comment

Wilkinson Hall On Sunday As Indiana Took On USC In Bloomington

Volleyball Program Has Taken Huge Step Forward But Has Bumped Up Against A Ceiling For Now And Waiting On Breakthrough

Bloomington-Indiana’s volleyball program has historically been one of the very worst the Big Ten has to offer in what has been an elite conference. The one exception to this was a small window in the late 2000s when All-Americans Erica Short and Ashley Benson (daughter of IU basketball great Kent Benson) were on the team.

As a result, those squads were much improved from 2007 to 2009, competing with the top of the league but falling short, while dominating the bottom half. However, without signature wins, they fell outside of postseason play each time.

Finally, in 2010, the Hoosiers held serve at home all season knocking off some of the best sides in the country. As a result, they had their breakthrough year, getting to the NCAA Tournament and for the first time ever won two postseason matches to make the Sweet 16.

However, once Benson and that era departed it was right back to the bottom. Finally, current head coach Steve Aird came in 2018 with struggles continuing. However, improvement has finally happened and for the third season in a row, Indiana is back to 2007 to 2009 levels taking out lower-level opponents and giving better ones a scare.

When a 2010-like breakthrough is coming though remains an open question. Sunday was the latest example of that proverbial ceiling being hit with a 3-1 competitive loss vs. elite USC.

Aird said taking that final step is not always easy but they are working on getting to the top.

“It’s really hard,” Aird said. “What I like about the group right now is they are resilient. Details are the next thing and the ability to make plays late in games.”

The Hoosiers’ RPI currently sits below 70 and well out of the postseason picture regardless of what Sunday’s result was. IU will likely finish around .500 in league play once again and not in the NCAA Tournament for the 14th straight season. This is because that ability to beat top teams remains elusive, despite the massive improvement.

Crowds Grow With Better Play and Newer Facility But Hoosiers Were Behind For Many Years

One of the major reasons IU struggled for so many years was the lack of a good facility. For a long time, the team competed at an old high school gym well off campus that was not easy to get to.

The quality of a program’s stadium is a big deal as other historic bottom feeders Iowa and Northwestern shared the basketball facility for home matches. The Hoosiers and Hawkeyes have since built new state-of-the-art stadiums. However, with a top-flight Big Ten, there is more to do to be competitive.

Indeed IU’s Wilkinson Hall is as nice as any in the Big Ten but opened only in 2019. As a result, Indiana has been working with good facilities for five years rather than decades. Also, moving to a much more visible arena on campus next to Assembly Hall has greatly helped attendance.

After a sellout Friday of 2,857 against Purdue and a few others before that, Sunday had another huge crowd that looked roughly 80-90% full. Still, the program has a lot of catching up to do with places that have had this atmosphere and modern amenities for a long time with tons of winning to go with it.

Grae Gosnell Returns

Grae Gosnell made her long-awaited to Bloomington on Sunday in the opposing uniform. After a solid four-year career wearing a Hoosier jersey, she was in Trojan colors in this match.

She was also bestowed the honor of singing the national anthem and was given a huge ovation by the opposing crowd when introduced. Both of these things prove how beloved Gosnell’s time wearing Cream and Crimson was and no one holds any ill-will for her grad transferring to an elite program.

Aird reiterated he had no issues with her going elsewhere for her final year.

“I’m happy for her,” Aird said. “I think at the end of her time here she had her degree and she had graduated. She is a wonderful young woman. She is with a great program and I am happy for her.”

_____________________________________________________________________

Postgame press conference with Aird can be seen below:

Leave a comment

Armstrong Stadium In Bloomington Where The Match Took Place

Speed Vs. Speed Wrecks Havoc For Both Defenses

Bloomington-The speed of IU’s Samuel Sarver and Washington’s Charlie Kosakoff among others, gave both defenses fits all night long. While IU had the upper hand in shots 21-12, the speed of the two stars on each side left many great opportunities all- around.

It started with Sarver intercepting a pass very early on at midfield with no one between him and the goalie but the shot went wide. While this was Sarver’s best opportunity all night, he had several other chances on breaks which has happened so many times in his Hoosier career.

Meanwhile, Kosakoff showed his winning goal last year in Bloomington for the Huskies was no fluke. This time he equalized shortly after an Indiana score on one of his many breakaways and again late on a tap in.

This was a match that could have easily seen 5-10 goals combined with the amount of good chances each side had as the defenses were slow to react from the kickoff. However, the final scored ended up being 2-2 in a match that could have passed for a FIFA video game with the amount of point-blank chances each side had.

IU coach Todd Yeagley said he was glad to get so many looks on his end given the opponent doesn’t typically allow that.

“That’s the most chances I’ve seen Washington give up all year,” Yeagley said. “They are usually pretty tight in the back. I thought we did a great job of breaking their initial press. The game did get athletic and we’re OK with that.”

In the end, it was Kosakoff who got the upper hand and managed to pull out a point for UW while Sarver missed finishing his chances. As a result, the Hoosiers walked away with one point instead of three because of it.

Elliott Breaks Out

Louisville transfer Quinton Elliott has been quiet headed into tonight’s match despite a lot of hype coming in. As a defensive back on the wing, he is filling the shoes of the graduated Brett Bebej.

Elliott is a completely different player than Bebej with more offensive potential and the ability to come forward and score goals during an attack. This potential however did not come to fruition in the first 10 matches of 2024.

However, on Friday Elliott finally showed why the program was so excited about him coming to Bloomington this fall. He buried his first two chances of the season in this match on a nifty score from the side and at the top of the box off a cleared ball. He also had several nice defensive clearances on a night when the backline had a rough evening.

Elliott said he was excited about his breakout match and getting involved in the offense.

“I feel like I have gotten more comfortable in the attack the last few games,” Elliott said. “Now I feel like I can twirl more over the top.”

A Big October Will Get The Hoosiers Everything They Want This Time But The Defense Has To Improve For Potential To Be Maximized

The last four seasons now have gotten off to uncharacteristically slow starts for a program that knows little but winning almost all the time. The last three autumns have seen Indiana come on once October hits to play postseason soccer each time. With a relatively strong Big Ten in 2021 and 2022, the Hoosiers’ big finish earned them a top-16 seed and hosting spot. However, despite winning the league in 2023, the conference was uncharacteristically weak and as a result, IU was left to travel during the NCAA Tournament as the Big Ten’s only bid.

In past years it has been the inability to bury goals early that cost the squad good results in September. While this offense has not been perfect in 2024, the goals are coming at a decent clip. However, a remade defense is also giving up more scores than in the past which is why the team is just 3-3-5.

However, like in 2021 and 2022, the Big Ten will get multiple bids and a strong month for the Hoosiers should get them good seeding come November. However, wins will need to start coming soon. The advantage right now is each win and tie on the road is worth a big jump in the RPI, while ties at home keep the metrics steady.

Before the previous two games, the team’s RPI sat in the 130’s. However (numbers are from the time of publishing and can fluctuate slightly), the draw at no. 4 Ohio State and victory at no. 10 Wisconsin jumped the squad up just under 100 spots. Even tonight’s tie with no. 39 Washington only dropped that number back into the low 40s for the Cream and Crimson. With no. 21 Kentucky, no. 40 Penn State, no. 29 Michigan, no. 33 UCLA and no. 38 Northwestern still on the docket, no shortage of opportunities exist to get that number into the top 16 and host again.

However, for that to happen, wins will be needed down the stretch, and improvement from the backline. With 15 goals given up and just two shutouts, opponents are scoring at a far higher rate than in the past.

However, Yeagley said the team is playing well and he expects the scores to match the effort very soon.

“I think the performances have been really good,” he said. “A little unfortunate (we have not gotten better results)."

The next match is in Bloomington on Tuesday against the Wildcats at 7 pm on BTN. Three points in this would be extremely helpful for Indiana as they lack a signature non-conference win at the moment.

Also on an unrelated side note, Indiana volleyball got their first win in conference play over struggling Michigan State down the street at Wilkinson Hall 3-1. These Hoosiers are now 8-5 overall and 1-2 in the Big Ten,

_____________________________________________________________________

Postgame press conferences can be seen below:

Leave a comment

Armstrong Stadium In Bloomington Where The Match Took Place

Is Two Better Than 22 When It Comes To IU Athletics?

Bloomington-In almost any circumstances besides golf, the higher number is what many would want when it comes to success in sports. In this case, the obvious answer would be that 22 is the stronger digit as it refers to the number of IU sports that have more or less been successful in the last few years.

Indiana athletics has 24 sports and for the most part, everyone but the big two of football and men’s basketball have had more highs than lows. However, the two signature programs have struggled.

So far the early results from 2024-2025 say things may be headed in the opposite direction. With renewed excitement and results under Hoosier coach Curt Cignetti, the boys on the gridiron have been the standout program of the early autumn. Also, the hype of Mike Woodson’s squad seems to indicate a promising winter on the court.

Vice versa, the other fall sports that have been relatively strong the past few seasons, have had a very slow start. This includes men’s soccer which is generally the crown jewel of the teams in Bloomington.

After Friday’s result against Maryland, Indiana sits at just 2-3-3. As has been the case the last few seasons, this squad has been slow to get started and their long consecutive postseason streak is again in jeopardy.

This raises the question of whether soccer’s struggles amongst the other sports are worth it to IU fans if it means a successful season in football and men’s basketball. Supporters of Indiana can comment below on how they feel about this.

This Result, Especially In Isolation Is Not The Issue

The Maryland Terrapins, like the Hoosiers, are one of the top teams in college soccer most seasons. Indiana went toe-to-toe and got a bad result on a bad break that led to a Terps penalty kick and a 1-0 loss in a match that spanned two days due to weather. However, given how the season has played out so far, the defeat is more troubling than meets the eye.

Like the tie against Notre Dame, no person in Armstrong Stadium would be surprised to see this result not end in a victory. The issue is losses to middling St. Louis and Dayton squads and draws against struggling Evansville and Butler.

IU coach Todd Yeagley said the Terrapins are indeed one of the tougher challenges his squad has faced.

“Maryland’s a really good side and they are motivated,” Yeagley said. “They are playing tough and hard and there is good belief.”

This starts with the offense which for the second straight year is struggling to finish opportunities and score goals. Last fall, forward Tommy Mihalic had trouble finding the net. This time though Mihalic has been the lone Hoosier to put chances home. It is others such as longtime reliable attacker Sam Sarver who are not finding success this fall. Either way though, the best chances to score need to be converted very quickly in future matches to turn these struggles around.

As College Soccer Changes Elite Programs Have Struggled But Hoosier Fans Likely Won’t Be Patient

The famous saying is “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”. This is relevant due to the nature of attention IU soccer and other Olympic sports at IU generally get.

While fans often get downright angry and complain when football or men’s basketball struggle in Bloomington, the other 22 sports generally see supporters go straight to apathy when hard times occur and don’t pay attention to that squad. This is no more evident than 2021 and 2022 Indiana Baseball, women’s basketball before 2019, and any other team that struggles outside the big two.

In some ways these other Hoosier teams have an advantage in that partisans follow them when they are strong, but don’t pay attention when they lose. However, it leads to the phenomenon of few knowing what is going on in the bad times as has happened for sports outside of football so far in 2024.

What is causing these struggles in soccer though? Indiana is far from alone as traditional power Penn State struggled two seasons ago and again this fall while Maryland had major issues last year. Also, traditional powers like Akron, Connecticut, Creighton, St. Louis, and UCLA have had more inconstancies in recent seasons.

The Hoosiers are extremely lucky that they have figured out their early struggles in the last few years as the above squads with similar success to the one in Bloomington have not always done so. The reasoning for this is likely due to parody and more foreign influence.

Yeagley explained why it is more difficult to win now than ever before.

“There’s just more better players,” Yeagley said. “There is better coaching. Where we would have big matchup advantages in games, you see less of that across the board. A team you would call a proverbial mid-major they can get some pretty good guys. The margins are not as big as they were 10,15, 20 years ago. Also, Internationals are 35 to 40% (of the sport) and are typically older.”

In each of the past three seasons with these slow starts, IU has figured it out once October hits. The proof will be in the pudding though if this happens again. It will need to if the squad wants to keep their very long NCAA Tournament streak (since 1987) alive.

_____________________________________________________________________

Postgame press conferences can be seen below:

Leave a comment

IU Warms Up For Their Wednesday Night Match Against Butler In Indianapolis

Both Teams Create Plenty Of Chances But Make Bad Decisions When Trying To Finish Attacks

Indianapolis-While this match ended in a 1-1 tie, it was likely a night where both IU and Butler felt like they should have scored several more goals. The Hoosiers struck early with a rocket into the net from just outside the box from Patrick McDonald.

However, Tommy Mihalic skyed a penalty kick over the net that IU earned from a Bulldog handball in the box. Also, Indiana created several point-blank opportunities on long balls over the top but made too many passes rather than shooting when the best chance was available.

For Butler, they equalized on a breakaway in the second half. However, while dominating the shots 17-10, they also took many quick attempts that were ill-advised and bounced easy balls to IU goalkeeper JT Harms for saves. While Harms was credited with seven stops, most were about as easy as possible to make.

In the end, both sides could not have done better when building their attack. However, their final decisions led to the Hoosiers passing one too many times and shooting too late when given the chance. Vice versa, the Bulldogs were shooting too early on offensive possessions and not forcing Indiana to defend for as long as they should have.

For his squad’s part, IU coach Todd Yeagley lamented the poor decisions when attacking.

“We squandered too many chances,” Yeagley said. “We’ve got to be better in the final third than that. We had three or four breakaways that we couldn’t find the right pass or we decided to pass when we should have shot. We let that one slip away.”

IU Off To Slow Start Again in 2024 But Fast Finish Is Likely

After tonight’s result, Indiana has just a 1-1-2 record. Slow starts are nothing new for this IU soccer team recently. In 2023, the team was just 3-3-4 before catching fire and winning the Big Ten while finishing 15-4-5 and making the Elite 8. In 2022, the squad made the College Cup after beginning 3-2-1 and ending 14-5-6. 2021 saw 5-3-1 turn into 15-6-1.

Why this is happening season in and season out since the Covid shortened 2021 season is an open question. However, Hoosier fans have little to worry about, and past precedent indicates victories will come in bunches pretty soon. It is nearly certain the squad will as usual be a legitimate conference and national championship contender before long despite not looking it yet.

Is The IU Vs. Butler Soccer Rivalry Dropping In Popularity?

In 2013, 2015, and 2017 this IU vs. Butler soccer match was the hottest ticket in town and the sports focus of most fans and media locally in Indy. Also, attendance started at 5,029 in 2013 and peaked at 6,105 in 2017. Since then, this number has declined each time from 4,312 in 2019, to 4,073 in 2022 and 3,934 tonight. While the weather has been picture-perfect for each meeting and the atmosphere has been solid and evenly split fan-wise from those who do show up, the declining numbers are unavoidably noticeable. Also, the amount of attention paid to the event by both side’s supporters and the local media seems to be lessening each time.

What is causing this? I don’t have a good answer here other than to say that the popularity of college soccer in general has been in decline (while most other levels of soccer are increasing in popularity). Indiana’s elite play has been able to withstand this drop-off and continue to receive attention. However, this is not the case elsewhere. It is also possible that after a decade of this matchup on Butler’s campus, casual Hoosier and Bulldog supporters don’t want to come out each time.

Also, when Butler first joined the Big East and transitioned to big-time college sports, many of their fans and employees (I spoke to several in this mindset) felt like playing IU and other top programs validated their achieving this status. Now with this established, it is of less urgency when big-time opponents visit their campus which occurs regularly being in a power five league.

The Hoosiers return to action next Monday back at home against Dayton at 8 pm. It should be noted Assembly Call will not have live coverage of this match. This will return on September 20 when the Hoosiers host Maryland. Between now and then following the match with the Flyers, Indiana heads to Rutgers on September 13 and hosts Evansville on September 17.

_____________________________________________________________________

The postgame press conference with Yeagley can be seen below:

Leave a comment

IU Warms Up For Their Sunday Night Match Against Yale In Bloomington

Tommy Mihalic Scoring In Bunches Early On

Bloomington-Tommy Mihalic has been one of Indiana’s best scoring threats in his time in Bloomington. In his first two seasons on campus, he tallied 12 goals in just 45 matches. However, last season things got frustrating for Mihalic as he kept missing putting the ball in the net from point-blank range multiple times, often hitting the post and crossbar.

This led to just one score in 2023. However, early signs this fall are that the guy from 2021 and 2022 is back. So far Mihalic is responsible for three of the team’s four balls in the back of the net as well as both goals on Sunday night.

Mihalic said he loves putting the ball in the net and enjoys the jubiliation of it.

“I said the other day I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to score,” Mihalic said “It definitely feels good, I’m really happy.”

Michael Nesci Has Been Breakout Freshman Star

Michael Nesci came in as Indiana’s highest-ranked recruit for this fall according to Top Drawer Soccer. Overall, Nesci was the crown jewel of the nation’s seventh-best class and a top-100 player.

However, how quickly Nesci could contribute was an open question. With so many players returning in the Hoosier attack, it was unclear what role he might have. Early on though, he has looked ready to make a major impact from the get-go with his elite speed and scoring ability.

Nesci put one in the back of the net on a breakaway Thursday against Notre Dame to level the score at 1. On Sunday against Yale, his speed continued to give the opponent fits (it should be noted the Bulldogs had a hard time with Indiana’s quickness in general). Nesci got the start on Sunday and drew an early penalty kick after getting tackled during a point-blank look from a pass he took inside the box.

Mihalic said Nesci has played very well so far and knows he’ll help the squad all season.

“He’s great for a freshman,” Mihalic said. “He plays with a lot of confidence and edge. He’s been great for us and I know he’ll play a huge role on this team.”

The PK Nesci drew was upheld on review and converted by Mihalic. VAR continued to be the home side’s friend later on. A penalty was called on IU at the very end of the first half but overturned on second look. This is the first year of more expanded replay in college soccer and it very much helped the Hoosiers on Sunday in both instances.

Indiana Has Changed Their Annual Adidas/IU Credit Union Classic Significantly In Reason Seasons

For many years Indiana would host two top-level opponents in the Adidas/IU Credit Union Classic while two other matches not involving the Hoosiers would also take place against Notre Dame. In return, Indiana would play in a similar tournament up in South Bend annually. Then in 2018, the Hoosiers and Fighting Irish agreed to only play in each other’s events every other season.

In the alternating years, Indiana found a different regional foe to play the other two sides at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Then in recent seasons, the classic has condensed down to IU playing just one or two matches similar to any other nights.

Hoosier coach Todd Yeagley said conference expansion and flexibility are the main reason for the changes but they will always have the event in some form over Labor Day.

“Part of it is the Big Ten scheduling the third weekend,” Yeagley said. “It was our tournament and Notre Dame’s and we felt like we were a little bit boxed in with scheduling. This will always be our classic. Some years we’ll have four teams. We’ll always have two games over this weekend.

The team is now 1-1-1 and returns to action on Wednesday in Indianapolis for their annual rivalry match against Butler at 7 pm. The fast artificial turf and the Bulldog’s ability to get balls over the top to speedy forwards has given Indiana fits at times there. However, IU won there two years ago and the crowd figures to be a relatively even split between each side’s fans per usual.

_____________________________________________________________________

Postgame press conferences can be seen below:

Leave a comment

Bill Armstrong Stadium Where IU Plays There Home Soccer Matches

Weather Rears Its Ugly Head For A Late Night At Armstrong Stadium

Bloomington-Unstable air in the late afternoon wreaked havoc on the planned doubleheader for the men’s and women’s soccer teams. While Armstrong Stadium and Bloomington never saw actual rain, lightning from a nearby pop-up storm caused multiple delays.

The women’s match was scheduled to kick off at 4:30 pm but was immediately delayed by 15 minutes due to the nearby weather. When kickoff was ready to go, another one-hour stoppage did not allow the first kick to occur until 5:45 pm. However, nine minutes in, the game was stopped again due to lightning that was even closer to the field. Finally, at 6:35 pm everything was a go with no further interruptions.

However, by then, the long stoppages pushed the men’s contest back about one-half hour to 8:30 pm. This made for a very late night and over six hours at the stadium for anyone who attended both matches.

However, the elite facilities that are offered on campus prevented an even later start time for game two. Armstrong Stadium is one of the few college soccer facilities to feature a separate practice field next door which allowed IU and Notre Dame to warm up as the first game wound down. This made it so that minimal time was needed on the main pitch once it became open.

Indiana coach Todd Yeagley said he is grateful to have the second place to practice and a top-notch facility.

“Same size, same surface, and we’re 20 yards from our game field,” Yeagley said. “Big advantage for us to have that.”

Women Improve To 3-0 With Dominating Win Over Wright State

The actual game was of minimal challenge to the Hoosiers. They scored right before the second delay nine minutes in and came back 40 minutes later once the lightning cleared with no momentum lost. They tacked on two scores late in the first half and rolled with three more in the final stanza for a 6-0 win.

Indiana sits at 3-0 early on in 2024 and looks to make a second straight NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time in program history. The postseason appearance in 2023 was their first in a decade and early results are promising. So far Indiana has victories over Tennessee in Bloomington and Ball State on the road before Thursday night’s result.

Hoosiers And Irish Battle To 2-2 Draw In Thrilling Match

Unlike their female counterparts, the men have had no issues making the NCAA Tournament. IU’s current postseason streak is quite long as Indiana has made it past the regular season every year since 1987. 2023 looked like it could end that streak as the Hoosiers have started slow each of the last few seasons before catching fire.

Since 2017, the team has been amongst the best in college soccer after a previous decade of standards that would thrill most programs but left Hoosier fans wanting more. While IU hoisted its last national championship in 2012 they were not close to any other hardware in that time. In the recent eight years, Indiana has won eight Big Ten trophies, been to four College Cups, and advanced past the Sweet 16 five times (between 2005 and 2016 they got past that round just twice).

The season started poorly last Friday night with a 2-0 loss to St. Louis on the road. IU has seemingly had an annual clunker away from home recently and this certainly fits that bill.

This left Thursday’s match against an elite Notre Dame squad as a big one. Indiana came out much stronger this time with multiple opportunities and controlled the flow with multiple good passes and attempts on goal. Irish freshman goalie Blake Kelly turned away multiple point blank attempts as his side struck first in the opening 45 minutes. The Hoosiers broke the door down halfway through the second period as the game went off the rails with three scores in a couple of minutes.

Michael Nesci and Tommy Mihalic scored in quick succession on breakaways for a 2-1 lead before ND equalized almost immediately. As a result another top-notch matchup between two of college soccer’s best ended in a draw.

Mihalic said while he loved his team’s effort, he doesn’t understand why so many opposing keepers seemingly have career nights against the Hoosiers.

“I don’t know what the goalies eat before our games,” Mihalic said. “The goalie had unbelievable saves. He is a freshman. He’s gonna be phenomenal.”

Indiana’s schedule lightens up now as they host Yale on Sunday at 8 pm. The team sits at 0-1-1 after their toughest two game stretch of the season.

_____________________________________________________________________

Postgame press conferences can be seen below:

Leave a comment

Bill Armstrong Stadium Where IU Plays There Home Soccer Matches

Early Offensive Flurry Turns Into A Whimper

Muncie-The game was barely six minutes old and IU put two early goals into the back of the net. First Kennedy Neighbors took a pass from Layla Sirdah on a breakaway just under four minutes in for the lead. Not even three minutes later, the Hoosiers had another break. While the shot was tipped out of bounds by the goalie, Indiana converted the subsequent corner on a header by Haden Vlcek that Sirdah set up.

However, after this, IU’s offense went into hibernation and got very few opportunities the rest of the afternoon. Ball State pulled one back in the 28th minute. From there, neither side got many looks and the second half especially was dominated by the defenses.

How Do The Hoosiers Replace Paige Weber?

The Hoosiers could barely find the back of the net in 2022 with just 11 scores in 17 games while going 3-7-7. In 2023, IU allowed the same 16 goals they did the previous fall.

However, the entire fortunes of the squad turned around due to increased success offensively where they found the back of the net 31 times. This was mostly due to Paige Webber’s breakout year. She became a one-woman wrecking crew putting 12 balls into the goal. As a result, Indiana had a miraculous turnaround going 12-4-4 a season ago and making their first NCAA Tournament in a decade.

Fast forward to now and the Cream and Crimson no longer have Weber due to her eligibility expiring. This leaves the question of whether the team can continue its performance from last autumn or if goals will be hard to come by again.

So far the results are mixed. While the Hoosiers have a stout backline once again, the ability to score will be tested without Weber. While the flashes are there as happened early on Tuesday, the inconsistency in creating chances and finding the net remains an issue.

Ultimately, how many goals occur, will determine if 2024 is more like the lows of 2022 or the highs of 2023. The potential is there, but it needs to be realized.

Rick Greenspan And Fred Glass Deserve Credit For Upgrading Facilities At IU In The 2010s

Some said IU had Mid-American Conference (MAC) level facilities as recently as 15 years ago. When walking the campus of Ball State in Muncie, this certainly appeared true as most of the Cardinals’ stadiums were on a level with those of the 2000’s in Bloomington.

These facilities are very nice for a MAC level program and Ball State is among the best in their conference across the board. However, these same types of places kept Indiana from being competitive in many ways for years in the Big Ten.

While the tenures of previous athletic directors Fred Glass and Rick Greenspan were not perfect, both deserve kudos for upgrading the Hoosiers’ facilities to match the rest of the league. From Cook Hall, to Memorial Stadium, to Andy Mohr and Bart Kaufman Field, to Assembly Hall, to Wilkinson Hall, to Armstrong Stadium, and the Pfau Golf Course, nearly every stadium on Indiana’s campus is now modern and as good as most in the country. Former IU point guard and now Ball State men’s basketball coach Michael Lewis could likely attest to this after his time in Bloomington during the 90’s. Lewis made an appearance at the match on Tuesday afternoon with his connections to both schools.

As a result of the upgrades, programs like women’s soccer and many others have taken a massive step forward both on the field and off it. For this, Glass and Greenspan deserve credit.

Leave a comment

IU Celebrates Postgame At Lindsey Nelson Stadium Following Their 10-4 Opening NCAA Win Over Southern Mississippi Who They Face Again On Sunday

Knoxville TN-It was evident very quickly who the best team on the field and in college baseball is. Unfortunately for the Hoosiers, it was not them but top-ranked Tennessee who dazzled and lived up to their billing from the very beginning.

IU ace Conor Foley was nowhere near his best with massive control issues and the Vols took full advantage almost immediately. As a team that smashes the ball for dingers regularly, the Volunteers used their familiar surroundings to belt three of them in the second and third innings to jump to a 9-0 lead.

Indiana was partially responsible for their demise with a couple of handfuls of early walks and a hit-by-pitch. This allowed nearly every Tennessee batter to battle the count each time and it ended up more often than not with a ball being crushed or a free base for them.

It was not much better for IU on offense at first as the Vol’s top arm Drew Beam kept the team from doing anything for a couple of innings. This proved critical as Foley lost his command in the second and by then the deficit was too big for any realistic comeback. Devin Taylor did smash his team-leading 19th home run the second time through the order for three RBIs to get the bats going a bit.

In the end though, Tennessee cruised to a 12-6 victory while jacking four pitches out of the park. While one could easily say the Cream and Crimson were nowhere near their best despite a decent offensive showing, it hardly mattered against the far superior Volunteers. Furthermore, as one of the very last teams selected to participate in the field of 64, the Hoosiers should not have any complaints about being matched up with the very best in the game.

IU Coach Jeff Mercer praised the Volunteers play afterwards.

“They are number one for a reason,” Mercer said. “Give them credit. They forced the issue and forced our hand.”

The good news for Indiana is baseball’s postseason is double elimination and 2024 is not yet over for them despite hanging by a thread. The conclusion however could well come at some point on Sunday as the Hoosiers turn around and rematch with Southern Mississippi at noon. A loss would end their season there while a victory would require them to turn around and once again face the Vols at 6 pm with a staff running low on options to take the mound.

Mercer said the familiarity of facing the Golden Eagles again helps his squad but also the opposition as well.

“It can both ways,” he said. “They’ve seen your hitters so they have an ability to match up. It does help us to be able to known an opponent a little bit but they also know you. There is an equity in that.”

No matter what happens though, the Hoosiers saved a spring that was going nowhere. They made a late rally for their eighth NCAA Tournament in 11 seasons and the third in five seasons under Mercer. This was despite an RPI in the mid-50s that is generally outside the realm of postseason consideration.

Some slight tweaks to the pitching might be needed around the edges. However, the program is in good hands and more than anything, it has met the challenge of being in a northern climate better than almost anyone.

Subscribe now

IU Celebrates Postgame At Lindsey Nelson Stadium Following Their 10-4 NCAA Opening Win Over Southern Mississippi

Knoxville TN-IU baseball found themselves back in a place they have made a habit of getting to in the last decade. After just three postseason appearances in school history through 2012, the Hoosiers have achieved an NCAA Tournament berth eight times in the last 11 years starting with their breakthrough run to the College World Series in 2013.

However, the opening contests have been decidedly mixed in this time at just 4-3 heading into today’s game. Interestingly as a one or three seed, Indiana was a perfect 4-0. When obtaining a two seed they are 0-3.

Fortunately, for IU they were a three-seed for the second straight season and won by six runs just like they did in 2023. In the Lexington Regional last spring, the Hoosiers came out on top over West Virginia 12-6. On Friday, it was a 10-4 score against Southern Mississippi in the Knoxville Regional that once again favored the Cream and Crimson.

However, the similarities between the two contests end there as the victories were achieved in a completely different fashion. Against the Mountaineers, Indiana took advantage of a couple of wild pitches and bunted balls that were thrown away for errors to stay ahead in a back-and-forth affair before pulling away late.

This time with the Golden Eagles being the opposition, the Hoosiers were in charge from start to finish and had a banner day both at the plate and on the mound. The bats got going early and often with five runs in the first two innings and eight in the first five, before anyone from Southern Mississippi crossed the plate. For IU, this included a home run in the first inning by Brock Tibbitts and a couple of RBI doubles and singles thereafter to take complete command.

Indiana coach Jeff Mercer said it is important to try to win in any way possible once late-season baseball comes around.

“When you’re in this environment you have to use all the tools in your tool chest,” Mercer said. “You have to be able to use all of your tools and use all the different avenues for success.”

Finally, the Hoosiers’ pitching situation is in a far more advantageous position this time around. In Lexington, IU’s one long-length-starter and ace Luke Sinnard lasted just two innings. He left with an elbow injury that required surgery and is still being recovered from to this day. The closer for that game was Ty Bothwell who was rounding into form late after a rough year and threw the final 3.1 innings.

Now, Bothwell has turned into the reliable ace who leads the staff and he dazzled once again on Friday afternoon. Bothwell went the first 5.2 innings giving up just two earned runs while striking out nine batters in a fantastic showing. After this, Indiana only needed top bullpen arm Drew Buhr to finish the final 3.1 frames.

Mercer said this sets his team up well for the rest of the weekend.

“Anytime that you get your first game with two pitchers it’s a big help,” he said. “It gives you a lot better path and the guys executed really well.”

The team can now turn to Connor Foley in game two on Saturday at 6 pm. Foley is also a very reliable opener who provides length with a fastball that approaches 100 mph. Reliable relievers Aydan Decker-Petty, Brayden Risedorph, Julian Tonghini, and Jacob Vogel also remain available as well as several other arms out of the pen.

Indiana has their work cut out for them likely needing to get through host and top-ranked Tennessee to continue their season beyond this weekend. While it will be their biggest challenge of 2024, the Hoosiers have put themselves in a position to take their best shot at it.

Leave a comment

IU’s home field Bart Kaufman After Indiana’s 2019 Big Ten Championship

Hoosiers Dominated In All Facets To Likely End Their 2024 Season

While the Hoosiers nearly beat Nebraska this morning in a low-scoring pitchers duel, this time it was apparent the Cornhuskers were the better and deeper team from the get-go. They jumped on IU with three runs in the second and never looked back.

In the end, while the Huskers never had the big inning, they put up at least a single score in every frame but two. Also, they managed to slug several home runs on the day with Josh Caron accounting for three on his own.

Overall, the sudden power in Omaha all week that saw multiple bombs by many with the wind blowing in was a sight to behold. After years of struggles going yard in similar conditions, many players across all the squads (including IU star Devin Taylor) were surprisingly teeing off with moon shots deep into the bleachers.

When it was over, Nebraska left no doubt why they are the best squad in the conference and safely in the NCAA Tournament after their 10-4 win. They are the only side in the league with both elite hitting and top arms.

Indiana meanwhile ends their run in Omaha at 32-24-1 while going 15-9 in the Big Ten. Much like 2016, the conference results were good enough to play into June. However, despite an RPI that is about 10 spots lower than what is generally considered for a regional berth, the Hoosiers made the NCAA Tournament.

How Has IU Done In A Two-Games To Win One Scenario In The Past?

IU has had a mixed history when being in the catbird’s seat needing to win one of two games to advance when their opponent needed both. In the Big Ten tourney in 1996 and 2013 they lost the first game before coming back the second time to win it and make the postseason (although in the latter they saved a hosting position likely rather than a tourney spot which they had already locked up). In the 2009 and 2014 conference tourney as well as the 2013 NCAA Tournament, the Hoosiers took care of business on the first attempt. Finally, in the regionals in 2014 and 2022, Indiana was in the driver’s seat and lost both games.

Saturday’s results continued a trend of being very much a mixed bag when in the position they were. With the losses on Saturday, this tendency of being less than perfect continued. While 2014’s NCAA Tournament bow out as the one seed hosting was inexplicable, the recent ones have a very defined reason that needs to be addressed (see more below).

Hoosiers Need To Add Pitching Depth Going Forward And Be Strong On The Mound From The Start

The issue of not immediately taking advantage while being in the driver’s seat the last couple of seasons comes down to one thing: pitching depth. Tournament games are often low-scoring and whether it be Kentucky last season or Nebraska in 2024, both of these squads had 5-6 guys they can count on for long innings and several more elite short relievers. Indiana meanwhile has 1-2 guys they can count on for length and effective innings and a few decent shorter options.

The Hoosiers had plenty of arms they could count on in 2009, 2013, and 2014 in these positions and as a result got the job done more often than not. The last couple of springs they have not had enough of them and it is why they have struggled from a position of strength against stronger squads.

Like the past couple of seasons, the pitching got going after a slow start. However, going forward they need that to be solid once the first ball is tossed next February rather than coming around sometime in April as it did in 2022, 2023, and 2024. The staff deserves full credit for figuring it out each time and getting Indiana to play their best baseball in the final few weeks.

Despite making the NCAA Tournament for a second straight seasons, it is imperative that more quality arms as a whole are found. They also need to make sure they are ready to go as a staff from the get-go.

Leave a comment