[6BS] Brad Stevens Says He Will Not Take IU Job
Hoosiers Go 1-1 On The Court This Week
Welcome to another edition of 6-Banner Sunday, a joint production between The Assembly Call and Inside the Hall, and presented by our friends at Homefield Apparel, where we highlight the five most essential IU basketball stories of the past week, plus take a look at how the other IU sports programs are doing.
For the second straight week, the big story came off the court rather than on it and involved IU’s coaching situation. A name many fans were clamoring would come to Bloomington has ruled himself out of contention to be the next head man for the Hoosiers.
Besides this, results happened on the court for both Indiana squads. We will as usual conclude with weekly shows and a look at other IU sports led by softball continuing to role early in the season.
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Here is what is in this week’s edition:
Brad Stevens Declines IU Coaching Job
Hoosiers Knock Off Michigan State
IU Edged By UCLA
Women Beat Purdue After Two Losses To Close In On Sixth Straight NCAA Tournament Berth
Weekly Shows
Hoosier Roundup-Softball Continues Winning Streak
IU men’s basketball will play six games this season on Peacock and the women will play five contests on Peacock, making the streaming service a must-have for IU basketball fans. Sign up for Peacock using Inside the Hall’s link to help support the site and also enjoy Big Ten hoops all season long! In total, over 70 men's and women's games featuring Big Ten teams will air on Peacock this season (The link is an Inside the Hall affiliate link, so a commission will be paid to ITH if you click and subscribe to Peacock. Alex and the ITH team appreciate your support!)
Banner #1: Brad Stevens Declines IU Coaching Job
For a game to not be the lead story of 6-Banner at this time of year is quite rare with conference play in full swing. However, for the second straight week this was one of those unusual times when something off the court happened that was far more significant than anything on it.
The announcement many fans had dreamed about was put to bed. After IU coach Mike Woodson was officially confirmed to be stepping down after this season, many partisans had hoped to get a big name going forward as the era winds down.
Where the Hoosiers will turn next for their fourth head man since 2016-2017 remains to be seen. However, one name many wanted most has removed himself from contention. While it was not a surprise, Brad Stevens has once again said he will not be coming to Bloomington according to the Field Of 68s Jeff Goodman.
Where Indiana turns for their head man remains to be seen. However, it is now known it will not be the guy at the top of many people’s list.
Banner #2: Hoosiers Knock Off Michigan State
This season is looking more and more similar to the 2018-2019 year for Indiana basketball. Like that iteration of IU that lost 12 of 13 but somehow beat an elite Michigan State squad on the road, 2024-2025 had the same thing happen this week when they upset the Spartans again amid a long losing streak.
Using a zone on defense and pounding the post on offense, the Hoosiers got their first victory over a ranked squad in a couple of seasons. The lead was never large, but IU managed to hit 9 of their 10 free throws in the last 30 seconds to squeak past MSU 71-67.
Afterward, Woodson spoke, Ryan Corazza wrote a Minute After and Film Session, Alex Bozich put together Five Takeaways, and Will Foley penned a column about the zone defense.
Banner #3: IU Edged By UCLA
Another name potentially connected to the Indiana coaching search is UCLA’s Mick Cronin. With the two historic basketball powers facing off for the first time as conference foes in Assembly Hall, Cronin put on a coaching clinic with strong defense, a modern offense leading to three-pointers, and keeping his team calm each time the Hoosiers made a run.
As has been the case recently, IU got down early and made a push to get back in it. However, for the fourth time in six games Indiana had the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead and missed. With talent relatively equal across the Big Ten, it comes down to executing in the closing moments and this is the spot the team has failed recently. The final was 72-68 as Mackenzie Mgbako missed both a game-tying layup and a go-ahead three-pointer in the final ten seconds.
Afterward, Woodson spoke, Corazza wrote a Minute After, Bozich put together Five Takeaways, and Matt Press penned a column about the late-game woes.
The Hoosiers are now 15-11 overall and 6-9 in the league after the results this week. They still sit outside the NCAA Tournament picture and are off until February 23 when they face arch-rival Purdue.
Banner #4: Women Beat Purdue After Two Losses To Close In On Sixth Straight NCAA Tournament Berth
On the other side of Assembly Hall, things are going somewhat better for the women’s squad recently despite some inconsistencies. They were edged out by two solid teams on the road in Minnesota and Michigan before a dominant home victory over hapless rival Purdue.
With these results, the squad is now 16-9 overall and 8-6 in the league. They are closing in on a 6th straight appearance in March Madness but still need a couple of more victories to secure a spot. They host a top-notch Ohio State squad on Thursday at 7 pm Eastern time on Peacock to try to punch their ticket to the postseason.
Presenting Sponsor: Homefield Apparel
Homefield’s annual Black Friday sale has already begun. Use the promo code BLACKFRIDAY at checkout to get 20% off your entire order.
The item of the week for this week is the new “Hurryin’ Hoosiers” snapback hat. Both
Jerod Morris
and
have it, and can attest to its quality and fit.Plus, how cool is it to have an item celebrating the great teams under Branch McCracken?
Banner #5: Weekly Shows
Podcast on the Brink was recorded this week. The episode featured Joe Jackson of Feed The Post to preview the contest with UCLA.
The Back Home Network was on-air multiple times in the last few days. Assembly Call Postgame, Crimson Cast, Doing The Work, and Dribble Drive all had shows.
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Banner #6: Hoosier Roundup-Softball Continues Winning Streak
Softball continued to roll with an undefeated week to improve to 8-1.
Women’s soccer announced their new head coach.
Baseball had their season get underway losing to UNLV and Xavier. They also announced a format change to the Big Ten Tournament and several players received preseason honors.
Men’s soccer added a few players for next fall and had a former one sign professionally.
Water polo fell to Wagner.
Men’s Tennis defeated beat Drake and Louisville.
Men’s golf competed at the del Mar Collegiate.
Thanks for your continued support for The Assembly Call and Inside the Hall. We’ll be back next weekend with a new roundup.
Now go enjoy yourself a 6-banner Sunday.
Aaron (Ari) Shifron
Assembly Call Contributor
The Assembly Call is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Fake news! 😂