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.
Indiana football won the Big Ten Title. This was a huge bright spot in what was otherwise a rough week for IU athletics on the court.
This is because men’s and women’s basketball struggled for the first time this season. As usual, we will conclude with weekly shows and a look at the rest of the Hoosier sports in action, highlighted by volleyball, which made its second-ever Sweet 16.
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Here is what is in this week’s edition:
Football Knocks Off Ohio State For Big Ten Title
Hoosiers Suffer Loss To Minnesota In Big Ten Opener
IU Falls To Louisville
Women’s Basketball Loses To Iowa State And Illinois, Knocks Off Western Michigan
Weekly Shows
Hoosier Roundup-Volleyball Off To Sweet 16
Banner #1: Football Knocks Off Ohio State For Big Ten Title
It was 58 years in the making, but for the first time since 1967, Indiana football is Big Ten Champions after knocking off Ohio State 13-10. By slaying the Buckeyes for the first time since 1988, IU has now ended every long losing streak it had against several conference opponents over the last few years.
The Hoosiers will also move to No. 1 in the nation under Coach Curt Cignetti for the first time in program history and be the top seed in the playoffs. Also, quarterback Fernando Mendoza all but locked up the Heisman Trophy, making it the first time an Indiana player will have won it.
Led by their elite defense, IU prevailed in the low-scoring game as Mendoza found WR Elijah Sarratt in the third quarter for the go-ahead touchdown on a brilliant throw. The defense then stopped Ohio State in the red zone twice, including a shanked field goal by the Buckeyes late to all but seal the victory.
The Hoosiers will find out who they face in the Rose Bowl during the selection show today. This matchup is on New Year’s Day at 4 pm Eastern, and the rest of the bracket will be revealed later on Sunday.
Banner #2: Hoosiers Suffer Loss To Minnesota In Big Ten Opener
No. 22 IU basketball’s conference opener against Minnesota had few bright spots. The Gophers are picked to finish near the bottom of the league and were far from spectacular on Wednesday night.
However, Indiana was even worse and looked spooked in their first true road environment and did little right. Despite an early lead by the Hoosiers, Minnesota led for most of the latter portions of the game and won 73-64.
Afterwards, Ryan Corazza wrote a Minute After and Film Session, Alex Bozich penned Five Takeaways, and Josh Pos put together a column about the Hoosiers having the reality check in this contest.
Banner #3: IU Falls To Louisville
Under new IU head coach Darian DeVries and a whole new roster, Hoosier fans were promised a more modern offense that emphasizes the three-point shot. However, while the attempts continued to come, other warts have shown up as better competition attempts to run Indiana off the three-point line.
IU came out slow and fell behind 16-0 to an elite Louisville squad, but competed hard from there to make the score respectable. This matters both from a psychological and metrics standpoint as the Hoosiers look to make something out of this season. While Indiana never truly made the Cardinals sweat, they also did not let the deficit get any larger and fell by a respectable 87-78 score.
Nick Dorn had a huge second half with five triples to keep IU within shouting distance. Also, Tucker DeVries attacked the basket more as the contest went on, getting to the line and making 12-13 FT’s to lead the squad with 26 points.
Afterwards, coach DeVries spoke, Inside the Hall had a Photo Gallery, Corazza wrote a Minute After, Alex Bozich penned Five Takeaways, and Quinn Richards put together a column about the lack of strong play near the basket
The Hoosiers are in the midst of a tough stretch. Big Ten play continues against Penn State on Tuesday in Assembly Hall at 8:30 pm on FS1. After that, it’s a trip to Rupp Arena to take on Kentucky in a resumption of that series after many years at 7:30 pm Saturday on ESPN.
Banner #4: Women’s Basketball Loses To Iowa State And Illinois, Knocks Off Western Michigan
Women’s basketball had a lot of roster turnover as well this offseason. However, they did return two program stalwarts in Lenee Beaumont and Shay Ciezki.
Ciezki has been excellent in the early going. Her scoring and long-range shooting are the main reasons the squad has been competitive for the most part in the early going.
Without starting center Zania Socka-Nguemen for the foreseeable future, Indiana gave elite center Audi Crooks and Iowa State a strong challenge before eventually falling 106-95. They also overcame a slow start to dominate inferior Western Michigan 71-53 on Wednesday.
However, a potential red flag occurred on Saturday at Illinois in their Big Ten opener, getting run off the court by a final count of 78-57. The team now sits at 8-2 overall and returns to non-conference play for three more mid-major contests at home, where they will be heavily favored. However, the question will be how competitive the squad can be when league play resumes for good at the end of the month.
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 Tony Adragna 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
Inside the Hall’s Podcast On The Brink returned this week. On it, Corazza joined Bozich for a discussion about the Minnesota loss.
The Back Home Network has several new shows. As a result, it was on air many times this week as well with programming.
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Banner #6: Hoosier Roundup-Volleyball Off To Sweet 16
Volleyball had a terrific week, sweeping Toledo and Colorado in the NCAA Tournament to reach its second-ever Sweet 16 and set the program’s win record. The Assembly Call was at the match against the Buffaloes, and was one of the few media outlets in person to provide coverage on Friday.
Swimming and diving dominated Cincinnati at the Fall Finale.
Baseball signed another strong recruiting class.
Wrestling signed a recruit and beat Central Michigan.
Field hockey had a couple of its players honored.
Thanks for your continued support of 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.