[6BS] Hoosiers Dominate Alabama In Rose Bowl
Basketball Faces Washington Today As Big Ten Play Resumes
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.
Football’s long-awaited Rose Bowl appearance took place this week. It was a rousing success as the Hoosiers ran Alabama off the field.
Also, men’s basketball returns to Big Ten play, a look at their players to date, and women’s basketball struggled. As usual, we will conclude with weekly shows and a look at the rest of the Indiana sports in action, highlighted by wrestling competing at a tournament.
The Assembly Call is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Here is what is in this week’s edition:
Football Dominates Alabama In The Rose Bowl
Hoosier Basketball Faces Washington Today As Big Ten Play Resumes
Non-Conference Player Review
Women’s Basketball Dominated By Minnesota And Michigan State As Big Ten Play Resumes
Weekly Shows
Hoosier Roundup-Wrestling Competes At Midlands
Banner #1: Football Dominates Alabama In The Rose Bowl
After its first Big Ten Championship since 1967, the No. 1 Hoosiers played in their first Rose Bowl since that same season. This turned into a rousing success as IU fans packed the eponymous venue in Pasadena and turned it into Memorial Stadium West.
Indiana rolled from the beginning after a three-and-out on their first offensive series. On their next drive, IU went to work methodically and managed a field goal. After that, the defense dominated, forcing a turnover on downs and a fumble, leading to quarterback Fernando Mendoza tossing two pretty touchdown passes and a 17-0 lead into the locker room.
The second half was no different as Mendoza threw another touchdown, and running backs Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby each ran for another. In the end, the Hoosiers were putting in backups and rolled over the longtime college football power Alabama Crimson Tide 38-3.
Indiana is now 14-0 overall and will face a rematch with Big Ten rival Oregon at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta on Friday at 7:30 pm on ESPN. IU is now just two wins from its first national title in the program’s history and is looking to be the first college football squad ever to go a perfect 16-0.
Banner #2: Hoosier Basketball Faces Washington Today As Big Ten Play Resumes
IU basketball returns to conference play tonight against Washington at 8 pm on BTN. This will be the first matchup of a busy time that sees them play at Maryland and host Nebraska later in the week.
At 10-3, their NET sits around 30 overall. While they have no signature victories, they have kept their losses to close margins, and victories (except Incarnate Word) have come by large amounts. However, how they perform in the conference will decide if they make their first March Madness since 2023, as they currently sit on the bubble.
Banner #3: Non-Conference Play Review
Inside the Hall put together a review of more of IU’s players to date. This included Sam Alexis, Reed Bailey, Nick Dorn, Conor Enright, and Trent Sisley.
Banner #4: Women’s Basketball Dominated By Minnesota And Michigan State As Big Ten Play Resumes
While women’s basketball avoided any bad losses during non-conference play, several of the contests against mid-majors were much closer than expected. This has led to poor metrics and a NET in the 50’s.
Indiana making a seventh straight NCAA Tourney seems like a pipe dream at this point. This is because they have limited scoring options outside guards Shay Ciezki and Lenee Beaumont.
These concerns were validated as IU returned to league play at home against Minnesota and Michigan State, and were dominated by both. The Hoosiers should eventually get starting center Zania Socka-Nguemen back from injury, but it is unclear how much this will help.
Things are unlikely to get better this week. This is because they face former Hoosier Yarden Garzon and a top-10 Maryland squad today in College Park before heading to Lincoln to play solid Nebraska on Thursday.
With all this said, the future appears much brighter with a new recruiting coach, Colsten Thompson. Already, freshmen Nevaeh Caffey and Maya Makalusky, despite being raw, are much more talented and athletic than previous prospects. Next season has the best class in program history signed, which is ranked in the top-10 nationally and features the two highest-ranked players IU has ever had. Also, more highly ranked prospects have visited Bloomington recently.
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
The Back Home Network has several new shows. As a result, it was on air many times this week with programming.
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Banner #6: Hoosier Roundup-Wrestling Competes At Midlands
Wrestling competed at the Midlands Championship.
Field Hockey signed a player.
Volleyball has an incoming freshman in the Under Armour All-American Game.
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.