[6BS] Hoosiers Dominate Oregon In The Peach Bowl
Basketball Wins Two Of Three Games 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.
Football’s run in the playoffs continued. It was a rousing success as the Hoosiers ran Oregon off the field to reach the national championship game.
Also, men’s basketball returns to Big Ten play with mixed results. As usual, we will conclude with weekly shows and a look at the rest of the Indiana sports in action, which will look at women’s basketball’s continued struggles.
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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
Indiana Dominates Maryland For First True Road Victory Of The Season
Hoosiers Give Away Huge Lead In Loss To Nebraska
Weekly Shows
Hoosier Roundup-Women’s Basketball Continues To Struggle
Banner #1: Football Dominates Oregon In The Peach Bowl
After the No. 1 Hoosiers won in their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1967, the next round against Oregon was another rousing success. IU fans packed Atlanta and turned it into another home-field advantage once the game kicked off.
Indiana rolled from the beginning as DeAngelo Ponds had a pick-six on the first play of the game to give IU a 7-0 lead. Oregon did answer with a touchdown. However, after that, the defense dominated, forcing three turnovers in the first half. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza turned these into points, and the Hoosiers had the game in hand by intermission with a 35-7 lead.
The second half was no different as Mendoza was in charge again and finished the contest 17-20 with 177 yards and five touchdowns. In the end, IU won 56-22 for their second win over the Ducks this year.
Indiana is now 15-0 overall and will face Miami in its home stadium on Monday, January 19, at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. IU is now just this victory away 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.
This success has also led to multiple recruiting victories. IU got big-time commitments from both high school and the portal this week.
Banner #2: IU Basketball Beats Washington In Resumption Of Conference Play
IU basketball had its first game returning to conference play. This opposition was Washington last Sunday.
As has been the case recently, the Hoosiers raced to a solid halftime lead with hot three-point shooting. However, the second half once again saw a run by the opposition. Then freshman Trent Sisley stemmed the tide with 8 points in a short period of time to put Indiana in charge again, and they never looked back in a 90-80 win.
Afterwards, IU coach Darian DeVries spoke, Inside the Hall had a photo gallery, Ryan Corazza wrote a Minute After and Film Session, Alex Bozich penned Five Takeaways, and Josh Pos put together a column about Conor Enright.
Banner #3: Indiana Dominates Maryland For First True Road Victory Of The Season
The Hoosiers finally got their first true road win on Wednesday. This came against a struggling Maryland side but left no doubt.
The early part of the contest was a struggle for both sides with ugly basketball. However, IU pulled away in the second half with good shot-making. In the end, Indiana won easily 84-66.
Afterwards, IU coach Darian DeVries spoke, Ryan Corazza wrote a Minute After and Film Session, and Alex Bozich penned Five Takeaways.
Banner #4: Hoosiers Give Away Huge Lead In Loss To Nebraska
What appeared to be headed towards a perfect week for Hoosier fans with a cherry on top, forgot the decorative fruit in the end. While the ‘cake’ from the three earlier results was still delicious, the metaphorical cherry for this final contest was left in the kitchen at the last second.
This is because Indiana blew a 16-point second-half lead and fell 83-77 to top 10 Nebraska. These two programs appear to have swapped personalities as the historically elite Cornhusker football program has struggled as their basketball team is now top-notch. Meanwhile, the elite success of the past of IU basketball has seen mediocrity as the football squad is on the verge of a national championship.
Afterwards, IU coach Darian DeVries spoke, Ryan Corazza wrote a Minute After, and Alex Bozich penned Five Takeaways.
At 12-4 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten, the Hoosiers continue to sit near the NCAA Tournament bubble. They have a solid record but are in the midst of a tough stretch with ranked teams and go to Michigan State on Tuesday (7 pm on NBC Sports Network and Peacock) and are home against Iowa on Saturday (2 pm on Fox).
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, and the results are mixed so far.
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
Podcast on the Brink returned this week. On it, Alex Bozich is joined by Inside the Hall’s own Pos to discuss both IU football and basketball.
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-Women’s Basketball Continues To Struggle
Women’s Basketball’s struggles to open Big Ten play continued with losses to Maryland and Nebraska.
Volleyball coach Steve Aird signed a contract extension after the best season in program history.
Men’s soccer has an underclassman leaving for the pros and a former player inking a deal as well.
Baseball has a preseason All-American.
Softball has a freshman on a preseason watch list.
Swimming and diving competed against Michigan with mixed results.
Track and field took part in the Rod McCravy Memorial.
Men’s tennis topped Butler to open its season and also had a victory against Ball State.
Water Polo announced its upcoming schedule.
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.