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.
IU is playing rare July exhibition basketball games in Peru as part of its foreign tour. This was not the only major story in the world of Hoosier basketball this week, as additional big games for the pre-Big Ten schedule were learned.
Also, the current Indiana football squad added another top recruit and is preparing for its upcoming fall season. As usual, we will conclude with a look at the weekly shows and the rest of the IU sports scene, which was led by women’s basketball adding a staff member.
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Here is what is in this week’s edition:
IU Dominates First Three Peru Games To Advance To Championship Of FISU American Games
Basketball Adds More Top Games To Schedule For Before Big Ten Play
Football Bags Another Top Recruit
Football Season Preview
Weekly Shows
Hoosier Roundup-Women’s Basketball Adds Staff Member
Banner #1: IU Dominates First Three Peru Games To Advance To Championship Of FISU American Games
IU normally is months away from playing competitive basketball games in July. However, this summer is an exception, as the Hoosiers, representing the USA, are part of the FISU American Games in Peru.
Showing off their entirely remade team, the Hoosiers have dominated lesser competition, winning three games so far by wide margins to advance to the tournament finals. They started the event by rolling over the tournament hosts 115-36 in pool play and followed that up by blasting the US Virgin Islands 120-63 to win the group.
IU did not let up in the semi-finals on Saturday in the knockout round, dominating Chile 107-40 to advance to the championship game. Here they will have a rematch with the same US Virgin Islands squad they faced earlier in the week.
After their opening tournament victory, Indiana got a surprise addition to their team in Sam Alexis, who was a contributor on last year’s IU squad to replace the ineligible Samet Yigitoglu, who is the projected big man for this coming season. However, since Yigitoglu does not have American citizenship, he is ineligible to represent the USA as a member of the Hoosiers.
Indiana head coach Darien DeVries spoke after the opening win over Peru. Also, highlights were posted after each victory by Inside the Hall as the games are being streamed on YouTube. Finally, updated stats can be viewed here.
Banner #2: Basketball Adds More Top Games To Schedule For Before Big Ten Play
Two more premium games were learned about for IU before the Big Ten schedule begins. One will count against Indiana’s record and represent their fourth serious test against a P5 opponent this fall when they take on John Calipari and Arkansas on Nov. 17 at Madison Square Garden in New York. This contest joins the already announced games against Syracuse (Nov. 9), Kentucky (Nov. 20), and Missouri (Dec. 18) as the biggest challenges before conference play that will count towards the squad’s final record.
However, the exhibition schedule will provide quite the tune-up as the NCAA now allows three scrimmage games before actual preseason play begins. The Hoosiers are taking full advantage of this as they announced a road game at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Oct. 11 against Butler.
This matchup is the third such exhibition matchup, joining already known games against North Carolina (Oct. 18) and Western Kentucky (Oct. 25) in Evansville. Also, Indiana’s state capital will apparently serve as an unofficial second home for the Hoosiers in 2026-2027 as they will play no less than five games in Indianapolis and potentially more.
The game against the Bulldogs on Butler’s campus joins the contest against the Tar Heels and Orange in Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Big Ten Tournament will also take place next spring. Meanwhile, the matchup with the Wildcats will be in Lucas Oil Stadium on Nov. 20.
Banner #3: Football Bags Another Top Recruit
The final big news in Hoosier land this week was on the football field and involved recruiting. Fresh off their commitment from elite WR Monshun Sales, IU Coach Curt Cignetti struck big again.
This time the announcement came for a 2028 prospect and is for the most important position on the gridiron. The pledge came from elite QB target Lukas Prock, who ranks in the top-100 nationally for his class and chose Indiana over Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. His ESPN ranking at No. 87 in the class trails only Sales in terms of where that number stands for the Hoosiers all-time when it comes to recruiting.
Banner #4: Football Season Preview
Once again, the football program at IU is expecting big things this fall. This is after coming off their national championship last winter.
Indeed, most expect little drop-off as Indiana ranks near the top of college football again heading into the fall. As a result, Inside the Hall continued previewing each position for the squad separately. This week looked at the offensive tackles, interior offensive line, and tight ends,
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 many shows. As a result, it was on air several times this week with programming.
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Banner #6: Hoosier Roundup-Hoosier Roundup-Women’s Basketball Adds Staff Member
Women’s Basketball added a staff member in Sammy Smith, who will be the Team and Recruitment Analyst.
Field Hockey signed a future recruit.
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.