[6BS] Hoosiers To Face North Carolina In Exhibition Contest
Jeff Mercer's Contract with IU Runs Through 2028, Not 2026 As Previously Thought
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.
A third game in Indianapolis was announced for the upcoming fall. While it is just an exhibition contest, it will take place against a blueblood.
Also, Inside the Hall continued a series previewing each Big Ten team, Indiana’s season projections, and women’s basketball added a couple of recruits. As usual, we will conclude with a look at the weekly shows and the rest of the IU sports scene, which was led by baseball, giving head coach Jeff Mercer an unannounced extension back in 2023.
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:
Hoosiers To Play North Carolina In Exhibition Game In Indianapolis
Inside the Hall’s Big Ten Team Preview
Season Projections
Women’s Basketball Adds Recruits
Weekly Shows
Hoosier Roundup-IU Baseball Coach Jeff Mercer Received Unannounced Extension in 2023
Banner #1: Hoosiers To Play North Carolina In Exhibition Game In Indianapolis
Two premium non-conference games for IU in Indianapolis were previously announced previously for the upcoming year: Syracuse on Nov. 9 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and Kentucky on Nov. 20 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Now a third game in Indianapolis and the second at Gainbridge Fieldhouse was made public this week.
While it will not count towards their record, a tune-up exhibition matchup against fellow blueblood North Carolina will take place on Sunday, Oct. 18. Plenty of tickets for this contest are available at this link directly through the venue. While a time has not been announced yet, it will presumably be late in the afternoon after the Indianapolis Colts’ 1 pm home game against the Tennessee Titans down the street.
This showdown wraps up a huge weekend for Indiana athletics, coming one day after the gargantuan Hoosier football vs. Ohio State matchup on Saturday in Bloomington. IU football is expected to be in the running for a second straight Big Ten and national championship, with the Buckeyes arguably their main challenger to these thrones once again.
Banner #2: Inside the Hall’s Big Ten Team Preview
Inside the Hall continued a series looking at all the Big Ten squads in detail. This week saw teams projected in the top half of the field previewed in USC, IU, UCLA, Ohio State, and Nebraska.
Banner #3: Season Projections
IU is expected to be much improved this upcoming fall. This follows offseason roster changes that saw the Hoosiers bring in an elite transfer portal class that includes Markus Burton, Darren Harris, and several other highly sought-after players. Projections rank Indiana relatively highly heading into 2026-2027, both in the Big Ten and nationally. Joe Lunardi’s early bracketology has IU safely back in the NCAA Tournament field as a seven seed after the roster overhaul.
Banner #4: Women’s Basketball Adds Recruits
While the IU women are in offseason mode, that does not stop them from recruiting. While it is not big names or anyone with much information on them, the team did round out their roster for 2026-207 by adding two international prospects this week.
While not in as comfortable a position as the men to return to the NCAA Tournament, they are nonetheless in decent shape to do so, assuming health and the expansion to 76 teams. This optimism is due to the return of starters Maya Makalusky, Zania Socka-Nguemen, and Lenee Beaumont, as well as the addition of the highest-ranked recruiting class in program history (no. 8 overall), which features the first two players ever ranked inside the top-30 nationally to come to Indiana straight out of high school.
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-IU Baseball Coach Jeff Mercer Received Unannounced Extension in 2023
Baseball gave head coach Jeff Mercer an unannounced extension following an elite year in 2023 that runs through 2028, as I reported this week. The last publicly known information about the expiration of his contract was after this season, but that is not the case, given this new data. The squad has struggled since that 2023 spring and has made the NCAA Tournament in just two out of the last seven campaigns. Meanwhile, a former program legend was elected to the Collegiate Baseball Hall of Fame.
Softball had two players finish in the top-100 nationally.
Field Hockey announced its fall schedule.
Men’s Tennis had a couple of its athletes attempting to qualify for the US Open but ultimately failed to do so.
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.
IU should have tried to bring Tracy Smith back.