[6BS] IU Beats Kennesaw State To Close Non-Conference Season
Hoosiers Improve to 10-3 Heading Back Into Big Ten Play
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.
After a holiday break, the Hoosiers returned to Assembly Hall Friday night for a marathon of a contest against Kennesaw State. In a fast-paced game, IU came out on top in their finale before Big Ten opposition resumes.
The women did not play this week but return to conference competition as well starting today. Besides this, Bracketology, power rankings, former Indiana players in the NBA, and Back Home Network shows wrap up the basketball portion of 6-Banner. We will as usual conclude with a look at other Hoosier sports led by more signees for football.
Here is what’s in this week’s edition:
Hoosiers Beat Kennesaw State In A Roller Coaster Of A Game To Close Non-Conference Play
Women Resume Big Ten Play With Illinois Today At Home Before Hosting Michigan Later In The Week
Bracketology And Inside the Hall Big Ten Power Rankings
Hoosiers In The NBA Update
Back Home Network Shows
Hoosier Roundup-Football Adds More Future Recruits
IU men’s basketball will play five games this season on Peacock and the women will play seven, making the streaming service essential for IU basketball fans. Sign up for Peacock using Inside the Hall’s link to help support the site and also enjoy Big Ten hoops all season long! (The link is an Inside the Hall affiliate link, so a commission will be paid to ITH if you click and subscribe to Peacock. Alex and the ITH team appreciate your support!)
Banner #1: Hoosiers Beat Kennesaw State In A Roller Coaster Of A Game To Close Non-Conference Play
In a game that very much was up and down for IU, the result was mostly positive. It started with the Cream and Crimson hitting their first five three-pointers which raced them to a 27-16 lead and sent Assembly Hall into a frenzy. However, the Owls were red-hot from long range all night and hit 17 while Indiana cooled off. By halftime, it was just a 50-46 advantage for the home side and once the intermission ended, KSU continued the pressure and eventually took a 68-64 lead.
However, the Hoosiers took over from there and went on a huge run and pulled away for a 100-87 win. Malik Reneau led the way with a career-high 35 points and was instrumental in putting the contest on ice down the stretch. His production was especially critical with his team down two starters as Kel’el Ware and Xavier Johnson both were out of commission.
Afterward, IU coach Mike Woodson spoke, Inside the Hall had a photo gallery, Ryan Corazza wrote a Minute After and Film Session, Alex Bozich penned Five Takeaways, while William McDermott put together a column on the dominating frontcourt performance. Also, Assembly Call had their postgame polls and email as well as a Film Room.
The team returns to action this week when Big Ten play resumes for good. This begins Wednesday and Saturday with Nebraska on the road and Ohio State at home.
Banner #2: Women Resume Big Ten Play With Illinois Today At Home Before Hosting Michigan Later In The Week
The no. 16/15 women took the entire week off. However, they also return to conference play which for them begins today as they look to defend their league title. They take on Illinois at 12:30 pm on Big Ten Network in Bloomington. The Hoosiers have won 15 straight over the Fighting Illini heading into it. However, Indiana’s neighbors to the west have drastically improved in the last couple of seasons under new coach Shauna Green. While they sit at just 6-5, they returned almost their entire squad from last season that made the NCAA Tournament and have suffered many close losses to high-level competition.
Thursday could potentially be even tougher. The Cream and Crimson face a red-hot Michigan squad that knocked off national contender Ohio State on Saturday. The Wolverines have been up and down though with a loss to middling Toledo. At their best, they are as good as anyone in the country and led by one of the better players in America in the form of Laila Phelia.
Banner #3: Bracketology And Inside the Hall Big Ten Power Rankings
New Bracketology was released for the men and women this week with both in completely different positions. The men sit at 10-3 and managed to avoid a bad loss in non-conference play. However, they also currently sport a NET ranking that sits around 100 and has not beaten anyone inside the top 75. Right now, Joe Lunardi has them as a 13-seed with the caveat that they lead the Big Ten at 2-0 and are given the automatic qualifier. However, they may need that auto-bid to participate in March Madness as they are well outside the at-large picture at the moment. Without a huge Big Ten season, they could well be sitting at home come the postseason given their current metrics.
The women on the other hand have a NET in the top 20 and are a lock to make the NCAA Tournament. The only question for them is if they host the beginning of it in Assembly Hall for the third straight year. Currently, ESPN’s Charlie Creme has them doing just that as a four-seed.
Turning back to the men, Inside the Hall began their weekly power rankings for everyone in the league. Currently, they have the Hoosiers as eighth between Michigan State and Maryland.
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
and 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 #4: Hoosiers In The NBA Update
A couple of noteworthy items occurred for recent former Hoosiers. First off, OG Anunoby was traded from struggling Toronto to the playoff-contending Knicks. This gives Anunoby a good chance to contribute on a solid squad.
Meanwhile, rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis has taken full advantage of Draymond Green’s indefinite suspension. McDermott wrote about TJD’s rookie season this week. He has scored in double figures six times in the last seven contests with his increased role.
Banner #5: Back Home Network Shows
The Back Home Network was on-air a few times this week. Assembly Call had a postgame show for Kennesaw State on Friday and AC Radio the night before.
Meanwhile, Doing The Work had an episode on Wednesday. On it, they recapped the Bowling Green game from the week before.
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Banner #6: Other Sports-Football Adds More Future Recruits
New IU football coach Curt Cignetti added to his first recruiting class. The program announced several James Madison transfers following their bowl game to go with the previously known players.
Wrestling will compete at the Southern Scuffle as well as the Midlands this coming week.
Baseball was featured in the D1 site’s preview. They have high expectations after making their fourth NCAA regional final in program history last season.
Former IU legendary swimming and diver Thomas Cole passed away at age 63.
Thanks for your continued support for 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
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