[6BS] NCAA Tournament Potentially Expanding To 76 Teams
IU Students Moving Closer To The Court At Assembly Hall
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 controversial change to the NCAA Tournament appears to be close to implementation for next season. Also, the students are moving closer to the court at Assembly Hall.
Additionally, some of IU’s outgoing transfers have found new homes, and we look ahead to next season. As usual, we will conclude with a look at the weekly shows and the rest of the Hoosier sports in action, which was led by softball continuing to play well.
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:
NCAA Tournament Could Be Expanding To 76 Teams
IU Students Moving Closing To Court In Assembly Hall
Several IU Transfers Find New Home
2026-2027 Season Preview
Weekly Shows
Hoosier Roundup-Softball Hits 40 Wins
Banner #1: NCAA Tournament Could Be Expanding To 76 Teams
While not yet official, the NCAA appears ready to finalize an expansion of March Madness for both men’s and women’s basketball. Based on reports, the NCAA Tournament will controversially expand from 68 to 76 teams and go from a ‘First Four’ to a ‘First 12’.
Under the proposal, 24 teams would compete on Tuesday and Wednesday. Additionally, a second site besides Dayton could be added out west.
The Hoosiers have made the NCAA Tournament just twice in the last decade, in 2022 and 2023. However, IU has been among the first teams out frequently. Under this proposed expansion, Indiana likely would have been invited to participate in 2019, 2024, and 2025.
Banner #2: IU Students Moving Closing To Court In Assembly Hall
Through the mid-2000’s, IU’s student section included the bleachers behind the north and south baskets at Assembly Hall. However, a change at this point gave the north basket seats to the general public as premium seating.
For several seasons after students lost these close seats, a ‘stand up old people chant’ was done at times when the opponent shot free throws. However, this quickly faded away as newer generations of students were unaware that these seats once were part of their section.
Now, roughly 20 years later, those north side bleachers behind the basket are being included in the student section again. This will double the student seating on the court area from 600 back to roughly 1,200.
Where the 600 premium season ticket holders previously in these seats are moving to has not yet been announced. However, having more students near the court should improve the Assembly Hall atmosphere and make them more visible to the television cameras.
Banner #3: Several IU Transfers Find New Home
Jason Drake, Jasai Miles, Josh Harris, Nick Dorn, Andrej Acimovic, and Aleksa Ristic all left IU this offseason and entered the transfer portal. Now four of them have announced new destinations.
Harris is moving to Florida Atlantic, Ristic will head to Belmont, and Drake will go to Temple. However, the biggest move announced was that of Dorn late in the week. Dorn will head to Miami (FL), where former Hoosier Malik Reneau had a breakout season in 2025-2026.
Banner #4: 2026-2027 Season Preview
While the NCAA Tournament may be expanding (see above), early projections say IU should be safely in March Madness this time and has high expectations. ESPN projects the Hoosiers at no. 25 for 2026-2027, and several other publications have Indiana in a similar spot.
Several other Big Ten schools project highly as well. However, IU could be amongst the most improved after their elite haul in the transfer portal.
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, Inside the Hall’s own Josh Pos joined to discuss potential NCAA Tourney expansion.
The Back Home Network has many shows. As a result, it was on air many times this week with programming.
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Banner #6: Hoosier Roundup-Softball Hits 40 Wins
Softball had another huge week, taking a series from Michigan, and knocking off Evansville, and Illinois to reach 40 wins as they cruise towards a fourth straight NCAA Tournament berth.
Baseball fell to Iowa, recovered to beat Louisville, and has split its first two with Northwestern.
Women’s golf finished fourth at the Big Ten Championships and was selected to the NCAA Tournament.
Track and field competed at the Jesse Owens Classic.
Rowing won the Dale England Cup for the ninth straight year.
Wrestling had four Hoosiers place at the U.S. Open.
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.