[AC] B1G Opponents, Peru Trip, New Commits
Between the Peru trip, summer practices, and a roster that finally looks balanced on paper, there’s a real sense of momentum around the program.
The crew opens with something Indiana fans haven’t had in a while during May: actual basketball stuff to look forward to.
Between the Peru trip, summer practices, and a roster that finally looks balanced on paper, there’s a real sense of momentum around the program.
• Why the Peru trip could end up being way more important than just “extra games”
• The hidden value of IU adding “practice body” depth pieces late in the portal cycle
• How Darian DeVries may have quietly overachieved in the transfer portal
• Why this roster feels fundamentally different from some recent IU teams
• The discussion turns into a surprisingly optimistic conversation about fit, shooting, and actual roster construction
There’s also some fun reflection on the current state of IU athletics overall — from football momentum to the feeling that Indiana is finally showing up in national conversations for positive reasons again.
And yes… the guys briefly spiral into memories of the 1992 Final Four loss to Duke, because some wounds apparently never heal.
Segment 2: The Big Ten Schedule Is Out… and IU Might’ve Actually Caught a Break
The conference opponents are officially set, and the panel wastes no time dissecting what’s good, what’s dangerous, and what could become sneaky problem spots.
A few major themes emerge quickly:
• Not having to visit Illinois, Michigan, and Michigan State feels enormous
• Why this schedule may set up well for a first-year roster still learning how to play together
• The road games everyone says are “winnable”… but somehow never feel comfortable
• An unfortunate amount of skepticism about beating Northwestern despite their roster turnover
• Wisconsin in Madison somehow turns into its own emotional subplot
The conversation eventually drifts into way-too-early Big Ten record predictions, and suddenly the panel is casually throwing around numbers that would represent Indiana’s best conference season in years.
Some restraint is attempted. It does not last long.
Segment 3: NCAA Tournament Expansion, College Basketball Chaos, and Coach Wants Golf Partners
The final segment tackles the looming NCAA Tournament expansion debate, and the conversation gets surprisingly thoughtful about what the tournament should actually represent.
Topics include:
• Why expanding the field feels inevitable whether fans like it or not
• The biggest issue with the current “First Four” setup
• A genuinely interesting idea for helping mid-major teams and preserving tournament magic
• Why the NCAA still doesn’t know how to properly treat smaller schools that earn tournament bids
• The guys accidentally workshop better tournament formats than the NCAA itself
And in true offseason fashion, the episode closes with:
• Indy 500 talk
• summer basketball plans
• podcast updates
• retirement excitement
• And Coach Tonsoni openly recruiting Assembly Call listeners to play golf with him around Indiana
Which honestly feels exactly right for a mid-May IU basketball show.
Live Show and Replay
Thank you to our sponsors
We appreciate the support of our sponsors who help make our continued coverage of Indiana basketball possible.
Presenting sponsor: Homefield Apparel (promo code HOME23 for 15% off your first order)
Promotional partner for Meaningful Moment: Hoosier Ticket Project
Promotional partner for Inside the Numbers: Megan Mahaffey’s JacksonHewitt franchise locations in and around Bloomington
Game Ball sponsor: Bloomington Environmental (mention Assembly Call for a free radon test kit and mitigation estimate)
Hoosier Hustle Award sponsor: Security Pro 24/7 (formerly Evansville Security Services)
Subscribe to The Assembly Call
Subscribe to The Assembly Call podcast for free at any of the following places:
Search for “assembly call” wherever you listen to podcasts. If you don’t find us, email Jerod.