Welcome to another edition of 6-Banner Sunday, a joint production between The Assembly Call and Inside the Hall, 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.
For the second straight week, the big story came off the court rather than on it and involved IU’s coaching situation. A name many fans were hoping would come to Bloomington has ruled himself out of contention to be the next coach for the Hoosiers.
Besides this, results happened on the court for both Indiana squads. We will, as usual, conclude with weekly shows and a look at other IU sports led by softball, which is continuing to roll early in the season.
Here is what is in this week’s edition:
• Brad Stevens not a candidate for the IU coaching job• Hoosiers knock off Michigan State in East Lansing• IU edged by UCLA for fourth straight home loss• IU women beat Purdue to close in on sixth-straight NCAA tournament berth• Podcast on the Brink and Back Home Network shows• Hoosier Roundup
IU men’s basketball will play six games this season on Peacock and the women will play five contests on Peacock, making the streaming service a must-have 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! In total, over 70 men’s and women’s games featuring Big Ten teams will air on Peacock this season (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 – Brad Stevens not a candidate for the IU coaching job
It is quite rare for a game to not be the lead story of 6-Banner at this time of year, with conference play in full swing. However, for the second straight week, this was one of those unusual times when something off the court happened that was far more significant than anything on it.
The announcement many fans had dreamed about was put to bed. After IU coach Mike Woodson was officially confirmed to be stepping down after this season, many partisans had hoped to get a big name going forward as the era winds down.
Where the Hoosiers will turn next for their fourth coach since 2016-2017 remains to be seen. However, one name many wanted most has removed himself from contention. While it was not a surprise, Brad Stevens has once again said he will not be coming to Bloomington according to the Field Of 68’s Jeff Goodman.
Where Indiana turns for their head man remains to be seen. However, it is now known it will not be the guy at the top of many people’s list.
Banner #2 – Hoosiers knock off Michigan State in East Lansing
This season is becoming more similar to the 2018-2019 year for Indiana basketball. Like that iteration of IU that lost 12 of 13 but somehow beat an elite Michigan State squad on the road, 2024-2025 had the same thing happen this week when they upset the Spartans again amid a long losing streak.
Using a zone on defense and pounding the post on offense, the Hoosiers got their first victory over a ranked squad in a couple of seasons. The lead was never large, but IU managed to hit 9 of their 10 free throws in the last 30 seconds to squeak past MSU 71-67.
Afterward, Woodson spoke, Ryan Corazza wrote a Minute After and Film Session, Alex Bozich put together Five Takeaways, and Will Foley penned a column about the zone defense.
Banner #3 – IU edged by UCLA for fourth straight home loss
Another name potentially connected to the Indiana coaching search is UCLA’s Mick Cronin. With the two historic basketball powers facing off for the first time as conference foes in Assembly Hall, Cronin put on a coaching clinic with strong defense, a modern offense leading to three-pointers, and keeping his team calm each time the Hoosiers made a run.
As has been the case recently, IU got down early and made a push to get back in it. However, for the fourth time in six games Indiana had the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead and missed. With talent relatively equal across the Big Ten, it comes down to executing in the closing moments and this is the spot the team has failed recently. The final was 72-68 as Mackenzie Mgbako missed both a game-tying layup and a go-ahead three-pointer in the final ten seconds.
Afterward, Woodson spoke, Corazza wrote a Minute After, Bozich put together Five Takeaways, and Matt Press penned a column about the late-game woes.
After the results this week, the Hoosiers are now 15-11 overall and 6-9 in the league. They still sit outside the NCAA tournament picture and are off until February 23, when they face arch-rival Purdue.
Banner #4 – IU women beat Purdue to close in on sixth straight NCAA tournament berth
On the other side of Assembly Hall, despite some inconsistencies, things are going somewhat better for the women’s squad. They were edged out by two solid teams on the road in Minnesota and Michigan before a dominant home victory over hapless rival Purdue.
The squad is now 16-9 overall and 8-6 in the league with these results. They are closing in on a sixth straight appearance in March Madness but still need a couple more victories to secure a spot. They host a top-notch Ohio State squad on Thursday at 7 p.m. Eastern time on Peacock to try to punch their ticket to the postseason.
Banner #5 – Podcast on the Brink and Back Home Network shows
Podcast on the Brink was recorded this week. The episode featured Joe Jackson of Feed The Post to preview the contest with UCLA.
The Back Home Network was on-air multiple times in the last few days. Assembly Call Postgame, Crimson Cast, Doing The Work, and Dribble Drive all had shows.
Banner #6: Hoosier Roundup
• Softball continued to roll with an undefeated week to improve to 8-1.
• Women’s soccer announced their new head coach.
• Baseball had their season get underway losing to UNLV and Xavier. They also announced a format change to the Big Ten Tournament and several players received preseason honors.
• Men’s soccer added a few players for next fall and had a former one sign professionally.
• Track and Field competed at the Windy City Invite.
• Water polo fell to Wagner.
• Men’s Tennis defeated beat Drake and Louisville.
• Women’s Tennis fell to Xavier and Louisville.
• Men’s golf competed at the del Mar Collegiate.
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) ShifronAssembly Call Contributor
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(Photo credit: IU Athletics)
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