6-Banner Sunday: Indiana is 3-0 despite several close calls

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.

While it was not a thing of beauty, Indiana did manage to hold off a couple of mid-major schools this week to improve to 3-0. However, the schedule is about to get a lot tougher.

On the women’s side, the Hoosiers suffered a surprising blowout loss to Stanford before rebounding with an easy win over Murray State. Also, Assembly Call and Inside the Hall had shows this week. We will as usual conclude with a look at other IU sports led by men’s soccer winning another Big Ten championship and starting NCAA Tournament play.

Here is what’s in this week’s edition:

• Hoosiers defeat Army in closer than expected game
• IU beats Wright State with improved offense despite another close call
• Women were dominated by Stanford but rebounded to defeat Murray State
• Podcast on the Brink and AC Shows
• Mike Woodson Radio Show
• Hoosier Roundup

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 defeat Army in closer than expected game

Despite a victory, the concern in Hoosier Nation was palpable as IU defeated an Army team ranked in the mid 300s in KenPom 72-64. The contest was unexpectedly tight and was not put away until the final few minutes.

Indiana was able to take advantage of their superior size inside as Kel’el Ware led the Cream and Crimson with 20 points while Malik Reneau added 14. However, the Black Nights stayed close by hitting 13 three-pointers to just four for IU.

Afterward, Hoosier coach Mike Woodson spoke, Inside the Hall had a photo gallery, Ryan Corazza wrote the Minute After and Film Session, Alex Bozich penned Five Takeaways, and Kevin Vera put together a column about the squad’s struggle in victory. Finally, Assembly Call had its postgame polls and email.

Banner #2: IU beats Wright State with improved offense despite another close call

IU started much stronger against a better Wright State squad (mid 100’s in KenPom). However, the Raiders once again used the three-point line to come back and stay close the rest of the way as they hit 11 trays to Indiana’s three. However, in the end, the Hoosiers used their superior size to win 89-80 as Ware led IU with 22 points and Reneau scored 16. The victory was marred by a late ankle injury to Xavier Johnson and his status going forward is unclear.

Afterward, Woodson spoke, Inside the Hall had a photo gallery, Ryan Corazza wrote the Minute After and Film Session, Alex Bozich penned Five Takeaways, and William McDermott put together a column about the team’s struggles with rebounding and defending the arc. Finally, Assembly Call had its postgame polls, email, Film Room, and Coach’s Corner.

Ready or not, Indiana’s feet will be held to the fire this coming week as they head to New York for the Empire Classic. They begin competition today at 1 pm on ESPN against defending national champion UConn.

Banner #3: Women were dominated by Stanford but rebounded to defeat Murray State

IU faced an early season test at Stanford that was a difficult challenge. However, what was not expected was getting blown off the court by a fellow ranked squad as the Hoosiers did. Indiana fell 96-64 in a game that was not close from the opening tip. Inside the Hall’s Amanda Foster had a feature column about the blowout defeat.

IU turned the tables on Friday night against a far inferior Murray State side that was lopsided from the beginning. Although the Hoosier’s defense continues to struggle and Sydney Parrish is banged up early in the year, they scored at a very high rate to win 112-79. All-American center Mackenzie Holmes was once again a force inside and scored 20 points. Due to her stellar career and elite play so far in 2023, she was named a candidate for the Wooden Award.

The team has a game today against a lesser Lipscomb squad. However, the real test this week is on Thanksgiving night. Indiana has a neutral court fight against another ranked foe in Tennessee (6 p.m. ET on FOX) as part of a Holiday tournament in Florida.

Banner #4: Podcast on the Brink and AC Shows

Both Podcast on the Brink and Assembly Call had shows this week. POTB had Rick Bozich as a guest to discuss IU’s early season play.

Assembly Call, meanwhile, had postgame shows following both games this week. Also, Doing The Work was on-air after the Stanford contest as well as later in the week to preview this weekend’s games.

Finally, Indiana hosted an NIL day where The Back Home Network had multiple guests on to discuss the ongoing efforts with it.

Banner #5: Mike Woodson Radio Show

Woodson had his weekly radio show Monday night in Bloomington. However, he was absent due to the birth of a grandchild. Instead, staff member and Hoosier great Calbert Cheaney filled in and conversed with Don Fischer during this time slot.

Banner #6: Hoosier Roundup

• Men’s soccer beat Penn State for the Big Ten Tourney championship to earn an automatic bid to their 37th straight NCAA Tournament. However, for the first time in a decade, they are not a national seed with a bye and had to compete on Thursday in the first round. They did defeat Lipscomb at home in that contest and will face Wake Forest today at 5 pm on ESPN+ in the round of 32 in what will be their toughest challenge to date in 2023. It is the earliest the Hoosiers have had to go on the road in the postseason since 2001.

• Football fell 24-21 to Michigan State in another close contest that saw a missed game-tying field goal in the closing seconds.

• Volleyball lost another five-set heartbreaker to Minnesota to put any remaining postseason hopes in grave danger. However, they came back with a victory over Maryland on Friday to put themselves one win away from their most in a single conference season in over two decades.

• Swimming and diving competed at the Ohio State Invitational.

• Women’s Tennis had its final fall exhibition match in North Florida.

• Wrestling signed five recruits for next season and will host a youth clinic later this year.

• Men’s tennis inked three prospects for the future.

• Water polo signed five recruits for the spring of 2025 season.

• Women’s golf added a prospect for 2024-2025.

• Rowing had an athlete selected for a Keith Jackson Postgraduate Scholarship.

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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