6-Banner Sunday: IU wins at Michigan, but falls flat against Auburn
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.
IU took out Michigan in their first road game of the season on Tuesday. In doing so, they won both of their early December conference games for the first time since 2018-2019. However, everything fell apart on Saturday as the Hoosiers suffered their second defeat of the year as they fell to Auburn.
Also, women’s basketball picked up two victories and Assembly Call and Indiana coach Mike Woodson had new shows. We will, as usual, conclude with a look at other IU sports led by a couple of wins for Wrestling.
Here is what’s in this week’s edition:
• Hoosiers knock off Michigan for 2-0 start in Big Ten play
• IU falls flat against Auburn
• Women’s basketball beats Stetson and Rutgers
• Assembly Call 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 knock off Michigan for 2-0 start in Big Ten play
IU took to the road for the first time this season and managed to grind out a victory over Michigan. The final was 78-75 as the Hoosiers went ahead for good on a Kel’el Ware hook shot in the final minute. Ware led another dominant frontcourt performance, scoring 13 points, only to be topped by Malik Reneau’s 15 points in the post.
Indiana improved to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in the league. It is the first time in five seasons that the team achieved victories in their early Big Ten games before returning to non-conference play.
Afterward, Woodson spoke, Ryan Corazza wrote a Minute After and Film Session, Alex Bozich penned Five Takeaways, and Kevin Vera, William McDermott, and Amanda Foster put together columns. Also, Assembly Call had their postgame email and polls.
Banner #2 – IU falls flat against Auburn
Things started as well as possible for Indiana against Auburn on Saturday. The Hoosiers matched their season-high on 3-pointers with four very quickly and led 22-10 early. However, everything fell apart for IU as the Tigers dominated the rest of the contest and won easily 104-76.
Afterward, Woodson spoke, Corazza wrote a Minute After, Bozich penned Five Takeaways, and Foster put together a column about the defeat. Also, Assembly Call had their postgame polls as well as a Film Room.
The team is off the next seven days for finals week before returning to action against Kansas (12:30 pm on CBS) on Saturday at home. Despite an early 7-2 record, this will be Indiana’s final chance at a signature non-conference win before a trio of contests against mid-majors to close the month.
Banner #3 – Women’s basketball beats Stetson and Rutgers
While the outside shooting was a struggle, the No. 16/15 Hoosiers still picked up two wins this week to improve to 8-1. Indiana rolled 72-34 over Stetson at home before knocking off Rutgers 66-56 in Piscataway.
The dominant victory against the Hatters saw a couple of special tributes. Awareness of ALS was raised as the team wore red uniforms instead of their usual white in Assembly Hall. Also, a large contingent of fans behind the basket wore shirts supporting Yarden Garzon as the war in her native Israel continues.
The game against the Scarlet Knights was the Big Ten opener as IU started conference play on the right note behind a dominant effort from Mackenzie Holmes. The team is off for nine days before returning to action against struggling Evansville on Monday, December 18.
Banner #4 – Assembly Call shows
Assembly Call was on air several times since last Saturday. They had both a preview and postgame show for the Michigan contest. There was also a wrap-up of Auburn and the normal Thursday night radio show.
Doing The Work took to YouTube twice this week with live shows after Stetson and previewing Rutgers. Finally, a new show called X’s and Joe’s will debut on the Back Home Network soon with Mike Wiemuth and Bob Moats.
Banner #5 – Mike Woodson radio show
Mike Woodson had his regular Monday radio show. However, Woodson could not be on and instead gave way to assistant coach Yasir Rosemond, who joined Don Fischer on-air.
Banner #6 – Hoosier Roundup
• Wrestling knocked off Princeton and Central Michigan to improve to 3-0 on the season.
• Track and field kicked off their indoor season at home.
• Softball announced its 2024 schedule.
• Men’s soccer had starters Joey Maher and Hugo Bacharach invited to the MLS Showcase. Also, Sam Sarver was named an All-American and former player Aiden Morris helped lead his Columbus Crew to the MLS Championship.
• Football’s Aaron Casey was named to the AP All-Big Ten Team.
• Volleyball’s Camryn Haworth was among three Hoosiers to receive AVCA Northeast Region Honors.
• Swimming and Diving had four Hoosiers qualify for the World Championships.
• Field hockey’s Emma Thompson was named IU’s female Scholar Athlete of the Month.
• IU athletics as a whole saw a 90% graduation rate.
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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