6-Banner Sunday: Indiana adds All-Pac 12 point guard Myles Rice from the transfer portal
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 Trueblood Real Estate, 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.
With the college basketball season over, building a team for the 2024-2025 season has begun. From an IU perspective, they continue to look to fill their roster for next year and took a huge step towards that this weekend.
Besides this, we will update you on some recently departed Hoosiers, an NIL event, some news from around the game, and weekly shows. We will, as usual, conclude with a look at other Indiana sports, led by a turnaround week for the softball squad.
Here is what’s in this week’s edition:
• Myles Rice commits and roster updates
• The draft stock of Kel’el Ware and Mackenzie Holmes
• Hoosiers Connect hosting Huber’s event In May
• Other college basketball news
• Podcast on the Brink and Back Home Network shows
• Hoosier Roundup
Banner #1 – Myles Rice commits and roster updates
The roster remains somewhat in flux as the offseason continues. While eight spots are accounted for, Indiana must turn to the transfer portal to fill the five open scholarships.
There are several top-flight visitors who could greatly help next year. Oumar Ballo (Arizona), Kanaan Carlyle (Stanford), Connor Hickman (Bradley), Pharrel Payne (Minnesota), Myles Rice (Washington State), and Amari Williams (Drexel), are all currently visiting or are scheduled to do so in the coming days.
All of the above players fill much-needed roles for Indiana in some way. Right now Indiana has crystal ball picks for Ballo and Carlyle.
Later on Saturday, Rice committed to IU, filling a much-needed void at guard. Rice averaged nearly 15 points a game for NCAA tournament participant Washington State and figures to start immediately for the Hoosiers.
Banner #2 – The draft stock of Kel’el Ware and Mackenzie Holmes
Two Hoosiers who will not return in 2024-2025 had updates on their future. Kel’el Ware continues to prepare for the upcoming draft this summer and Inside the Hall has a look at where he currently stands.
However, the biggest bombshell of the week came from departing superstar center Mackenzie Holmes who is out of eligibility on the women’s side. Holmes announced she is having surgery on her knee that has bothered her since 9th grade. Despite being arguably the best player in program history, she missed a large chunk of the 2022 Big Ten season with this issue, as well as having it flare up during the last two postseasons. Holmes has declared for tomorrow’s WNBA draft with the hope someone will take her and wait until she is available for minutes in the spring of 2025.
Banner #3 – Hoosiers Connect hosting Huber’s event In May
For many years, IU has had a fan event at Huber’s Winery in far Southern Indiana after the season. Once again, Hoosiers Connect will host the evening on Wednesday, May 29. It starts at 6 p.m. ET and is $50 a person with tickets available here.
Banner #4 – Other college basketball news
This week’s earth-shattering news in college basketball loosely involves the Hoosiers and overshadowed Monday’s national championship. Indiana and Kentucky had already announced the renewal of their series beginning in the fall of 2025. Some fans wondered if Wildcats head coach John Calipari would be around by the time the game in Bloomington takes place in 2028.
As it turns out, Calipari won’t be around for any of the games, as it was announced this week he will take the same position at Arkansas. As for UK, they will turn to former player and BYU headman Mark Pope to lead them.
Despite this breaking news last Sunday night, the final game of the 2024 season still took place, with Connecticut taking home their second straight title over the Hoosiers’ arch-rival Purdue. On the women’s side, South Carolina defeated Iowa relatively easily as the Gamecocks toughest matchup in March Madness turned out to be IU in the Sweet 16.
Banner #5 – Podcast on the Brink and Back Home Network shows
Podcast on the Brink and The Back Home Network had several new shows in the last few days. POTB had UMHoops’ Dylan Burkhardt on to recap the national championship game among other things.
Meanwhile, Assembly Call had its normal Thursday radio program. Also, Doing The Work had a season recap, X’s and Joe’s took listener questions and Crimson Cast was on-air three times this week.
Banner #6 – Hoosier Roundup
• Softball has now won five straight contests to get back into postseason contention at 28-12 with their RPI back in the top-50. They defeated Michigan State to complete a sweep and have taken the first two from a solid Minnesota squad at home. Also, their doubleheader with Purdue was rained out for a second time and Sarah Stone received recognition from the Big Ten.
• Baseball was unable to complete a sweep at Maryland and split with middling Penn State at home in the first two games of this series. Also, their midweek game against Ball State was rained out and Tyler Cerny and Joey Brenczewski were honored by the conference.
• Men’s tennis beat Butler but fell to Michigan State and Nebraska.
• Women’s tennis fell to Maryland and Illinois.
• Water polo beat San Jose State.
• Men’s golf won the Hoosier Collegiate and Noah Gillard receive an award from the league.
• Track and field and cross country announced their recruiting class for next season.
• Men’s soccer announced the addition of two transfers.
• Three football players were honored by the NFF Hampshire Society.
• Rowing’s varsity eight won boat of the week.
• The Student Athletic Board at IU is doing a senior sendoff.
Now go enjoy yourself a 6-banner Sunday.
Aaron (Ari) Shifron
Assembly Call Contributor
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