6-Banner Sunday: IU basketball to tip off 2025-26 season with Hoosier Hoops on Kirkwood

• Staff

• 2h ago

 

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.

The annual Hoosier Hysteria event that unofficially opens the basketball season is getting a major shakeup.

We’ll also look at some preseason projections for IU basketball in the Big Ten, recruiting updates and football improving to 3-0. As usual, we will conclude with weekly shows and a look at other IU sports.

Here is what is in this week’s edition:

• IU basketball to debut Hoosier Hoops on Kirkwood
• Preseason Big Ten projections for IU basketball
• New 2026 offer, updated IU basketball recruiting board
• Football crushes Indiana State, 73-0
• Podcast on the Brink and Back Home Network shows
• Hoosier Roundup

Banner #1 – IU basketball to debut Hoosier Hoops on Kirkwood

An annual tradition that kicks off IU’s basketball season will be getting a major change. Instead of opening in the Assembly Hall with Hoosier Hysteria, IU is taking its opening fan engagement event outdoors.

This will be in the form of Hoosier Hoops on Kirkwood, which will take place under the stars on Bloomington’s main downtown street near the sample gates. The event will be on October 2 and take place from 8 p.m. ET to 10 p.m. ET on the 300, 400, and 500 blocks of Kirkwood Avenue.

The men’s and women’s basketball squads will still be featured. Also, many familiar events from the past will take place during this time, including player introductions and skills competitions.

Banner #2 – Presason Big Ten projections for IU basketball

Projections for IU basketball are less optimistic than last season, as new Hoosier coach Darian DeVries takes over with an entirely new roster.

Two prominent publications have Indiana in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten, with Blue Ribbon slotting them ninth in the league while Lindy’s Sports picks them 10th.

Also, Inside the Hall started a series previewing all the teams in the Big Ten. This week, Penn State, Rutgers, and Minnesota were broken down.

Banner #3 – New 2026 offer, updated IU basketball recruiting board

While the rosters for this coming year are set, DeVries is trying to reel in talent for down the road. This week, IU offered 2026 top-150 guard Anthony Brown a scholarship.

Also, as recruiting continues, Inside the Hall provided an updated September Board of Indiana targets.

Banner #4 – Football crushes Indiana State, 73-0

Expectations are high that IU football can come close to repeating last year’s success. This weekend was matchup number three and the last one before Big Ten play.

Coming off a dominant, but imperfect win against Kennesaw State that saw the Hoosiers rise in the polls, IU got another one-sided result, blanking Indiana State 73-0.

With the victory, the squad improved to a perfect 3-0.

Conference play begins next Saturday with a blockbuster. The Cream and Crimson will have one of their biggest games in Memorial Stadium history when they host top-10 Illinois at 7:30 pm on NBC.

Banner #5 – Podcast on the Brink and Back Home Network shows

Inside the Hall’s Podcast on the Brink returned this week. On it, Dylan Burkhardt of UMHoops discussed the Big Ten’s best players.

The Back Home Network was on air many times this week as new shows continue to be added. 

Banner #6 – Hoosier Roundup

• Volleyball has started its season with a bang. They are 8-0 after three more easy wins as they close in on the top-25.

• Men’s Soccer knocked off Notre Dame to get to No. 1 in the country. However, they did a poor job defending that ranking as they fell 3-2 to Michigan in their Big Ten opener.

• Women’s soccer beat Ohio and tied Illinois in their first conference match.

• Field hockey fell to Louisville and dominated Lock Haven.

• Men’s golf finished third at the Rod Myers Invitational.

• Women’s golf finished eighth at the Wolverine Invitational.

• Cross country finished in the top-10 at the Spartan Invite.

• Baseball announced its fall exhibition schedule.

• Water polo added an assistant coach.

• 12 Hoosiers are now part of the USA Swimming National Team.

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) Shifron
Assembly Call Contributor

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(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

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