6-Banner Sunday: IU basketball’s non-conference schedule continues to come together

• Staff

• 8m 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 sports stories of the past week. 6-Banner Sunday is written by Ari Shifron.

Another matchup was revealed for the non-conference portion of IU basketball’s 2026-27 schedule. While it is a buy game against a mid-major, the schedule continues to come together.

Also, Inside the Hall started a series reviewing each basketball player’s summer, continued to preview the Big Ten for next season and IU football is preparing for its season opener early next month. As usual, we will conclude with a look at the weekly shows and the rest of the IU sports scene.

Here is what is in this week’s edition:

• Matchup against Western Illinois revealed for non-conference slate
• Inside the Hall’s IU basketball summer in review series
• Big Ten basketball has a heavy presence in preseason top 25s
• Fall camp continues for IU football
• Podcast on the Brink and Back Home Network shows
• Hoosier Roundup

Banner #1 – Matchup against Western Illinois revealed for non-conference slate

Indiana basketball’s non-conference schedule continues to take shape. While not a signature game by any means, it is nonetheless another piece of the puzzle for IU outside of conference play.

Western Illinois reportedly becomes the eighth game on the pre-Big Ten slate known. The Leathernecks were just 5-26 in 2025-2026 and are not projected to be much better this upcoming fall.

Banner #2 – Inside the Hall’s IU basketball summer in review series

Inside the Hall began a series reviewing each player’s summer in detail. This week saw some of the younger guys looked at, in Prince-Alexander Moody, Vaughn Karvala, Trevor Manhertz, and Trent Sisley.

Banner #3 – Big Ten basketball has a heavy presence in preseason top 25s

The Hoosiers are among the many teams in the league to see mass turnover on their basketball roster. With the use of the transfer portal, Indiana is expected to be much improved this upcoming fall, ranking No. 27 nationally according to Bart Torvik, which is good for seventh in the Big Ten and would put IU safely back in the NCAA tournament after a three-year absence.

Torvik was not the only one to preview this upcoming season. Several other publications are also looking ahead and have IU and other conference rivals around the same spot nationally.

Banner #4 – Fall camp continues for IU football

IU football’s defense of its national title will kick off early next month at Memorial Stadium. The Hoosiers are once again expected to be near the top of the conference and amongst the best teams in college football.

With expectations so high, Indiana continued fall practice for the upcoming season. The program held several media availabilities last week. On Monday, Curt Cignetti gave his weekly update on practice so far this fall and Inside the Hall had a full transcript of his quotes.

On Tuesday, offensive lineman Joe Brunner and defensive lineman Joe Hjelle, two newcomers to the program via the transfer portal, were at the podium. Inside the Hall had a full transcript of their quotes.

And on Thursday, defensive backs Amare Ferrell and Jamari Sharpe talked about the first few weeks of fall camp. Inside the Hall also had a full transcript of this media availability.

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

Inside the Hall’s Podcast on the Brink returned this week. On it, Alex Bozich was joined by Tony Adragna to discuss the upcoming basketball season.

The Back Home Network has many shows. As a result, it was on air several times this week with programming.

Banner #6 – Hoosier Roundup

• Women’s soccer opened the regular fall athletic season at IU with a victory against Hampton.

• Volleyball is ranked in the top-20 nationally to open the season, which is the first time in program history opening the year in the polls. They seemed to prove they are worthy of that ranking, beating Notre Dame in an exhibition match.

• Men’s soccer announced its final roster for this fall as they open regular-season play this week. Also, the promotional schedule for each home game was announced.

• Swimming and diving released their schedule for this upcoming winter. Also, some of the program’s athletes will compete in the Pan Pacific Championships.

• Cross country also announced its upcoming schedule.

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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