6-Banner Sunday: IU basketball rolls in season opener, football remains unbeaten
- Staff
- 3h 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.
IU Athletics continued its unprecedented run of success across all sports this fall. This 6-Banner will feature a full buffet of details on several Indiana sports, along with the winning teams associated with them.
These sports are men’s basketball, football, women’s basketball, and volleyball. As usual, we will conclude with weekly shows and a look at the rest of the Hoosier sports in action, which was highlighted by men’s soccer topping Rutgers.
Here is what is in this week’s edition:
• IU men’s basketball crushes Alabama A&M in season opener
• Football tops Penn State at Beaver Stadium to remain unbeaten
• IU women’s basketball begins season 2-0
• Volleyball upsets Penn State for its first-ever win in State College
• Podcast on the Brink and Back Home Network shows
• Hoosier Roundup
Banner #1 – IU men’s basketball crushes Alabama A&M in season opener
Under new IU head coach Darian DeVries, as well as a whole new roster, Hoosier fans were promised a more modern offense that emphasizes the three-point shot. Like the exhibition games, a high volume was taken against Alabama A&M in the season opener.
Indiana used the long-range shot (10 makes) to roll to a 98-51 victory. The free-throw line was also a place of strength, going 16-16 there. IU also placed five players in double figures, led by Reed Bailey with 21 points.
Afterwards, DeVries spoke, Inside the Hall had a photo gallery, Ryan Corazza wrote a Minute After and Film Session, Alex Bozich penned Five Takeaways, and Nick Rodecap put together a column about the dominant win.
With the season opener now behind them, IU has its first real test of the fall when it takes on Marquette at 1 p.m. ET today on ESPN in Chicago. This matchup will answer many of the unknowns about how talented the Hoosiers are and where they stack up amongst the rest of the Big Ten once conference play begins down the road.
Banner #2 – Football tops Penn State at Beaver Stadium to remain unbeaten
The football Hoosiers still have their highest ranking ever at No. 2 in the polls. This week, Heisman favorite QB Fernando Mendoza had his signature moment of the season, leading a 10-play 80-yard drive in the final minute at the struggling but extremely talented Penn State Nittany Lions squad. It ended with WR Omar Cooper Jr. making a circus catch on third down in the back of the endzone, dragging his toe inbounds. The final was 27-24, giving Indiana its first victory in a place they had never won before.
As the Hoosiers cruise towards 12-0 and a spot in their first-ever Big Ten title game, they need to avoid slipping up against struggling Purdue and Wisconsin in their last couple of conference games. The contest against the Badgers comes first next Saturday at 12 p.m. ET on BTN.
Banner #3 – IU women’s basketball begins season 2-0
The women’s basketball team experienced significant roster turnover this offseason as well. However, they did return two program stalwarts in Lenee Beaumont and Shay Ciezki.
Ciezki has been excellent in the first two contests, scoring 57 points combined in them. She is the main reason her squad has comfortably cruised to a couple of victories to start the 2025-2026 season.
The final scores were 80-46 against Lipscomb and 72-56 versus UIC. Their next matchup is this coming Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET against Marshall on BIG+.
Banner #4 – Volleyball upsets Penn State for its first-ever win in State College
Volleyball had also never won in Happy Valley before this fall. Like their IU counterparts on the gridiron, they also ended their previous futility at Penn State. However, these Hoosiers made easy work of the Nittany Lions with a sweep in straight sets.
Indiana followed this up with a five-set thriller against Iowa. However, the Hoosiers prevailed in the end to improve to 19-4 overall and 10-3 in the league. With a top-15 RPI, Indiana is well on track to make their first postseason since 2010.
Banner #5 – Podcast on the Brink and Back Home Network shows
Inside the Hall’s Podcast On The Brink returned this week. On it, Rick Bozich joined Alex Bozich for a discussion of Hoosier basketball.
The Back Home Network has several new shows. As a result, it was on air many times this week with programming.
Banner #6 – Hoosier Roundup
• Men’s soccer dominated Rutgers in its final regular-season match. With a top-10 RPI, they will find out their NCAA draw one week from Monday.
• Wrestling topped Lock Haven in their season opener.
• Field hockey fell to Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament, likely ending its season.
• Women’s tennis competed at the exhibition Spartan Invite. They also released their upcoming spring schedule.
Now go enjoy yourself a 6-Banner Sunday.
Aaron (Ari) Shifron
Assembly Call Contributor
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