6-Banner Sunday: NCAA tournament expansion appears imminent

• Staff

• 1h 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.

A controversial change to the NCAA tournament appears to be close to implementation for next season. Also, the students are moving closer to the court at Assembly Hall.

Additionally, some of IU’s outgoing transfers have found new homes and we look ahead to next season.

Here is what is in this week’s edition:

• NCAA tournament could be expanding to 76 teams
• IU students moving closer to the court at Assembly Hall
• Several IU transfers choose new schools
• Early 2026-27 season preview
• Podcast on the Brink and Back Home Network shows
• Hoosier Roundup

Banner #1 – NCAA tournament could be expanding to 76 teams

While not yet official, the NCAA appears ready to finalize an expansion of March Madness for both men’s and women’s basketball. Based on reports, the NCAA tournament will expand from 68 to 76 teams and go from a ‘First Four’ to a ‘First 12’.

Under the proposal, 24 teams would compete on Tuesday and Wednesday. Additionally, a second site besides Dayton could be added out west.

The Hoosiers have made the NCAA tournament just twice in the last decade, in 2022 and 2023. However, IU has been among the first teams out frequently. Under this proposed expansion, Indiana likely would have been invited to participate in 2019, 2024 and 2025.

Banner #2 – IU students moving closer to the court at Assembly Hall

Through the mid-2000’s, IU’s student section included the bleachers behind the north and south baskets at Assembly Hall. However, a change at this point designated the north basket seats as premium seating for the general public.

For several seasons after students lost these close seats, a ‘stand up old people’ chant was done whenever the opponent shot free throws. However, this quickly faded away as newer generations of students were unaware that these seats once were part of their section.

Now, roughly 20 years later, those north side bleachers behind the basket are being included in the student section again. This will double the student seating on the court area from 600 back to roughly 1,200.

Where the 600 premium season ticket holders who previously occupied these seats are moving has not yet been announced. However, having more students near the court should improve the Assembly Hall atmosphere and make them more visible to the television cameras.

Banner #3 – Several IU transfers choose new schools

Jason Drake, Jasai Miles, Josh Harris, Nick Dorn, Andrej Acimovic and Aleksa Ristic all left IU this offseason and entered the transfer portal. Now four of them have announced new destinations.

Harris is moving to Florida Atlantic, Ristic will head to Belmont, and Drake will go to Temple. However, the biggest move announced was Dorn’s late in the week. Dorn will head to Miami (FL), where former Hoosier Malik Reneau had a breakout season in 2025-2026.

Banner #4 – Early 2026-27 season preview

While the NCAA Tournament may be expanding (see above), early projections say IU should be safely in March Madness this time and has high expectations. ESPN projects the Hoosiers at No. 25 for 2026-2027 and several other publications have Indiana in a similar spot.

Several other Big Ten schools project highly as well. However, IU could be amongst the most improved after their elite haul in the transfer portal.

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

Podcast on the Brink returned this week. On it, Inside the Hall’s own Josh Pos joined to discuss potential NCAA tournament expansion, spring football and IU basketball’s roster for next season.

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

Banner #6 – Hoosier Roundup

• Softball had another huge week, taking a series from Michigan and knocking off Evansville, and Illinois to reach 40 wins as they cruise towards a fourth straight NCAA tournament berth.

• Baseball fell to Iowa, recovered to beat Louisville and has split its first two with Northwestern.

• Women’s golf finished fourth at the Big Ten championships and was selected for the NCAA tournament.

• Track and field competed at the Jesse Owens Classic.

• Rowing won the Dale England Cup for the ninth straight year.

• Wrestling had four Hoosiers place at the U.S. Open.

Now go enjoy yourself a 6-Banner Sunday.

Aaron (Ari) Shifron
Assembly Call Contributor

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