6-Banner Sunday: IU basketball advances to championship game of FISU America Games with three dominant wins

Prince-Alexander Moody drives to the basket.

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.

IU is playing rare July basketball in Peru as part of the FISU America Games. This was not the only major story in the world of Hoosier basketball this week, as additional big games for the pre-Big Ten schedule were announced.

Also, IU football added another top recruit and is preparing for its upcoming fall season. As usual, we will conclude with a look at the weekly shows and the rest of the IU sports scene, which was led by women’s basketball adding a staff member.

Here is what is in this week’s edition:

• IU basketball advances to the finals of FISU America Games with three dominant wins
• Additional non-conference games announced for IU basketball
• IU football lands a top class of 2028 recruit
• IU football 2026 season preview
• Back Home Network shows
• Hoosier Roundup

Banner #1 – IU basketball advances to the finals of FISU America Games with three dominant wins

IU is normally months away from playing competitive basketball in July. However, this summer is an exception, as the Hoosiers, representing the USA, are part of the FISU American Games in Peru.

Showing off their entirely remade team, the Hoosiers have dominated lesser competition, winning three games by wide margins to advance to the tournament finals. They started the event by rolling against the tournament hosts 115-36 in pool play and followed that up by blasting the US Virgin Islands 120-63 to win Group B.

IU did not let up in the semi-finals on Saturday, dominating Chile 107-40 to advance to the championship game. Here, they will face the same US Virgin Islands squad they faced earlier in the week in a rematch.

After their opening tournament victory, Indiana got a surprise addition to their team in Sam Alexis, who was a contributor on last year’s IU squad.

Indiana head coach Darien DeVries spoke after the opening win against Peru. Also, highlights were posted after each victory by Inside the Hall as the games are being streamed on YouTube. Finally, updated stats can be viewed here.

Banner #2 – Additional non-conference games announced for IU basketball

Two more premium games were learned about for IU before the Big Ten schedule begins. One will count against Indiana’s record and represent their fourth serious test against a P5 opponent this fall when they take on John Calipari and Arkansas on Nov. 17 at Madison Square Garden in New York. This contest joins the already announced games against Syracuse (Nov. 9), Kentucky (Nov. 20), and Missouri (Dec. 18) as the biggest challenges before conference play.

However, the exhibition schedule will provide quite a tune-up, as the NCAA now allows three exhibition games before the season begins. The Hoosiers are taking full advantage of this as they announced a road game at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Oct. 11 against Butler.

This is the third exhibition matchup, joining previously announced games against North Carolina (Oct. 18) and Western Kentucky (Oct. 25) in Evansville.

The game against the Bulldogs on Butler’s campus joins the contest against the Tar Heels and Orange in Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Big Ten tournament will also take place next spring. Meanwhile, the matchup with the Wildcats will be in Lucas Oil Stadium on Nov. 20.

Banner #3 – IU football lands a top class of 2028 recruit

The final big news in Hoosier land this week was on the football field and involved recruiting. Fresh off their commitment from elite WR Monshun Sales, Curt Cignetti struck big again.

This time, the announcement came for a 2028 prospect and is for the most important position on the gridiron. The pledge came from elite QB target Lukas Prock, who ranks in the top-100 nationally for his class and chose Indiana over Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State.

Banner #4 – IU football 2026 season preview

Once again, the football program at IU is expecting big things this fall. This is after coming off their national championship last winter.

Indeed, most expect little drop-off as Indiana ranks near the top of college football again heading into the fall. As a result, Inside the Hall continued to preview each position on the roster. This week looked at the offensive tackles, interior offensive line, and tight ends.

Banner #5 – Back Home Network shows

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 basketball added a staff member in Sammy Smith, who will be the team and recruitment analyst.

• Field Hockey signed a future recruit.

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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