6-Banner Sunday: Hoosiers complete 18-point comeback at Ohio State but fall by 20 at Purdue
Welcome to another edition of 6-Banner Sunday, a joint production between The Assembly Call and Inside the Hall, and presented by our friends at Trueblood Real Estate, 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.
In the last few days, IU’s time on the court started with a miracle comeback versus Ohio State but ended badly against Purdue. The Hoosiers played on the road twice this week and were again Jekyll and Hyde within both games.
In other news, women’s basketball fell to the Buckeyes before pulling off a thriller against Michigan State, new Bracketology updates were released and several episodes from this week’s shows were released. We will, as usual, conclude with a look at other Indiana sports led by a solid opening weekend from the softball squad.
Here is what’s in this week’s edition:
• Hoosiers erase 18-point deficit at Ohio State
• IU falls by 20 in blowout loss to Purdue
• Women fall to Ohio State but win thriller against Michigan State
• Bracketology updates
• Podcast on the Brink and Back Home Network shows
• Hoosier Roundup
IU men’s basketball will play five games this season on Peacock and the women will play seven, making the streaming service essential for IU basketball fans. Sign up for Peacock using Inside the Hall’s link to help support the site and also enjoy Big Ten hoops all season long! (The link is an Inside the Hall affiliate link, so a commission will be paid to ITH if you click and subscribe to Peacock. Alex and the ITH team appreciate your support!)
Banner #1 – Hoosiers erase 18-point deficit at Ohio State
Just when it looked like Indiana’s season was circling the drain, the Hoosiers made a big comeback versus Ohio State on Tuesday for their second victory in enemy territory in 2023-2024.
Trailing by 18 points against the Buckeyes early in the second half, Trey Galloway and Malik Reneau helped IU chip away and start climbing the mountain. However, Anthony Leal got Indiana to the summit with a game-winning 3-pointer in the final 30 seconds as he continues to thrive with increased playing time. The final was 76-73 as Reneau scored 26 points, with Galloway chipping in 25 points. Leal’s heroic basket was his only field goal of the night, as he finished with six points.
Afterward, IU coach Woodson spoke, Ryan Corazza wrote a Minute After and Film Session, Alex Bozich penned Five Takeaways, and Kevin Vera wrote a column about the comeback. Also, Assembly Call had their postgame email and polls as well as a Film Room.
Banner #2 – IU falls by 20 in blowout loss to Purdue
After the thrilling win against Ohio State, things went decidedly south against arch-rival and no. 2 Purdue in West Lafayette on Saturday night. The Hoosiers hung tough early but the Boilers pulled away late in the first half and never let up and won 79-59. When reigning national player of the year Zach Edey banked in his first career three-pointer in the second half, it was clear it was the home team’s night as he finished with 26 points.
The one bright spot on the night for Indiana was CJ Gunn, who had one of the best games of his career. He finished with a team-high 13 points on 4-6 from the field, including three shots made from long range. The other double-figure scorers for IU were Mackenzie Mgbako with 12 points; Galloway with 11 points; and Kel’el Ware, who chipped in 10 points.
Afterward, Woodson spoke, Inside the Hall had a Photo Gallery, and Corazza wrote a Minute After. Also, Assembly Call had their postgame polls.
With the results this week, the team is 14-10 overall. They also sit at 6-7 in the league with seven regular season contests left. The team now has an eight-day break and will play again at home on Sunday, February 18, against Northwestern.
Banner #3 – Women fall to Ohio State but win thriller against Michigan State
The No. 13/14 women took to the court twice last week. After their recent hot play, IU lost to their third top-10 team on the road in 2023-2024 against the Buckeyes last Sunday, 74-69. However, on Thursday, the Hoosiers won a thriller over postseason-bound Michigan State 94-91. The Cream and Crimson have not been in many close games in the last couple of seasons. However, both showdowns came down to the wire this week, which should provide some much-needed experience for the likely barn burners coming in March. IU now sits at 10-2 in the league, a game behind Ohio State and Iowa for first. However, Indiana is three games clear of fourth place as this trio continues to run away from the rest of the conference.
All-American Mackenzie Holmes is now just 17 points from Tyra Buss’ all-time school record. She will likely break it today in Assembly Hall against arch-rival and struggling Purdue (2 p.m. ET BIG+). This will further cement Holmes as the greatest player in program history as she already has the most wins of any Hoosier in her five years in Bloomington. She has never spent a week outside of the top 25 during her Indiana career. This is after IU had spent just a few weeks ever ranked before her arrival on campus in 2019-2020.
Banner #4 – Bracketology updates
New bracketology was released for both the men’s and women’s teams. The women’s side continues to sit in a great position to begin March Madness at home for the third straight season with a NET inside the top 15 and a 19-3 record. ESPN’s Charlie Creme has them as a four-seed hosting 13-seed Ball State. The other game in Assembly Hall would see five-seed Syracuse and 12-seed Drake.
As for the men, their path is considerably less rosy as they sit well outside the field per bracketology by both ESPN’s Joe Lunardi and Assembly Call’s Andy Bottoms. With a NET of around 100, they are almost certainly going to have to rely on winning the league tournament to participate in March Madness.
Banner #5 – Podcast on the Brink and Back Home Network shows
Inside the Hall and the Back Home Network had several new shows this week. ITH’s Podcast on the Brink had Dylan Burkhardt on to discuss the struggles of both Indiana and the Michigan Wolverines team that he covers.
Meanwhile, the Back Home Network was on multiple times this week. Assembly Call had postgame shows after Ohio State and Purdue as well as a preview before the game against the Boilers. Also, the contest against Penn State eight days ago was the annual meet-up in Bloomington for the show as they did a live program with hundreds of people at the Upstairs Pub afterward. The live podcast from that day is now available in audio form.
Also, Doing The Work had shows following the Ohio State and Michigan State games. They will also be on again later Sunday against Purdue.
Banner #6 – Hoosier Roundup
• Softball had their season opening weekend in Florida and finished 3–1 including a huge win over ranked Oregon in the opener.
• Football finalized their 2024 recruiting class.
• Soccer announced its 2024 recruits with the class ranked ninth nationally. Also, outgoing forward Karsen Henderlong signed to play professionally just up the road with the Indy Eleven.
• No. 14 water polo had a perfect week, knocking off Brown and Pomona Pitzer to remain undefeated in 2024.
• No. 22 wrestling pulled off a comeback win against Michigan State.
• Men’s tennis knocked off Boise State, Drake, and Brown.
• Women’s tennis fell to Xavier and Kansas State.
• Women’s golf finished fourth at the FAU Paradise Invitational.
• Men’s golf took fourth at the Battle at Briar’s Creek
• Track and Field competed at the Tyson and Windy City Invitationals.
• Baseball’s Devin Taylor is a preseason candidate for the Golden Spikes Award.
• Top-10 swimming and diving won several weekly awards from the Big Ten.
• Cross country received an academic award.
Now go enjoy yourself a 6-banner Sunday.
Aaron (Ari) Shifron
Assembly Call Contributor
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