Author: Mike Schumann

PARADISE ISLAND, The Bahamas — Mike Woodson has told anyone who would listen for the last two months.  The defensive install came first after he took over the IU basketball program. On Friday night at the Atlantis Resort, that defense delivered in a big way as Indiana produced a somewhat surprising 79-66 win over Serbian professional team BC Mega. Woodson emphasized the defensive end early in his tenure because he knows it will be the foundation of what he is trying to do at his alma mater.  And he knows that even when his team is not expected to win…

Follow along for updates on the action as IU basketball plays BC Mega at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas.  Share your thoughts in the comments below.  Updates will appear at the top of the page. GAME THREAD – Final:  Indiana 79, BC Mega 66.  Very impressive, unexpected win. – 2:17 left, IU still up by 13.  They seem to be going through the motions.  We’ll see if Mega has the rally they haven’t found to this point. – 74-61 IU with 4:14 left. – 70-55 IU with 7:32 left.  TJD’s physicality has been off the charts.…

It didn’t take long for now officially former IU running back Sampson James to find a new home. And it will immediately become a simultaneously very unpopular and popular decision. James will not only stay in the Big Ten, he will stay in-state.  On Friday the Avon, Ind. product announced he was transferring to play for IU rival Purdue. “Let’s Work,” James said in a Twitter post announcing the transfer that now seems pre-arranged given the quick turn from the Wednesday news he was leaving IU. “Excited to become part of something special in West Lafayette,” he added in a…

PARADISE ISLAND, The Bahamas – When it comes to his basketball game, Tamar Bates has a long list of things he wants to improve. But don’t mistake his honesty for weakness. On a team with eight upperclassmen, Bates didn’t arrive in Bloomington a couple months ago timid. And there is respect for the 18-year-old top-30 recruit. Bates already has all of his teammates referring to him by his preferred nickname of Scoop. He did however, arrive with a body that wouldn’t last long in the Big Ten. Beyond the fact that he happens to be really good at basketball, Bates…

Indiana football head coach Tom Allen met with the media via Zoom after practice on Thursday, the first day of fall camp where the Hoosiers went with full pads. Allen spoke at length about the transfer in of Ole Miss defensive back Jonathan Haynes and transfer out of running back Sampson James.  If you prefer to read some of his comments you can do that HERE. The fifth year head coach also discussed the quarterback, running back and receiver rooms, the first players who bought into his culture and committed, running backs coach Deland McCullough, and much more. The Hoosiers…

Indiana is likely to be missing two of its tallest players when they face a long BC Mega squad this weekend. The Daily Hoosier has learned that centers Michael Durr and Logan Duncomb are unlikely to play in IU’s foreign tour games against the Serbian professional team. Although IU has not disclosed specifics, neither player is thought to be dealing with any kind of serious long-term injury. The 7-foot Durr announced that he was transferring to Indiana in May and joined the program soon thereafter.  As we reported last week, he has had a positive influence in recent practices, including…

With his fall camp voice in full effect, IU football head coach Tom Allen continued the media rounds this week with a couple interviews to preview the 2021 season. Allen joined CBS Sports Radio’s Zach Gelb and the Le Batard and Friends podcast featuring Stugotz.  In the latter interview, well known former football player and media personality Mike Golic asked many of the questions to Allen. IU opens the 2021 season on Sept. 4 at Iowa. For a complete library of interviews with current and former players and coaches, GO HERE. Find us on Facebook:  thedailyhoosier You can follow us on…

IU running backs coach Deland McCullough met with the media to discuss fall camp and the intriguing competition for playing time in his position room.  (Note:  This media session occurred prior to the news Sampson James had entered the transfer portal) Head coach Tom Allen announced in February the hiring of McCullough as associate head coach and running backs coach. McCullough spent 2018-20 as the Kansas City Chiefs running backs coach and will enter his second stint with the Hoosiers (2011-16). Indiana opens the 2021 season on Sept. 4 at Iowa. See also:  McCullough hit up Tom Allen as soon…

The competition in the running back room just got a little bit more clear. The Daily Hoosier has confirmed third year running back Sampson James has put his name in the transfer portal for the second time. James also entered the portal in March of 2020 soon after strength coach David Ballou left the program for Alabama. He decided to stay at IU a few days later. The Avon, Ind. product was expected to compete with USC transfer Stephen Carr and sophomore Tim Baldwin for the starting role in 2021. James had what appeared to be a breakout game in…

It has become common over the last couple years, even if it is still a bit surprising to see. As new recruiting doors open for Tom Allen’s surging Indiana program, top prospects are looking at Bloomington as a serious destination, and in the process evaluating the Hoosiers against college football’s traditional powers. That is precisely the dynamic for the top-ranked in-state player in the class of 2023, and one of the top-25 players in the country. Merrillville (Ind.) five-star linebacker Drayk Bowen announced this week he will focus on five schools. Joining Indiana on that list are Auburn, Clemson, LSU…