Author: Seth Tow

Something was off for Indiana women’s basketball all afternoon Thursday at Michigan State. It had become a foregone conclusion this season to see the No. 4 Hoosiers overcome days like that and find ways to win. But this time, they couldn’t. Michigan State (9-5, 1-2 Big Ten) never let IU find a rhythm, and the Spartans dictated the whole game. And they came out 83-78 winners, handing IU its first loss of the season. “We’re disappointed. We dug ourselves a little hole in the first half, and then fought our way back to pull within striking distance at halftime. Second half,…

Grace Berger is making progress. Indiana women’s basketball’s fifth-year All-American suffered a knee injury around Thanksgiving during IU’s game against Auburn in the Las Vegas Invitational. She was ruled out indefinitely, and sported crutches on the bench at IU’s next game against North Carolina. During last week’s game against Butler, Berger was walking without crutches or a brace. On a Zoom press conference Wednesday, IU head coach Teri Moren said Berger remains out indefinitely, but she’s coming along. “It certainly will be left up to Grace and how she feels. But every day, she’s doing a little bit more, which…

On the night before Christmas Eve, Simon Skojdt Assembly Hall had an eerie vibe. Snowy, frigid weather in Bloomington, combined with winter break for students and holiday travel, led to a sparse crowd Friday. The building was still hopping, as it is for every home game. But something was just a bit off. And that’s how much of Indiana’s game against Kennesaw State felt. With two starters (Trayce Jackson-Davis and Xavier Johnson) sidelined, it just felt a bit off. It was far closer than the 69-55 final may indicate. In fact, this game felt similar to the Arizona and Kansas…

With college football’s early signing period in progress, Indiana’s future has become partially more in focus. The Hoosiers have added 16 players, with 11 incoming freshmen, two junior college transfers, and three Division I transfers. Overall, head coach Tom Allen was looking to add athleticism and size, and he feels like he has that in this group. “When I think about this class and what they bring to us, just trying to emphasize length, athleticism,” Allen said in a Zoom press conference Wednesday. “Speed is always going to be a variable we’re trying to improve here, but really trying to…

After Indiana was run off the court at Phog Allen Fieldhouse Saturday in a 22-point loss to Kansas, it’s time for a zoom-out. It’s time to reset expectations for this team. That’s not to say IU fans should give up all hope for this season, nor that the big-picture goals are now unattainable. But given the way the Hoosiers have performed against top-echelon teams the last two games, the once-high expectations need to be adjusted. Because it’s now clear that Indiana should not be considered a Big Ten favorite or a top-15 team. It’s not just that IU (8-3) has…

Indiana men’s basketball has one more shot for a resume-building win in non-conference play this season. The 14th-ranked Hoosiers (8-2) hit the road Saturday to face No. 8 Kansas (9-1) at Phog Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. The game tips off at noon and will air on ESPN2. Both teams will enter that game fresh, with a full week between games. Kansas crushed Missouri on the road last Saturday, while Indiana fell to No. 9 Arizona in Las Vegas. The Hoosiers know they’re against a tough opponent in a tough atmosphere. But that’s just what Race Thompson wants. “It’s exciting.…

As Flory Bidunga displayed his elite athleticism play after play at the Sneakers for Santa Shootout, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl couldn’t help but applaud. Bidunga made chase-down blocks, thunderous dunks, and affected just about every play in the paint during Kokomo’s loss to Ben Davis. It’s that length, vertical, and skill that has college coaches enamored. Those high-flying sorts of plays are what he loves most about basketball. And they’re his defining attributes as a player. Kokomo head coach John Peckinpaugh recalled a moment last season against Richmond when he did all of those things in the same play.…

Arizona beat Indiana at its own game. This was always going to be a challenging game for IU. The Wildcats are No. 10 in the AP Poll for a reason. They’re really good. So it’s not a wholly shocking result that the 14th-ranked Hoosiers lost to them. It’s not a game that should change IU’s season-long outlook. But while not completely out of nowhere, it was a bit jarring to see the difference between the teams. Because Arizona beat IU in the areas the Hoosiers typically lean on to win games. “The game was won in the paint,” IU head…

Indiana men’s soccer is one win away from a ninth national championship. The 13th-seeded Hoosiers took care of business Friday night in the College Cup semifinals, defeating Pittsburgh 2-0 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. IU advances to take on No. 3 Syracuse in the national championship game on Monday at 6 p.m. This was IU’s 22nd trip to the College Cup, and its fourth appearance in the last six years. Monday will be Indiana’s 17th appearance in the title game. “We’re very excited,” IU head coach Todd Yeagley said. “It’s always special to have an opportunity to play…

Indiana women’s basketball didn’t make things easy on Thursday. The Hoosiers, ranked No. 3 in the coaches poll, suffered a slow start at Penn State because of the Nittany Lions’ press defense. IU made uncharacteristic mistakes early in the game and trailed at halftime. But Indiana turned things around in the second half, and came away with a 67-58 win over the Nittany Lions at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pa. Mackenzie Holmes (8 for 12 from the field) and Sydney Parrish (7 for 13) tied for the team lead with 18 points. Chloe Moore-McNeil shot 3 for 4…