Indiana University Football to take the Stage at Big Ten Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium
New Indiana University Head Football Coach Curt Cignetti will take the stage at 12:30 this afternoon on the third and final day of Big Ten Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium. Cignetti will give a 15-minute press conference giving an opening statement followed by questions by the media. You can see all the Press Conferences on the Big Ten Network. Cignetti along with Running Back Justice Ellison, Linebacker Aiden Fisher and Offensive Lineman Mike Katic will during individual interviews along with other creative content opportunities and talking to the Big Ten Network.
Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti opened the now three-day event on Tuesday with the Big Announcement that the Big Ten Championship Football Game will remain at Lucas Oil Stadium through 2028 and has been played there every year since it began 2011. The Head Coaches from Illinois, Rutgers, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Purdue and Ohio State followed on the first day. On Wednesday Lieutenant General Richard Clark of the College Football Playoff addressed the Media followed by the Head Coaches from UCLA, Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska and Penn State. Today Oregon Head Coach Dan Lanning will start at 11:30 AM followed by Minnesota Head Coach PJ Fleck at 11:45 AM, Maryland Head Coach Mike Locksley at Noon, Washington Head Coach Jedd Fisch at 12:15 PM, Indiana Head Coach Curt Cignetti at 12:30 PM and Michigan Head Coach Sherrone Moore at 12:45 PM. Oregon Welcomed itself to the Big Ten Tuesday Morning by putting a Giant Inflatable Oregon Duck Mascot into the White River in Downtown Indianapolis. The Big Ten is now the Big 18 with the additions of Oregon, Washington, UCLA and USC.
Date Announced for Indiana University Men’s Basketball’s Exhibition Game with Marian University Pat Knight will roam the sideline his father once commanded for 29 years on Nov. 1. But he’ll do it from the opposing bench. That’s the date Knight, the new head coach of Marian University, will bring his team to Bloomington for an exhibition against Indiana. Nov. 1 falls on a Friday, so this will almost certainly be an evening contest. The tip-time and television will be announced later. So far it is the only announced exhibition IU will play before their season opener Nov. 6 vs. SIU Edwardsville. Knight, son of legendary IU basketball coach Bob Knight, was announced as the new head coach of Marian in May. Pat Knight played at IU under his father for five years, from 1990 through 1995. He was on the 1991 and 1993 Big Ten title teams, and the 1992 Final Four squad. He was also an assistant coach at IU under his father during his final two years in Bloomington (1998-2000) and was later a head coach at Texas Tech and Lamar.
This is the third straight year Marian will come to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for an exhibition. IU coach Mike Woodson is close friends with Marian Athletic Director Steve Downing, a former IU basketball star and longtime administrator at both Indiana and Texas Tech with the Knights. After IU played Marian in 2022, Woodson hinted that preseason game could be an annual occurrence. “Steve and I have been friends for a long time, and I’m proud of the job he’s done as an AD at Marian and giving them an opportunity,” Woodson said. “I’m going to do it every year that I’m here; that they can come in here and play.” Downing was named the Crossroads League Athletic Director of the Year for the second straight year earlier this month. This will be the first time in Pat Knight’s career he’ll take on IU from the opposing bench. Knight’s staff also includes assistant coach Todd Howard, father of newly named IU assistant director of recruiting Adam Howard.
Eberlein Drive Knocks Assembly Ball out of The Basketball Tournament Tuesday Night
There will be no $1 million prize for Assembly Ball. The IU basketball alumni team lost to Eberlein Drive 82-79 on Tuesday evening at Hinkle Fieldhouse in the round-of-16 of The Basketball Tournament. Assembly Ball was shorthanded, missing former Hoosiers Juwan Morgan, Race Thompson and Devonte Green due to injuries. Starter Julian Gamble also suffered an injury during the game and did not return. Assembly Ball led 17-11 in the first quarter, but Eberlein controlled most of the game from there, fueled by a 30-15 second quarter. After the target score was set at 82, Assembly Ball rallied furiously from a 77-62 deficit to pull to within 80-79. They made five threes in that stretch, including three from Yogi Ferrell. But Eberlein’s Jake Stephens made a tip-in bucket to win it. The only former Hoosiers who saw the floor were Ferrell and Miller Kopp. They scored 21 and 10 points, respectively.
Indianapolis Indians dominate the Iowa Cubs in Wednesday Afternoon Showdown in Des Moines
Liover Peguero and Matt Fraizer each launched a grand slam as the Indianapolis Indians tallied 14 hits in a 14-3 matinee victory over the Iowa Cubs on Wednesday afternoon at Principal Park. Fraizer and Peguero combined for three hits and nine RBI as they powered the Indians (9-12, 42-52) offense to a commanding victory. They are just the second pair of Indians teammates to hit grand slams in the same game in the Victory Field era, following Jared Oliva and Rodolfo Castro on May 10, 2022, at Charlotte.
With Iowa (10-13, 43-55) leading 2-0 after one, Indianapolis responded in the second inning for seven runs on six hits off Dan Straily (L, 1-7). Three of the first four batters in the frame reached base via single, with Fraizer and Ji Hwan Bae tying the game up with RBI knocks. Back-to-back walks scored another before Peguero’s first career grand slam put the game out of reach. Indy exploded for seven additional runs before Iowa could plate another, courtesy of two Andrés Alvarez RBI singles and Fraizer’s blast in the seventh inning. It was the second grand slam of his career and the first since July 22, 2021, with High-A Greensboro at Greenville.
The I-Cubs final run came in the ninth inning when Fabian Pertuz singled home Trayce Thompson. Bailey Falter got the start for Indianapolis to begin his rehab assignment and tossed 3.0 innings with two earned runs and three punchouts. Isaac Mattson (W, 3-1) entered in relief and combined with Ryder Ryan to throw 4.0 hitless innings. Indianapolis and Iowa face off in third game of the six-game set this evening at 7:38pm. RHP Riley Thompson (4-3, 5.68) will take the mound for the I-Cubs while the Indians have yet to name a starter.
Indiana Pacers and Andrew Nembhard agree to a three-year contract extension according to a report
The Indiana Pacers have reportedly locked up one of the breakout stars of the 2024 Eastern Conference playoffs, agreeing to a three-year contract extension with guard Andrew Nembhard, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports. The contract, confirmed to ESPN by Nembhard’s agents Wednesday morning, is worth $59 million and will take him through the 2027-28 season, per Wojnarowski. The Pacers will decline Nembhard’s $2.2 million team option in 2025-26, allowing the new contract to begin next year, according to the report. Drafted out of Gonzaga in 2022 with the 31st overall pick in the NBA draft, Nembhard averaged nearly 15 points along with 5.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds on the Pacers’ playoff run to their first conference finals in a decade.
Indianapolis Colts Sign Wide Receiver Laquon Tredwell and Waive Fellow Wide Receiver Xavier White
The Indianapolis Colts Wednesday signed free agent wide receiver Laquon Treadwell and waived wide receiver Xavier White. Treadwell, 6-2, 215 pounds, has played in 81 career games (24 starts) in his time with the Baltimore Ravens (2023), Seattle Seahawks (2022), Arizona Cardinals (2022), New England Patriots (2022), Jacksonville Jaguars (2021), Atlanta Falcons (2020) and Minnesota Vikings (2016-19). He has totaled 111 receptions for 1,242 yards (11.2 avg.) and five touchdowns. Treadwell has also appeared in four postseason contests. He was originally selected by the Vikings in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Mississippi. In 2023, Treadwell spent time on the Ravens’ active roster and practice squad. He appeared in five games (one start) and caught one pass for 16 yards.
White, 5-10, 190 pounds, was signed by the Colts as an undrafted free agent on May 9, 2024. He saw action in 51 career games (nine starts) at Texas Tech (2019-23) and compiled 133 receptions for 1,524 yards (11.5 avg.) and six touchdowns. White also registered 136 carries for 754 yards (5.5 avg.) and five touchdowns. In the return game, he totaled 19 kickoff returns for 407 yards (21.4 avg.) and five punt returns for 46 yards (9.2 avg.).
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