Local Sports News: September 4, 2024

Indiana University Women’s Soccer Player Avery Snead named Big Ten Defender of the Week
Graduate Defender Avery Snead earns her first Big Ten award after the conference announced her as the Big Ten Defender of the Week. She posted an outstanding two-game performance against Wright State and Brown where the Hoosiers went 1-0-1 with a dominant 6-0 win against Wright State and a 1-1 battle with Brown. Snead played a combined 149 minutes with one goal, one assist for three points and 1.00 shots on goal percentage last week to secure the award. The Wrentham, Mass., native scored her second goal this season unassisted with a big strike from midfield to put the Hoosiers up 3-0 versus the Raiders. She aided in IU’s second shutout versus with 60 minutes played on the back line. Against Brown, Snead assisted on the equalizer in the 54th minute as IU improved to 3-0-1 on the season with a 1-1 draw at Brown in their first match up with an Ivy League opponent. She played in all 90 minutes against the Bears. The Hoosiers will host two matches against Evansville on Thursday and Lawrence on Sunday for Senior Day.

Indiana University Men’s Soccer player Tommy Mihalic named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week
Indiana Men’s Soccer Senior Forward Tommy Mihalic was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced on Tuesday. Mihalic scored three of Indiana’s four goals in a two-match homestand last week. He hammered in a go-ahed goal in IU’s 2-2 draw with No. 8-ranked Notre Dame Last Thursday and bagged a brace in the 2-0 win over Yale on Sunday. Mihalic earns his second-career Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award, previously winning it the last time he scored a brace: his collegiate debut, a 3-2 win at Notre Dame in the 2021 season opener.  Mihalic and the Hoosiers head to Indianapolis this evening to renew an annual meeting with Butler at the Sellick Bowl. Kickoff is set for 7pm.

Nathan Childress and Jackson Taylor Named Indiana University Men’s Basketball Graduate Managers for the 2024-25 Season
Indiana University Men’s Basketball Head Coach Mike Woodson announced the addition of graduate managers Nathan Childress and Jackson Taylor.

Nathan Childress- Childress enters his first season as a Graduate Manager with the Hoosiers. He spent four seasons as a walk-on with Indiana before transferring to NAIA power Indiana Wesleyan for his additional season of eligibility. He appeared in 16 career games across four seasons with the Hoosiers and was named Academic All-Big Ten twice. Childress starred at Indiana Wesleyan during his final season of college basketball. The Wildcats went 29-6 and advanced to the NAIA Quarterfinal matchup. He averaged 14.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.5 steals in 28.4 minutes per game. He shot 53.6% (206-of-384) from the floor, 32.3% (32-of-99) from the 3-point line, and 77.4% (65-of-84) from the free throw line in 35 starts. He was a two-time All-Hoosier Crossroads performer at Zionsville High School. Childress averaged 14.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists as a senior. The Eagles won back-to-back sectional titles. He was selected to play in the Hoosiers Reunion All-Star Classic. He is the son of Trent and Katie Childress and has a brother, Zach and a sister, Mya.

Jackson Taylor -Taylor enters his first season as a Graduate Manager with the Hoosiers. He spent the previous three seasons as a manager for the men’s basketball program. He attended North Central High School in Indianapolis. His father, Greg, and mother, Danielle, each earned degrees from Indiana University. Greg also obtained his law degree from IU. Taylor earned his Bachelor of Science in public affairs from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Health (SPEA) in the spring of 2024 and is working towards his master’s degree in public affairs

2024-25 Men’s Basketball Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Mike Woodson (Fourth season – Indiana, ’80)
Associate Head Coach: Kenya Hunter (Fifth season – Duquesne, ’96)
Associate Head Coach: Yasir Rosemond (Fourth season – Oregon, ’03)
Assistant Coach: Brian Walsh (Eighth season – Akron, ’13)
Director of Basketball Admin: Armond Hill (Fourth season – Princeton, ’05)
Director of Player Development: Calbert Cheaney (Second Season – Indiana, ’93)
Director of Athletic Performance: Clif Marshall (Eighth season – Louisville, ’05)
Athletic Trainer: Tim Garl (44th season – Alabama, ’78)
Team & Recruiting Coordinator: Jordan Hulls (Third season – Indiana, ’13)
Director of Basketball Operations: Steven Surface (Eighth season – Indiana, ’17)
Video and Player Development Assistant: Mike Stump (Fourth season – Kentucky, ’17)
Video and Player Development Analyst: Isaac Green (Fourth season – Indiana, ’21)
Operations Analyst: Nick Virden (Third season – Indiana, ’22)
Assistant Director of Recruiting and Operations: Adam Howard (Third season – Indiana, ’22)
Graduate Manager: Bennett Munds (Second season – Indiana, ’23)
Graduate Manager: Nathan Childress (First season – Indiana Wesleyan, ’24)
Graduate Manager: Jackson Taylor (First season – Indiana, ’24)

Caitlin Clark named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week For the second-consecutive week, Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark was named the WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week, the league announced today. Clark received Player of the Week honors last week during the August 15-25 portion of the regular season.  The Fever compiled a 4-0 record from August 26-September 1 as Clark averaged 24.3 points, 9.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. During Indiana’s win on Wednesday against the Connecticut Sun, Clark set the WNBA rookie record for the most made 3-point field goals. Clark enters this week with 98 made 3-point field goals and would become the eighth player in WNBA history to surpass 100 made 3-point field goals in a season.

Clark scored a career-high 31 points in Indiana’s 100-81 win against the Chicago Sky on Friday and then followed up with 28 points, 12 assists and four rebounds in Indiana’s 100-93 win against Dallas on Sunday. In Friday’s win, Clark passed Ticha Penicheiro for the most games by a rookie in WNBA history to record at least 10 assists and enters this week with 10.  The Fever begin a six-game homestand at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Tonight against the Los Angeles Sparks at 7 p.m. ET on MeTV and CBS Sports Network. 

Indiana Pacers Sign T.J. McConnell to a Contract Extension
The Indiana Pacers announced Tuesday the team signed Guard T.J. McConnell to a contract extension, which was first reported by ESPN on Aug. 30. “It is safe to say that every team in the NBA would like a player that possesses the same intensity, competitive spirit, and passion for the game and his teammates as T.J. McConnell,” Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard said in a statement. “T.J. has become a steadying veteran presence for our team both on and off the court, and his value to our franchise cannot be overstated. He was an integral part of our success last year and we’re happy that he will continue to be a part of what we’re building here.”

The Pacers did not confirm the details of the deal, which is reportedly worth $45 million over four years. McConnell is reportedly getting a four-year, $45 million extension. His total contract would add up to about $54 million over five years.  McConnell averaged around 10 points a game coming off of the bench during the regular season. That rose to almost 12 points a game during the playoffs, where he made clutch plays including a 20-point, 9-assist performance in game 6 against Milwaukee.  McConnell was part of a Pacers bench that ended the season as the highest scoring second unit in the NBA. 

This offseason, the Pacers have worked to keep last year’s team together. On July 24, they signed Andrew Nembhard to a three-year extension worth $59 million. On June 30, Obi Toppin was given a $60 million deal for four years. That came after Pascal Siakam’s monster, $189 million dollar contract that should keep him in Indy for another four seasons.  The Pacers made it to the Eastern Conference finals, where they were swept by the champion Boston Celtics. But three of those games were decided by five points or less.  The Pacers are hoping the return of Bennedict Mathurin, who missed the second half of the season with an injured shoulder, will take them to the next level. His performance before his injury was impressive.  The Pacers are also hoping to repeat last year’s success in the NBA’s midseason tournament.  This year, their initial matchups for group play will be the Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors. The first game is Nov. 15 against the Heat. 

Indiana Fever extend their winning streak with a road win at Dallas
Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark scored 36 and 28 points each as the Indiana Fever (17-16) reached the century mark for the second consecutive game in a 100-93 win against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center on Sunday. In a game that featured 20 lead changes, Mitchell’s 36-point effort tied the second most points ever scored by a Fever player in a regular season game and Clark secured the highest scoring season by a rookie in franchise history. Clark became only the seventh rookie in WNBA history to record at least 600 points and enters Wednesday’s game with 617 points scored this season. Mitchell’s season-high scoring night on 12-of-22 field goal shooting was highlighted by shooting 5-of-7 from 3-point range. Sunday was Mitchell’s seventh-consecutive game scoring at least 20 points, extending the franchise record for the most consecutive 20-point games by a player. Her five made shots from 3-point range advanced her past Ivory Latta for 14th on the WNBA all-time three pointers list with 537. Clark’s 28 points, 12 assists and four rebounds on Sunday was her 12th double-double of the season. 

Fever Forward NaLyssa Smith had her third-consecutive game recording at least 10 points and six rebounds as she added 14 points on 7-of-12 field goal shooting, eight rebounds, three blocks, two steals and two assists. Fever center Aliyah Boston, forward Damiris Dantas and guard Lexie Hull combined for 20 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks in the win as well. Boston’s eight rebounds put her past Katie Douglas for 10th on the franchise all-time rebounds list with 631. Indiana outscored Dallas in paint points, 38-24 and shot 52.9 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from 3-point range to help ensure its victory. Former Indiana University Star Grace Berger did not play.

At the beginning of the first quarter, the Wings went on an 8-0 run and made six 3-point field goals, leading 23-19 going into the second quarter. The Fever responded with an 11-3 run toward the end of the second quarter and outscored Dallas, 26-23, as Mitchell, Clark and Smith all reached double figures heading into halftime. Dallas went on a 15-6 run approximately halfway through the third quarter, but Indiana went on another 11-3 run of its own to cut a nine-point deficit down to one. Dallas led going into the final quarter, 74-70, but Indiana outscored the Wings, 30-19, off a 13-4 run to end the game. 

Three Wings players scored in double figures in the loss, led by guard Arike Ogunbowale’s team-best 34-point performance, which included a career-high nine made 3-point field goals. Ogunbowale also pulled down eight rebounds and dished out three assists. Wings forwards Satou Sabally and Natasha Howard followed with 25 points and 18 points, respectively, and combined for nine rebounds and four steals. Wings Center Teaira McCowan pulled down a game-best 11 rebounds on Sunday as well. Dallas scored a season-high 13 made 3-point field goals in the loss.

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