Indiana University Football’s D’Angelo Ponds Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week With his first-career multi-interception game versus Washington, sophomore defensive back D’Angelo Ponds earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week from the conference office on Monday. Ponds grabbed a pair of first half interceptions against the Huskies, with his first Hoosier interception going 67 yards the other way for the game’s opening touchdown. It was his first career pick-6 – college or high school – and is the longest defensive touchdown scored by an IU player since Jameel Cook Jr. took one for 96 yards against FIU in 2015.
His second interception came in the second quarter and set up Indiana’s second scoring drive of the game. The two interceptions versus Washington mark the first multi-interception game by a Hoosier in Big Ten play since Jamar Johnson at Ohio State (2; 2020). He was the highest-graded defensive back in the Power 4 during Week 9 (93.5) per Pro Football Focus. His four-career interception are tied for No. 2 among active FBS true sophomores. He is the sixth Indiana defensive back to win Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week since the awards began in 1987 and the first since Johnson in 2020 versus Penn State. Others include Brian Dewitz (1987), Mike Dumas (1989), Curtis Randle El (1998), Herana-Daze Jones (2004) and Johnson.
Indiana University Field Hockey Goalie Sadie Canelli Earns Big Ten Freshman of the Week Indiana Goalkeeper Sadie Canelli has earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week after her outstanding play from the weekend of October 25-27. Canelli was honored with the distinction by the conference office on Monday afternoon. Indiana fell to No. 3 Ohio State in penalty shootouts on Friday (Oct. 25) and defeated No. 7 Michigan, 2-1, on Sunday (Oct. 27). Canelli had five saves against Ohio State and had five saves in the shootout, as well. She made three saves against Michigan to help lead the Hoosiers to their first top ten win since 2016. This is Canelli’s second Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor. She was previously recognized with the award for the weekend of October 11-13.
Indiana University Men’s Basketball beats the University of Tennessee in a Charity Exhibition Basketball as art it was not, especially early, but that was never the point. Competing, passion, and preparation for the upcoming season were when Indiana and Tennessee met Sunday in a charity exhibition. The result — a 66-62 comeback IU victory, valuable evaluation, and important insight in what’s needed moving forward. “That team forces you to play an ugly game based on their defense, but we responded,” coach Mike Woodson told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the post-game radio show. “Sometimes, you have to win an ugly game.”
Junior forward Malik Reneau was a catalyst with 10 straight late-game points. He finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, and three steals. Guard Myles Rice, a highly touted transfer guard from Washington State, had 20 points. Arizona transfer center Oumar Ballo had six points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore swingman Mackenize Mgbako had 12 points, all in the second half. “Ballo and Malik are going to be the keys for us inside,” Woodson told Fischer. “Malik had a big second-half 3-pointer. When he can make threes, when the rest of these guys start making them, we should be in great shape.
“Mackenzie missed some open shots early, ones he normally makes. He’s capable of making shots. He played 30 minutes, and we needed all 30.”
Rice displayed exceptional quickness and competitiveness in his Hoosier debut. He consistently blew past Tennessee’s Zakai Zeigler, considered one of the nation’s best defensive guards. Veteran guard Trey Galloway, still recovering from off-season knee surgery, didn’t play. Neither did highly touted freshman guard Bryson Tucker. “We’re a little banged up,” Woodson told Fischer. “This was a physical game. It was like a regular-season game. Neither team wanted to bend.”
Both teams were ranked in preseason polls — Tennessee at No. 12, IU at No. 17 by AP, No. 18 by the coaches. The Hoosiers pressured the Tennessee backcourt and swarmed the rim from the start. The result — the Volunteers opened 3-for-22 from the field and finished the first half 8-for-33. IU was 0-for-11 on 3-pointers in the first half, 11-for-33 overall. Both teams improved their shooting and execution improved in the second half. The Hoosiers finished shooting 41.9% overall and were 4-for-19 on 3-pointers. Tennessee shot 30.5% overall and made 8-of-35 3-pointers.
IU had 10 first-half turnovers and finished with 13. Tennessee had nine first-half turnovers and finished with 15. The Hoosiers scored 41 second-half points after getting just 25 in the first half. “In the second half, we took care of the ball,” Woodson told Fischer. “That’s why our offensive production was up.
“We didn’t shoot well, but our defense hung in there. Offensively, I have to help us get better.” Passion flared early on in a physical, defensive battle. IU got two first-half technical fouls. Tennessee one. Full-throttle basketball produced sloppy offense, turnovers, and poor shooting for both teams early on. IU pushed ahead 8-2 and then 14-9 after eight minutes behind six points from Rice, and four each from Reneau and Ballo. Tennessee found its shooting range with an 8-0 run for a 19-16 lead with six minutes left in the first half. A Kannan Carlyle basket pulled the Hoosiers within 21-20. Rice scored IU’s final four points of the first half, which ended with a 26-25 Volunteers lead.
Rice led the Hoosiers with 10 points. Ballo had six points and eight rebounds. Reneau had seven points and six rebounds. Eight Hoosiers played in the first 30 minutes. Carlyle hit IU’s first 3-pointer for a 28-28 tie early in the second half. The Volunteers found their 3-point shooting form to push ahead 41-37. They built a 52-46 lead before the Hoosiers ratcheted up their defense and offense. Reneau’s 10 straight points boosted IU to a 60-54 lead. Two Rice free throws enabled the Hoosiers to close it out. “It was a tough, competitive game,” Woodson told Fischer. “I’m glad our guys came to compete. We can learn a lot from this game. We have to get back to work.”
Bloomington North Girls Volleyball falls in the Regional Championship Game to Floyd Central The Bloomington North Cougars Girls Volleyball Team lost to Floyd Central 3-0 in the Class 4A Girls Volleyball Regional Championship Game at Bloomington North Saturday afternoon. The Cougars end their season at 21-12 and were making their first Regional Appearance since 2005. Floyd Central improves to 30-5 and will play Center Grove on Saturday at 11 am in the first Semifinal at Bedford North Lawrence followed by Castle and Yorktown at 1 pm with the winners facing off in the Championship Game Saturday evening at 7 pm. It’s the 11th Regional Championship for Floyd Central and first since 2022. The Highlanders fought off a tough Cougars squad 27-25, 25-19 and 25-16. Head Coach Disney Bronnenberg who played at Bloomington North and Kansas State said her team showed a lot of “Grit and Guts” and lose 12 Seniors and return one Varsity player in Ava Moore who will be called upon to lead a new group Cougars next season to keep programs run of success going.
The Indiana Fever and Head Coach Christie Sides part ways The Indiana Fever announced on Sunday that the organization has parted ways with head coach Christie Sides. “We are incredibly thankful to Coach Sides for embracing the challenge of leading us through an integral transition period over the last two seasons, while also positioning us well for future growth,” said Fever President of Basketball Operations Kelly Krauskopf. “While decisions like these are never easy, it is also imperative that we remain bold and assertive in the pursuit of our goals, which includes maximizing our talent and bringing another WNBA championship back to Indiana. Coach Sides was an incredible representative of the Fever and our community, and we wish her nothing but success in the future.”
In two years as head coach, Sides posted a 33-47 (.413) regular-season record, and last season she helped lead the Fever to their first postseason appearance since 2016. In addition to aiding in the development of back-to-back WNBA Rookies of the Year (Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark), Sides became the first coach in franchise history to be named WNBA Coach of the Month (August 2024).
The Houston Texans beat the Indianapolis Colts by Three Points in Houston The Houston Texans won a back-and-forth game with the Indianapolis Colts, 23-20, at NRG Stadium Sunday afternoon. The loss dropped the Colts to two games behind the Texans in the AFC South Division standings. The Texans also secured a divisional and postseason tiebreaker over the Colts by winning both of their matchups with Indianapolis this season. The Colts had a chance to drive for a game-tying or game-winning score after pass rusher Dayo Odeyingbo forced a fumble late in the game. The Colt’s drive was derailed by a penalty and sack. Indianapolis got the ball back one final time, but the Texans stopped quarterback Anthony Richardson around midfield as time expired. The Texans scored on their first possession of the game via a Ka’imi Fairbairn 35-yard field goal. The Colts answered right back with a Matt Gay 46-yard field goal to tie the game at 3. The Colts’ defense stopped the Texans twice before Anthony Richardson hit a wide-open Josh Downs for a 60-yard touchdown to give the Colts a 10-7 lead. Houston then responded with a 10-play, 70-yard drive capped by a Joe Mixon 14-yard touchdown run.
The game appeared headed to halftime tied at 10, but Richardson threw an interception to Texans’ safety Jalen Pitre with 23 seconds left in the first half. Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud then connected with wideout Tank Dell on the next play for a 7-yard touchdown to send Houston to the locker room up, 17-10. The Texans added to their lead on their first possession of the second half as Fairbairn made a second 35-yard field goal. Gay made his second field goal, a 37-yard attempt, to cut the Colts’ deficit back to seven points, 20-13. Richardson sat out the final play of the field goal drive after avoiding a sack and big loss with a scramble back to the line of scrimmage. Backup Joe Flacco handed the ball off to running back Jonathan Taylor on the lone snap he took in Sunday’s game. Houston extended its lead back to 10 on Fairbairn’s third field goal of the game. However, the Colts had another answer. They converted their first third down of the game as Richardson hit wideout Alec Pierce for an 11-yard gain with 10 minutes to play. Richardson then found Downs for 25 yards to the Texans’ 1-yard line. Taylor scored two plays later to make the game 23-20. Houston was driving for an insurance score when Mixon fumbled the ball to Odeyingbo, who returned the ball for an apparent touchdown. Video replay showed Mixon touched the Colts’ defensive end as he was taking possession, so the Colts took over at their own 18-yard line. Taylor and defensive end DeForest Buckner returned to the lineup on Sunday after they both missed games with high ankle sprains. Taylor finished with 105 yards rushing on 20 carries, while Richardson was 10-of-32 for 175 yards, one touchdown and 1 interception. The Colts are now 4-4 on the season. They will play at the Minnesota Vikings next week on Sunday Night Football.