#14 Indiana University Men’s Basketball opens the Battle 4 Atlantis with Louisville The #14 Ranked Indiana Hoosiers battle the Louisville Cardinals at Noon today on ESPN in the first game of the Battle 4 Atlantis at in the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in Nassau the Bahamas. Gonzaga and West Virginia are in the same side of the bracket and the Hoosiers will play one of those teams on Thanksgiving Day and a third game on Friday against Davidson, Arizona, Oklahoma and Providence depending on results.
Indiana is 4-0 coming into the tournament after a 69-58 win over UNC Greensboro last Thursday to close out a four game homestand to start the season. The Hoosiers have been hot and cold where they get on big runs but then let teams back in the game with sloppy play and lack of defensive intensity. Head Coach Mike Woodson was not pleased with thier effort and time in between games helps the regroup for a three games in three days in which you can’t take any time off.
The Hoosiers are led in scoring by Mackenzie Mgbako who averages 18.8 points. Myles Rice adds 14.8 points per game and has scored 42 points in the last two game and averages 4.5 assists per game. Malik Reneau is averaging 13.5 points and a team leading 1.8 steals per game. Oumar Ballo is averaging 12 points and a team leading 9.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. Freshman Bryson.Tucker scored a career high 14 points off the bench against UNC Greensboro and led the second half effort to put away the Spartans. Trey Galloway is averaging a team leading 5.2 assists per game. Indiana is averaging 81.5 points per game and committing 13.3 turnovers per game. The Hoosiers are shooting 51 percent from the field, 35 percent from three point range and 80 percent from the free throw line.
Louisville is 3-1 on the season with wins over Morehead State 93-45, Bellarmine 100-68 and Winthrop 76-61 and a 77-55 lost to Tennessee. Senior Reyne Smith leads the Cardinals with 14.8 points, 6-10 Kasen Pryor will battle with Oumar Ballo inside is averaging 12.8 points and team leading 6.5 rebounds per game. Terrance Edwards Jr averages 12.3 points per game. Chucky Hepburn who played at Wisconsin and no stranger to Hoosier Fans is averaging 10.5 points and leads the team with 4 assists and 3 steals per game. J’Vonne Hadley is averaging 10 points per game and 6-11 James Scott is averaging 8.5 points per game and a team leading 1.8 blocks per game.
The Cardinals average 81 points and commit 12.3 turnovers per game .Louisville is shooting 43 percent from the field, 29 percent from three point range and 72 percent form the free throw line. This will be the 22nd all-time meeting between the two programs as Indiana leads the series 12-9. Indiana beat Louisville 74-66 on November 20, 2023 in the Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Xavier Johnson scored 15 points, 5 Assists and 4 rebounds and Kel’el Ware added 12 points and 7 rebounds to lead the Hoosiers. This will be the seventh meeting at Neutral Site with both teams winning three meetings a piece.
Pat Kelsey is in his first season as the Head Coach of Louisville and has an overall record of 263-123 in 13 seasons overall. Kelsey coached at Winthrop from 2012-21 with a 186-95 record with two NCAA Tournament Appearances in 2017 and 2021 along with 4 Big South Regular Season and 3 Big South Conference Tournament Championships. Kelsey was the 2021 Big South Conference Coach of the Year. Kelsey coached at the College of Charleston from 2021-24 with 75-27 record and back to back NCAA Tournament Appearances in 2023 and 2024 and won the Coastal Athletic Association Regular Season and Conference Tournament both years and was named 2024 Coastal Athletic Association Coach of the Year. Kelsey has 11 of 12 winning seasons in his coaching career
Kelsey is a Cincinnati native and played at Roger Bacon and Elder High Schools and help lead Elder to the 1993 Ohio HS Division 1 State Championship. The 49-year-old played at the University of Wyoming from 1993-94 and Xavier University in 1995-98. Kelsey was an assistant coach at Elder HS from 1998-2001. He was the director of Basketball Operations at Wake Forest from 2001-04 and then an assistant for the Demon Deacons from 2004-09 and associate head coach at Xavier 2009-2011.
Indiana University Baseball Signs a Top 15 Recruiting Class for 2025 Indiana head baseball coach Jeff Mercer put together one of his best recruiting classes to date, stocking up on physical, versatile Midwest talent. Highlighted by the addition of some nationally ranked arms, the Hoosiers added 13 players on National Signing Day (Nov. 15). IU signed a trip of top 200 ranked prep pitchers, led by Blane Metz of Floyd Central High School (Floyd Knobs, Ind.). Metz is the No. 47 overall prospect in the class and the No. 9 right-handed pitcher by Perfect Game. He is the highest ranked pitcher to sign with the Hoosiers since at least 2009. He’s one of four top 100 national recruits that Mercer has signed during his time in Bloomington: Andrew Wiggins (No. 37 – 2023), Colson Montgomery (No. 39 – 2021), Devin Taylor (No. 78 – 2022). In total, IU signed 10 prospects in the top 400 of Perfect Game’s national rankings. The Hoosiers’ class clocks in at No. 15 in the Perfect Game team rankings. IU is the northern most team in the rankings and one of two Big Ten program (USC) in the top 20. Mercer and staff will add a handful of non-scholarship players to round out next year’s group.
Elijah Bennett • 6-3 • 1B/LHP • Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral (Canes Midwest National)
No. 313 Overall Prospect by Perfect Game, No. 11 Overall Player in the State of Indiana, 2.77 combined ERA with a 12-3 record over 26 appearances at Cathedral High School, 83 games played at the varsity level in high school (60 hits, 43 RBI, 10 doubles, 5 home runs)
Davian Carrera • 6-3 • 1B/OF • Valparaiso, Ind./Boone Grove (5 Star/Chicago Cubs Scout Team)
No. 393 Overall Prospect by Perfect Game, No. 13 Overall Prospect in State of Indiana, Recorded 96 hits and bats .417 at varsity level for Boone Grove
Compiled 78 runs, 92 RBI, 25 doubles, 5 triples and 7 home runs through junior year of high school, Twin brother – Xavier – also signed with Indiana
Xavier Carrera • 6-3 • RHP • Valparaiso, Ind./Boone Grove (5 Star/Chicago Cubs Scout Team)
No. 169 Overall Prospect by Perfect Game, No. 6 Overall Player – No. 2 Pitcher – in Indiana, didn’t appear in junior season of high school, Been up to 95 mph on the mound during travel ball, All-Tournament team at 2024 WWBA 17U National Championship
Mateo Noto • 5-10 • SS/2B • Brooklyn, N.Y./Poly Prep Country Day (Team Elite Scout)
No. 373 Overall Prospect by Perfect Game, No. 12 Overall Prospect in the state of New York, High school teammates with fellow signee Owen Ten Oever
Alex Barr • 6-3 • LHP • Demotte, Ind./Kankakee Valley (Canes Midwest 18U National)
No. 199 Overall Prospect by Perfect Game, No. 9 Overall Player – No. 2 LHP – in Indiana, topped out at 95 mph at the 2024 Perfect Game WWBA World Championships, collected over 50 hits in high school with 40 RBI, 33 runs and a .325 average, Racked up 116 strikeouts on the mound in first three years of high school
Matthew Fisher • 6-3 • RHP • Newburgh, Ind./Evansville Memorial (Artillery Baseball)
No. 15 Overall Prospect in State of Indiana by Perfect Game, 2023 Perfect Game Underclassmen All-American Team, touched 92 mph at the 2024 Perfect Game 17U National Elite Championship, also plays quarterback for Evansville Memorial High School – threw for over 5,500 yards, Career 1.95 earned run average in high school (9-5, 22 app., 3 CG, 135 strikeouts)
Landen Fry • 6-1 • 3B • Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider (Canes Midwest 18U National)
No. 18 Overall Prospect in Indiana – No. 1 Ranked Third Baseman, 2024 WWBA 17U National Championship All-Tournament Team, Picked up 103 hits, 71 RBI, 23 doubles and four home runs in high school career so far and Three-sport varsity athlete at Snider High School in Fort Wayne (Football, Baseball and Basketball)
Owen Ten Oever • C • Brooklyn, N.Y./Poly Prep Country Day (Team Elite Scout)
No. 323 Overall Prospect by Perfect Game, No. 10 ranked player in State of New York, Played in the 2023 Perfect Game Underclassmen All-American Games
High school teammates with fellow signee Mateo Noto
Cal Gates • 5-11 • OF • Bedford, Ind./Bedford North Lawrence (Canes Midwest 18U National)
No. 20 Overall Prospect in State of Indiana – Perfect Game, Dual-sport athlete in high school (Football, Baseball), Career .374 hitter in his prep career at Bedford North Lawrence, One of five players from Canes Midwest 18U National to sign with Indiana this year
Blane Metz • 6-3 • RHP • Floyds Knobs, Ind./Floyd Central (Canes Midwest 18U National)
No. 47 Overall Prospect in the Class of 25 – the No. 9 Overall RHP, No. 2 Ranked Prospect in the State of Indiana, All-Tournament Team Selection at 2024 Perfect Game WWBA World Championship, “Mature Approach” – Fastball up to 95 mph at Perfect Game World Championship, Highest ranked pitcher to sign with Indiana in Perfect Game Rankings (since at least 2011), Consensus top 50 prospect in the country, Struck out 18 batters in a seven-inning no-hitter for Floyd Central in 2024 and One of the fastest rising players in the entire country
Noah Drake • 6-1 • OF • Newburgh, Ind./Castle (5 Star/Chicago Cubs Scout Team)
No. 363 Overall Prospect by Perfect Game – No. 12 in State of Indiana, All-Tournament Team at 2024 Perfect Game WWBA World Championship, Played for Chicago Cubs Scout Team with multiple of his fellow IU signees
Kellan English • 6-9 • RHP • Evansville, Ind./Evansville North (5 Star/Chicago Cubs Scout Team)
No. 27 Overall Prospect in State of Indiana, Native of Evansville, Ind. – high school teammate of freshman Cole Decker, The tallest player in the signing class (6’9″), Also, a member of the Chicago Cubs Scout Team (D. Carrera, X. Carrera, Drake)
Owen Shinada • 6-0 • RHP • Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg (FTP Phillies National 2025)
No. 12 Overall Prospect in Ohio, No. 5 RHP in State of Ohio, Prep Baseball’s “Most Projectable Arm” in Ohio
Indiana University Field Hockey Senior Sydney Keld Named to the NFHCA’s Senior Team Indiana’s Sydney Keld was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association’s Senior Team. Keld was one of 38 seniors across the country recognized. She was also one of only six seniors from the NFHCA’s West Region to receive the honor. She had four goals this season and was the team’s defensive anchor along with serving as a team captain. In her final game for the Hoosiers, Keld scored the game-tying goal with 90 seconds left in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament against Michigan to send the contest to overtime. Keld has been with Indiana since 2020 and has played in 77 career games with 13 goals, 10 assists and 20 defensive saves.
Indiana Pacers handle The New Orleans Pelicans for back-to-back wins at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Tyrese Haliburton finished with 34 points and 13 assists and made a season best nine 3-pointers on Monday night, leading the Indiana Pacers past the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans 114-100. Haliburton’s tiebreaking 3 with 3:06 to go and Bennedict Mathurin’s alley-oop dunk off Haliburton’s pass with a minute left finally secured the win. Myles Turner added 17 points, including seven straight during a fourth-quarter flurry that swung the momentum back to the Pacers. Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 24 points, matching his season high. CJ McCollum added 23 points in his first action in nearly a month, and Elfrid Payton dished out a career high 21 assists — the most in an NBA game this season. The Pelicans have lost five straight, this one with WNBA star Caitlin Clark watching inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse to the delight of some girls dressed in Clark’s Indiana Fever and Iowa jerseys. New Orleans had four projected opening day starters sitting out because of injuries (Brandon Ingram, Herbert Jones, Dejounte Murray and Zion Williamson), it’s hard to read much into Monday’s result. McCollum’s return could be a promising sign. With the score tied at 104, Tyrese Haliburton knocked down a 3, followed with a layup and then fed Mathurin for the dunk that brought the crowd to its feet. The Pelicans didn’t recover from that flurry. Haliburton has scored 73 points in his last three games, his top scoring output over a three-game stretch this season. His previous high was 58. New Orleans returns home to host the Toronto Raptors while the Pacers host the Portland Trail Blazers tonight.
Taylor University Men’s Basketball’s Anton Webb Collects Third Crossroads League Defensive Player-of-the-Week Award of the Season The Crossroads League announced its weekly awards, with Anton Webb taking home Crossroads League Defensive Player-of-the-Week Honors for a third time this season. Webb grabbed 17 defensive rebounds as Crossroads League action began this week. The standout senior added 3.0 steals and a block per game to his impressive defensive stat line. Even more impressive was holding his main defensive assignments to just 16 points on 15 shots through two games on 33.3 percent shooting from the field.
The Dayton, Ohio native helped lead Taylor to an 87-79 comeback victory over Mount Vernon Nazarene over the weekend. Webb’s second half included six rebounds, four steals, and a block while adding five points and three assists on the offensive end. Webb was outstanding on the offensive end as well, scoring 17 points per game and dishing out 2.5 assists while shooting 62.5 percent from the field. Taylor has earned 27 league athletes of the week awards in 2024-25, with men’s basketball accounting for three. The Trojans are back inside Odle Arena to face Ohio Christian (5-2) for a Thanksgiving Eve matchup tonight with tip-off set for 7:00 pm. Admission to the game is free for everyone attending.
Former Indiana University Head Football Coach Kevin Wilson Dismissed as the University of Tulsa Head Football Coach Tulsa fired football coach Kevin Wilson after he fell to 7-16 in his two seasons at the school following a 63-30 loss at USF on Saturday. Wilson’s team lost nine games by more than 30 points over two seasons. Sources said that the decision came down to results and culture, as a new administration did not foresee an environment that could easily change. Athletic director Justin Moore hinted at that in announcing Wilson’s dismissal. “With the rapidly evolving landscape of college athletics, we know the importance of positioning our football program and athletic department to thrive and excel in the upcoming years,” Moore said in a statement. “Our standard will be to play in bowl games every season, compete for conference titles, and build a program that everyone connected to the Golden Hurricane will be proud of. Our national search for a new head coach begins today.”
Wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Ryan Switzer will serve as the interim coach. Switzer was a two-time All-American at North Carolina and played three seasons in the NFL. The Golden Hurricane (3-8, 1-6 American Athletic Conference) close the season Saturday against FAU. Wilson’s firing marks the sixth job to open in the AAC along with those at Charlotte, Rice, Temple and East Carolina and FAU. Tulsa, Charlotte and FAU fired their coaches before the finish of their second seasons, a sign that the expected length of coaching tenures in the Group of 5 is shortening. Wilson also served as Indiana’s head coach from 2011 to 2016, during which he went 26-47 with two bowl appearances.