Iowa’s Perfect Second Half Free Throw Shooting Leads to a 17-Point win over Indiana University Men’s Basketball The Iowa Hawkeyes snapped a three-game losing streak taking down the Indiana Hoosiers 74-57 Saturday Afternoon at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Iowa improves to 13-5 overall and 3-4 in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes get their first road win of the year in the Big Ten and will host Rutgers on Tuesday Night at 8:30 PM. Indiana drops to 12-6 overall and 3-4 in the Big Ten as Hoosiers are on a three-game losing streak. Indiana travels to Michigan on Tuesday Night and remains on the road Friday at Rutgers. The game was tied one time at 2-2 a minute and six seconds into the game and Iowa never trailed. The Hawkeyes led 38-28 at halftime and outscored the Hoosiers 36-29 in the second half. This is the fourth game this season the Hoosiers have scored less than 65 points and have lost all four games as the Hawkeyes hold the Hoosiers a season low 57 points.
Bennett Stirtz led Iowa with 27 points as Transfer from Drake went 7-13 from the field, 5-11 from three-point range and 10-11 from the free throw line and added 5 assists and 3 rebounds. No matter who was 6-4 guard from Liberty, Missouri he was able to do what he wanted knocking down tough shots and getting himself to free throw line making the Hoosiers pay. Tavion Banks added 26 points, going 8-12 from the field, 1-2 from three-point range and 9-9 from the free throw line. Sage Tate scored 7 points, Cam Manyawu added 6 points, Kael Combs scored 5 points, and Isaiah Howard added 3 points. Iowa finished 23-46 from the field for 50%, 7-19 from three-point range for 36% and 21-23 from the free throw line for 93%. Iowa pulled down 28 rebounds, dished out 15 assists, 3 blocks, 1 steal and 8 turnovers. Iowa had 28 points in the paint, 17 points off turnovers and 10 bench points.
Tayton Conerway led Indiana with 16 points and with 10:49 left in the game he was down on the floor grabbing his ankle and hopped on one leg to bench and returned with 8:59 left in the game and did not score after he returned. Sam Alexis scored 13 points and pulled down 8 rebounds. Lamar Wilkerson added 9 points, Tucker DeVries added 7 points, Reed Bailey scored 4 points, Conor Enright and Nick Dorn scored 3 points each and Trent Sisley added 2 points. Indiana finished 20-52 from the field for 38%, 6-24 from three-point range for 25% and 11-15 from the field for 73%. The Hoosiers pulled down 27 rebounds, dished out 9 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks and 9 turnovers. Indiana had 28 points in the paint, 9 bench points and 6 points off turnovers. Conerway had 10 points in the first half as the Hoosiers were 12-30 from the field for 40%, 4-13 from three-point range for 30% and 0-2 from the free throw line. Indiana had 13 Rebounds, 5 Assists, 2 Steals, 1 Block, 4 Turnovers 16 Points in the Paint in the first half.
Iowa set the tone early with hard screens that the Hoosiers, especially Conor Enright, had to fight through. Bennett Stirz scored the first basket of the game and matched the 27 points he had against UCLA on January 3, in a 74-61 win over the Bruins. The Hawkeyes were 13-24 from the field for 54% 5-10 from three-point range for 50% and 7-9 from the free throw line for 77%. Iowa pulled down 17 Rebounds, 8 Assists, 3 Blocks, 1 Steal, 6 Turnovers and 14 Points in the Paint in the first half. Iowa has won two in a row against the Hoosiers three of the last four meetings in the series that Indiana leads 107-84 and 62-32 all-time in Bloomington. Indiana had a few scoreless droughts in the game that were hard to overcome. Iowa was 14-14 from the free throw line in the second half as Stritz and Banks were a combined 12-12 and Sage added the other two free throws. The Hoosiers are in a tough spot losing three straight one giving up a 16-point lead in the second half to Nebraska and followed by blowout losses to Michigan State and Iowa by a combined 38 points.
Indiana has been using an eight-player rotation for most of the season Head Coach Darian DeVries was questioned after the game if fatigue is setting in during this tough stretch of the season. “It’s been pretty similar, and we’ve got to figure out a way to get a little more rest probably for those guys. As we get into the middle of the second half, there’s 10, 12 minutes to go — and it’s been consistent the last three games, we look fatigued. That’s where some of that may be sloppiness and the turnovers, and that’s where you start to see some of that showing up.” DeVries defended the fatigue factor that is not just its team is across the board in College Basketball. “For us, other guys play 35 minutes too on other teams. I’m not giving our guys that are playing heavy minutes there’s some fight through fatigue that has to happen as well, and that’s something we’ve got to be able to do.”
Indiana must figure it out with 13 more conference games left if they want to make a run towards the Big Ten Tournament and they have now lost two in a row home which is an issue. “I just don’t think we found a rhythm early on like we needed to. I know we needed to get our 3-pointers some better shot attempts because shooting the ones off the screen are a little tough. Just got to get back to the drawing board and figure it out” Tayton Conerway said after the game. Sam Alexis is not concerned with the Hoosiers losing streak now. “I think we’re still going to go out there and play hard every game. It’s early. We’ve still got, what, 13 more games left. I feel like we’re going to pick it back up. So, we’re going to be good” Alexis Said after the game.
Curt Cignetti has No Interest in Coaching in the National Football League IU football coach Curt Cignetti has been tied to virtually every major college and pro football job opening over the last year. And the two jobs many believed he might be interested in have opened up in the last few months. A native of Pennsylvania, Cignetti likely could have had the Penn State job when James Franklin was fired earlier this year. But Indiana moved quickly and re-signed Cignetti to a new contract that ensures he and his assistants will remain among the highest paid staff in college football. But what about the NFL? If there’s one job that might cause some sleepless nights for IU fans, it would be Cignetti’s hometown Pittsburgh Steelers.
Indiana has even modeled some aspects of the Cignetti orchestrated turnaround of the football program after the Steelers, including the now wildly popular towels the fans swirl during games. Long-time Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stepped down earlier this week creating the opening in Pittsburgh at a time when Cignetti is at the height of his attractiveness as a candidate. He was asked Saturday in Miami about his interest in becoming a head coach at the professional level. “I’m not an NFL guy. I made that decision a long time ago. I’ve always been a college football guy,” Cignetti said Saturday in Miami. That’s a big relief for Indiana fans. But it shouldn’t be a major surprise. Cignetti’s father was a college football coach, and he has spent his entire life around the college game. Cignetti also saw legendary college coach Nick Saban struggle at the NFL level, and Cignetti has modeled a meaningful part of his coaching style after Saban. Cignetti leads No. 1 Indiana (15-0) against No. 10 Miami (13-2) Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET in Miami Gardens, Fla. (ESPN).
All Five Bloomington South Girls Wrestlers Fall in the Opening Round of the State Finals It was quick trip to the Corteva Coliseum in Indianapolis for the five Bloomington South Girls Wrestlers who competed in the second annual State Finals on Friday. All five Panthers fell in their opening round matches in their respective weight classes. Senior Mariah Pope Lost to Sophomore Meagan Thomas of Merrillville who improved to 31-5 by Technical Fall 20-4 with 3:10 left in the Second Period in the opening round of the 100-pound weight class. Thomas led 11-2 after the first period while Pope made her second consecutive State Finals appearance ends her season with a 16-9 record. Junior Joslyn Hererra Lost to Senior Dominka Zarate of Mount Vernon Fortville in the opening round of the 105-pound weight class with a reversal and a pin with in 3:31 into the second period as Hererra led 8-3 after the first period and ends her season at 28-9 and Zarate improved to 26-5. Senior Lila Pierce was pinned by Junior Kennedy Stephens of Highland in two minutes and ten seconds in the opening round of the 120-pound weight class. Stephens improved to 32-8 while Pierce ends the season with a 26-13 record.
Freshman Samiya Love was pinned by Senior Claira Gramlin of Lebanon in one minute and four seconds in the Opening Round of the 190 Pound weight class. Gramlin improved to 24-4 and Love ends her season with a 27-11 record. Senior Jaclyn Hillenburg was pinned Sophomore Rachael Adolphe of North Central (Indianapolis) in one minute and twenty seconds in the opening round at 235 pounds. Adolphe improved to 23-1 while Hillenburg ends the season with a 31-8 record. Whiteland won the State Championship with 99.5 points for their first state championship in any sport and Crown Point finished second with 78.5 points and defending State Champion Columbus East finished fourth with 63 points. Whiteland and Indian Creek had two individual State Champions while Cathedral, Hobart, Crown Point, NorthWood, Pendelton Heights, Merrillville, Highland, Coumbus East, Harrison (West Lafayette) and Attica had one individual state champion. Aleksandra Bastaic who won the State Title at 155 pounds was named the Mental Attitude Award Winner. Bastaic finished the year with a 41-0 record and became the sixth four-time champion in state history.
University Of Miami Defensive Coordinator is a Former Assistant Coach When Curt Cignetti was at James Madison There will be a lot of inside knowledge for both sides when Indiana has the football during Monday night’s national championship game. Miami defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman was IU coach Curt Cignetti’s defensive coordinator his first three years at James Madison, from 2019 to 2021. And Hetherman played a key role in Cignetti’s success at JMU. During the 2021 season with the Dukes, Hetherman was named the American Football Coaches Association’s FCS Assistant Coach of the Year. The Dukes were in the national top-10 for total defense in each of Hetherman’s seasons with Cignetti in Harrisonburg. Working under Hetherman all three years at JMU was current IU defensive coordinator Bryant Haines, who carried a co-defensive coordinator title at the time. And working against Hetherman’s defense were Cignetti and current IU offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan, who was promoted to the OC role at JMU in 2021. The defense is the strength of this year’s Miami team.
The Hurricanes rank No. 5 in scoring defense (14.0 points allowed per game), No. 6 in rushing defense (86.5 yards per game), No. 1 in sacks (47), and No. 7 in tackles for loss (96). That resume probably sounds familiar, right? It’s the Cignetti blueprint for defense. Hetherman left then FCS JMU to take a linebackers coach position at Rutgers for two years, was the Minnesota defensive coordinator for a year in 2024, and this is his first season at Miami. But Cignetti sees the carryover from their time together at James Madison. “Philosophically, you know, in terms of what we think is important, him and I, that hasn’t changed,” Cignetti said. “He’s going to create havoc up front, stop the run, TFLs, sacks. They got 47 sacks on the year.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Corey. He did a tremendous job. I hated to see him go. I hold him in very high regard. He’s one of the best football coaches I’ve ever been around. His day-in-and-day-out intensity and his commitment to the game is unparalleled.” So who will have the advantage on Monday night? Cignetti and Shanahan because they know Hetherman’s defense? Hetherman because he knows their offense? “I think we’ve evolved offensively,” Cignetti said. “He was my defensive coordinator the first three years at JMU. We’ve evolved offensively. Terminology has changed. We do things differently. But his scheme has, too.
“He’s going to attack. The way he goes about it is a little different than the way he went about it at JMU. But the way we go about it offensively is a little different, too. “In terms of the schematics — you know, man, zone, the kind of blitzes, the fronts — we’ve changed a little bit. And I’ve seen Corey change based on what I’m seeing on tape.” Haines took over at DC at JMU in 2022 when Hetherman left. He helped guide the Dukes through their transition to the FBS. And there was no decline in the defensive dominance Indiana fans have to know. This year it’s Haines who is up for the Broyles Award for the assistant coach of the year. “I was fortunate to have Bryant Haines on my staff who was ready to step into that role,” Cignetti said. “And they’re a little different because they’re different people. And Bryant likes to do a lot of the different things, but we do them well. “But the philosophy is still the same in terms of, it all starts up front. Statistically, since Bryant’s taken over, it’s about like it was when Corey was the coordinator. We’re always in the top five in total defense, one or two against the run, very high in TFLs and sacks.”
The Indianapolis Colts will move Training Camp Away from Westfield’s Grand Park Starting in 2027 2026 will be the Colts final season holding training camp at Grand Park. Starting in 2027, training camp will be held at the Colts facility, the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. The Colts released the following statement regarding the decision:
“This also means 2026 Training Camp will be our final at Grand Park, so we look forward to incorporating many special moments to celebrate and commemorate the memories we’ve made during our Westfield era. “The Indianapolis Colts will be moving Colts Training Camp to the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center in Indianapolis beginning in 2027. “We’ve held camp at various offsite locations over the years, but given growing logistical and technological demands, we’ve found that it makes more sense operationally to host camp at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. We’ll now join 26 other NFL teams in holding camp at their home practice facilities. “Even though camp will look a little different in 2027, we’ll still be committed to creating opportunities for fans to attend and be involved. More info will be coming next year, following the 2026 season.
“This was a tough decision, because we’ve had a wonderful experience at Grand Park and have valued working so closely with the city of Westfield and Hamilton County over seven summers. We’re grateful to Mayors Scott Willis and Andy Cook and their staffs; Hamilton County’s business, tourism, public safety and community leaders; and of course, the people of Westfield and the hundreds of volunteers who shared their time and energy to make sure camp was safe, smooth and enjoyable for all. “And we can’t say enough positive things about Grand Park, one of the top sports facilities of its kind anywhere in the world. Their leadership and staff have been professional, thorough and effective throughout our partnership, and we look forward to other opportunities to work together in the future.”
Taylor University Women’s Indoor Track and Field Opens Season at Indiana Tech Invite Taylor opened its indoor track and field schedule on Friday at the Indiana Tech Invite. The Trojans excelled on the women’s side, notching individual wins in three events, despite sending a limited number of athletes to the meet. TU’s best showing came in the mile, where it scored first, second and fifth-place finishes with Sam Patterson leading Catey Campbell across the line with times of 5:22.85 and 5:23.43 and Sarah McKowen following in fifth. Jaynie Halterman secured the best individual showing of the night for the Purple and Gray, posting a winning time of 9:44.88 in the 3,000-meters to hit the NAIA A-standard. Malarie Pinwar, Noel Bass and Marlina Howell finished behind Halterman in third, fourth and fifth.
D’Arjha Davis took home Taylor’s third win of the day, leading the pack in the 200-meters with a time of 26.47. Kiana Siefert finished top-five in the 60-meter hurdles and long jump, ending second with a leap of 5.51 meters in the long jump and taking fifth with a time of 9.11 in the hurdles. Other top performances for Taylor came in the 400-meters with Nicole Braz Domene claiming third, in the 600-meters with Taylor Post and Annabel Parker ending fourth and sixth, and in the 60-meters with Davis taking sixth. Taylor will return to the track on Saturday, January 24, when it hosts the George Glass Invitational starting at 9:30 am.
Taylor Trojans Men’s Indoor and Track and Field Take Four Wins at Season-Opening Invite The Taylor men’s track and field squad opened its indoor campaign at the Indiana Tech Invite on Friday, scoring wins in the mile, 3,000-meters, 4×400-meter relay and pole vault. Taylor dominated the 3,000-meters with the top-five finishers. Nathan Burns led the pack, taking the win with a time of 8:34.85, with Luke Harber, Alex Ortiz, Jordan Burden and Paul Gabrielsen following in second through fifth. Joel Mumaw and Bryce Noble teamed to take first and fourth for TU in the mile, with Mumaw crossing at 4:19.08 and Noble coming in at 4:26.94. Josh Forbes produced TU’s best performance of the day, winning the pole vault and provisionally qualifying for NAIA Nationals with a height of 4.75 meters for the lone qualifying mark of the day for the Purple and Gray. TU’s fourth win came in the 4×400, with the group of Lextin Willis, Orlando Chatwell, Wade Jones and Carter Newman producing a first-place time of 3:38.17. Jones added a fourth-place showing in the 200-meters, finishing at 22.78 to round out TU’s top showings. The Trojans will continue their indoor season on Saturday, January 24, when they host the George Glass Invitational.