Indiana University Men’s Basketball heads to Rutgers looking to end a four-game losing streak The Indiana Hoosiers look to end their four-game losing streak when they face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights this evening at 6 PM at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey with the game televised on Fox Sports 1. The Teams have split the all-time series 9-9 Indiana is 12-7 overall and 3-5 in the Big Ten and have lost four in a row and the last three by double-digits. The Hoosiers lost 86-72 at Michigan Tuesday Night and the Hoosiers host Purdue on Tuesday and then travel to Los Angeles for two games against UCLA and USC so the schedule does not do the Hoosiers any favors. The Hoosiers are averaging 81.1 points, 17.4 assists and 10.7 turnovers per game. The Hoosiers are shooting 47% from the field, 35% from the three-point range and 78% from the free throw line.
Indiana has struggled in the last four games not hitting shots, being out rebounded and committing too many turnovers. Tayton Conerway had an ankle issue against Michigan and played just two minutes with no points. Leading Scorer Lamar Wilkerson was held to 8 points and 9 against Iowa scoring 17 points in the last two games and averages 19 points a game. It’s the third time this season the Senior has not scored in double digits, scoring 9 points in November against Incarnate Word. If Conerway is limited or unable to play this evening. The Hoosiers lose their third leading scorer averaging 11.5 points and leading the team with 4.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Tucker DeVries is averaging 14.2 along with a team leading 4.7 rebounds per game. Reed Bailey is averaging 9.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Sam Alexis leads the team with 0.9 blocks while averaging 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
Rutgers is 9-10 and 2-6 in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights have lost two in a row at Wisconsin 96-87 and at Iowa 68-62. Rutgers beat Northwestern 77-75 after getting blown out at Illinois 81-55 as they have dropped three of their last four games. The Scarlet Knights average 70.3 points, 10.9 assists and 11.2 turnovers per game. Rutgers is shooting 41% from the field, 32% from three-point range and 72% from the free throw line. Tariq Francis is averaging 15.3 points per game to lead Rutgers in scoring. Dylan Grant averages 11.5 points per game. Jamichael Davis leads the team with 2.6 assists and 1 steal per game while averaging 7.5 points. Emmanuel Ogoble is leading the team with 6.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while averaging 4.9 points. One name Hoosier fans will remember is Freshman Harun Znro who was signed to the Hoosiers for then Head Coach Mike Woodson but once Woodson was dismissed, he was granted his release and went to Rutgers. Znro is averaging 6.5 points and 1.4 rebounds averaging 17.2 minutes in all 19 games this season.
Rutgers has a 15-player roster that represents Tennessee, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio, California, Nevada, Washington, New York, Washington DC, Romania, Senegal, Canada, Nigeria and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Rutgers has 1 Senior, 4 Juniors, 3 Sophomores and 7 Freshman for Head Coach Steve Pikell. This is a game that both teams need to win. For Indiana snap a four-game losing streak and prove that you can win on the road as the Hoosiers have one conference road win at Maryland. Indiana needs to get off to a better start and play a full 40 minutes instead of starting off slowly and must work the entire game to catch up. Rutgers have lost two Big Ten games at Home this season to Ohio State and Purdue. Jersey Mikes Arena is a tough place to play with just 8,000 seats and Hoosiers are 3-5 there and have not won there since February 5, 2018, 65-43 losing the last five meetings after winning the first three since the Scarlet Knights joined the Big Ten in 2014.
#12 Ohio State’s Third quarter run to much for Indiana University Women’s Basketball The Indiana Hoosiers led 42-32 at halftime but the #12 Ohio State Buckeyes outscored the Hoosiers 49-25 in the second half to beat the Hoosiers 81-67 Thursday Night at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State improves to 18-2 overall and 7-1 in the Big Ten. Indiana drops to 11-9 overall and 0-8 in the Big Ten and will travel to West Lafayette, Indiana on Sunday to face their archrivals the Purdue Boilermakers at Noon. The Hoosiers lost seven in a row and after a good first half the third quarter proved to be their kryptonite. Ohio State scored 27 in the third quarter and the Hoosiers scored 13 and that run by Ohio State just what they needed coming out of the locker room after halftime for their 5th win of the season trailing at halftime.
Ohio State placed six in double figures led by Jaloni Cambridge with 22 points, Kennedy Cambridge and Chance Gray scored 13 points apiece. Ava Waston added 12 points, Bryn Martin scored 11 off the bench and Elsa Lemmila added 10 points as the Ohio State starting five scored 70 of the 81 points. Ella Hobbs and T’yana Todd played but did not score. Ohio State finished 31-64 from the field for 64%, 7-18 from three-point range for 39% and 12-17 from the free throw line for 71%. The Buckeyes had 21 rebounds, 12 assists, 16 steals, 2 blocks and 7 turnovers.
Indiana placed three in double figures with 20 points from Lenee Beaumont and 19 points from Shay Ciezki. Zania Socka-Nugemen added 11 points and 10 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season. Maya Makalusky added 8 points, Neveah Caffey scored four points, Jerni Kiaku added 5 points off the bench. Phoenix Stotjin and Edessa Noyan played but did not score. Indiana finished 22-39 from the field for 56%, 11-17 from three-point range for 65% and 12-13 from the free throw line for 92%. The Hoosiers had 30 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals, 1 block and 26 turnovers. The Hoosiers came out red hot in the first quarter, leading 21-17 after the first ten minutes. Indiana was 8-14 from the field and 5-8 from three-point range. The Hoosiers continued in the second quarter as they outscored the Buckeyes 21-15 and led 42-32 at halftime as Beaumont and Ciezki combined for 30 of the 42 Hoosier points in the first half.
Ohio State came out in a full court press and made the Hoosiers turn the ball over a bunch and used a 27-13 run in the quarter to lead 59-55 going into the final ten minutes. The Buckeyes outscored the Hoosiers 22-12 in the fourth quarter as Jaloni Cambridge scored 13 of her 22 points in the second half and Buckeyes pull out the win and lead the all-time series 62-27. Indiana did the same thing against a ranked Iowa team in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. It had a strong first half leading by double digits and a bad third quarter doomed the Hoosiers as Iowa completed the comeback and escaped the win. Indiana has nine more conference games left and they are sitting at the bottom of the Big Ten and the bottom three in the standings will not make the Big Ten Tournament and that does not sit well with Teri Moren as Indiana has never missed a Big Ten Tournament and doesn’t want to start now but they have to put wins together before it is too late.
Curt Cignetti Wins the “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award The recognition keeps rolling in for IU football head coach Curt Cignetti, who won the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year award on Wednesday. Cignetti helped lead the Hoosiers to their first national championship in program history, defeating Miami, 27-21, on Monday. IU went undefeated with a 16-0 record this season. Cignetti and the Hoosiers won the Rose Bowl for the first time in program history, which was also the program’s first bowl win since 1991. IU beat Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, winning the Big Ten title for the first time since 1967. The Hoosiers have set the program record for wins in a single season in both years of Cignetti’s tenure in Bloomington. Below is the Official News Release.
“HOUSTON, January 21, 2026 — Curt Cignetti, head coach at Indiana University, was named national college football Coach of the Year at the American Heart Association’s Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant Awards, presented by Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System. The 40th annual awards program benefits the American Heart Association, devoted to changing the future to a world of healthier lives for all.
“‘We are honored to recognize coach Cignetti with this year’s Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant Coach of the Year Award,’ said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. ‘This award upholds coach Bryant’s legacy by celebrating exceptional leadership and excellence. The American Heart Association’s work with the Bryant family strengthens our mission so everyone, everywhere can live a long and healthy life. Congratulations to this year’s finalists who lead with purpose.’
“In his second season at Indiana, Cignetti capped one of the most dramatic program turnarounds in the history of college football culminating with the program’s first national title. Indiana finished the 2025 season with a perfect 16-0 record, led by the play of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who was named Most Outstanding Player in the Hoosiers’ national championship victory over Miami.
“‘This is a tremendous award and honor,’ said Cignetti. ‘This is a team award and I’d like to thank our seniors who were outstanding in their leadership this year. All successful organizations are about having the right people and we have the right people from top to bottom. I’m honored to continue the legacy of coach Bryant and support the life-saving work of the American Heart Association.’
“Presented in Houston, the Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant Coach of the Year Award annually recognizes the country’s top college football coach for their positive contributions both on and off the field, as well as efforts to make the sport better for athletes and fans alike by demonstrating grit, integrity and a winning approach to coaching and life. The Coach of the Year award is voted on by the National Sports Media Association, current NCAA College football coaches, former Coach of the Year Award winners, the Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant Awards’ Executive Leadership Team and the Bryant family. This award is the only college football coaching honor given after the National Champion has been determined.
“In 1983, football coaching legend, Paul “Bear” Bryant died from a heart attack. Moved to amplify and drive education surrounding heart disease after his passing, the Bryant family teamed up with the American Heart Association in 1986, building on the Association’s Coach of the Year Award to create the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards program. Each year since then, the awards have celebrated “Bear’s” legacy by recognizing coaching excellence while raising critical funds for research to eradicate cardiovascular disease.
“‘The legacy of Coach Bryant and the lifesaving mission of the American Heart Association are deeply connected,’ said Rodney Reed, American Heart Association volunteer and 2026 Bryant Awards Chair. ‘Coach Cignetti exemplifies the excellence, leadership and character this award represents. We are proud to recognize his outstanding achievements this season and grateful to all of our finalists for the impact they continue to make, both on the field and in their communities.’
“As previously announced, Phillip Fulmer, the legendary former head coach of the University of Tennessee and the late Mike Leach, innovator of the Air Raid offense and former head coach at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State universities, will also be recognized with special awards at this year’s gala event. Coach Fulmer will receive the 2026 Paul “Bear” Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award, and the late coach Leach will be honored posthumously with the 2026 Paul “Bear” Bryant Heart of a Champion Award presented by St. Luke’s Health, one of the largest health systems in Greater Houston.
“Fans were able to participate in the awards with the sixth annual Coach of the Year Fan Vote, sponsored by Accenture. Starting in August 2025, fans cast votes for their favorite coach online at bryantawards.org/fan-vote. Thanks to the unwavering support of his supporters, Bob Chesney of James Madison University repeated as the winner of the Fan Vote. “The Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant Coach of the Year Award ceremony presented by Memorial Hermann Health System will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network at 12:30 a.m. CST and 9:30 a.m. CST on January 22nd.”
ESPN College Football Analyst Paul Finebaum Issues Apology for his Awful Takes on Indiana University Football Even after Curt Cignetti led Indiana to a No. 2 national ranking following a 10-point win at No. 3 Oregon, ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum remained in denial. Only to Finebaum and perhaps a few other SEC homers was a hefty contract extension not worth it for a coach who was off to a 17-2 start at the losingest program in college football history.
Did Indiana make the right move with Cignetti? Stephen A. Smith asked Finebaum back in October. “They did not,” Finebaum answered. “And before anyone jumps out of their chair, allow me to explain. I think everyone on this panel agrees that he’s done a phenomenal job. But Stephen A., this is how programs get in trouble. They just gave him an extension, and a contract raise at the end of last season. We are barely at the midway point, let it play out before you completely send the Brinks truck up.”
“… Curt Cignetti is one of the top coaches in America. He has coached brilliantly this year, but can’t you let it play out a little bit? He has one big win, maybe one and a half, including the win a couple weeks ago over Illinois. And by the way, because Indiana is going to be in the playoffs, there is no way he could leave any time before December or January. A couple years ago, remember, Mel Tucker at Michigan State, they gave him a $100 million deal, and he went out and lost to Ohio State and completely imploded after that. James Franklin, same thing. Jimbo Fisher, same thing. All I’m saying is take a deep breath Indiana. Let the season play out a little bit before you mortgage a guaranteed $93 million contract that you may have to figure out a way to pay for down the road.”
That’s just one example of Finebaum’s constant doubt of the Hoosiers throughout the season. And from then on, Cignetti and the Hoosiers continued to make him eat his words. They rattled off wins over No. 1 Ohio State, No. 9 Alabama, No. 5 Oregon and No. 10 Miami on their way to winning the program’s first national championship and establishing themselves as one of the best teams in history at 16-0. And finally, when Finebaum had no other way to spin Indiana’s success, he apologized. “There could be debate on whether Indiana had the best season in college football history, but there can be no debate, it is the greatest story in the history of the game. And what made it even more amazing is how people misunderstood what Curt Cignetti was doing in Bloomington,” Finebaum said.
“Let me assure you, nobody was more incorrect in understanding that process than me. Almost everything I said throughout the season about him and about Indiana was wrong, and it was an epic failure on my part. There was no question Indiana was the best team, and yes, the Big Ten is the best conference in the country. We congratulate coach Cignetti, Indiana and the Big Ten for an extraordinary run.”
2026 Indiana Fever Regular Season Schedule Announced The Indiana Fever’s 2026 schedule was released on Wednesday. The Fever will tip off their season at home against the Dallas Wings on Saturday, May 9 at 1 p.m. The matchup is set to feature the last four No. 1 overall picks, with Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark of the Fever facing off against Paige Bueckers and the player the Wings will select with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft. The Fever will only play one game at home against the Chicago Sky, with that matchup scheduled for Thursday, June 11. The road games against the Sky are scheduled for Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 23. The first WNBA semifinals rematch with the 2025 WNBA champions, the Las Vegas Aces, is scheduled for Sunday, July 5 on the road. The lone home game against the Aces is on Thursday, August 6. The final game of the season for the Fever will be on the road against the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday, September 24.
The 2026 season will be the first year for the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo. The Fever will play the Fire for the first time at home on Wednesday, May 20. The first matchup with the Tempo will be at home on Tuesday, June 18. The Fever will play the Atlanta Dream, who it beat in the WNBA Playoffs in 2025, for the first time on Thursday, June 4 at home. Select tickets were released on Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m.
The NFL Scouting Combine will remain In Indianapolis through 2028 The NFL Scouting Combine is staying in Indianapolis. Indianapolis tourism leaders confirmed the information late Wednesday afternoon. Indy was granted a two-year extension to keep the event in the Circle City through 2028. Indy has been the home of the major NFL event since 1987. The NFL Scouting Combine will continue to be held at Lucas Oil Stadium. The four-day, invitation-only event allows NFL scouts, coaches and general managers to evaluate that year’s top draft-eligible college players. The NFL Scouting Combine brings an estimated economic impact of $10 million to Indianapolis.
The Scouting Combine has included a free fan festival, the NFL Combine Experience, in the past. The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine had fan attractions like the 40-yard dash, a bench press photo opportunity, and the vertical jump. Plus, all 59 Super Bowl rings were on display, as well as the Vince Lombardi Trophy. In 2025, more than 30,000 fans attended the NFL Combine Experience. Players meet with team officials throughout the week. Some of the drills that players perform at the combine are the 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, 20-yard shuttle, and the 3-cone drill. Players also perform in position-specific drills, like passing for quarterbacks and route running for wide receivers. More than 300 prospects competed at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2025. This year’s NFL Scouting Combine will take place in Indianapolis from Feb. 23-March 2.
Indianapolis Gears up for the 2026 NCAA Basketball Men’s Final Four with Fan Events Indianapolis is getting ready to welcome college basketball fans from around the world for the men’s basketball Final Four. On Wednesday, the NCAA and the Indiana Sports Corp unveiled a schedule of fan events tied to the 2026 Men’s Final Four, which events running from April 3-6. The free and low-cost fan events include Fan Fest at the Indiana Convention Center, the March Madness Music Festival, Final Four Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Final Four Dribble for kids, and the Tip-Off Tailgate on Georgia Street. Indianapolis will host the men’s basketball Final Four for the ninth time, and the Circle City already holds the record for hosting the most March Madness games in NCAA history. Dan Gavitt, senior vice president of basketball at the NCAA, said at a news conference unveiling plans so far, said, “It’s going to just be incredible for the city of Indianapolis, the state of Indiana, to be that historic place where it takes place for the first time and to have basketball fans at every level in the game to be able to experience it in the greatest basketball city in the entire country is really special.”
“It’s such a great community for college basketball and basketball overall. Having Hinkle Fieldhouse, Gainbridge Fieldhouse and Lucas Oil host these games is just historic and will be very special for Hoosier fans everywhere.” This year, Indianapolis will make NCAA history: 12 teams, eight games, three venues and four champions crowned in just a few days. Also, it will be the first time NCAA champions in divisions I, II ,III and the National Invitation Tournament will all be decided in a single host city. Patrick Talty, president of Indiana Sports Corp, said at the news conference, “It’s the celebration of college basketball, but it’s about coming together with people and fans and feeling that energy. Downtown will just be electric and that’s what’s going to be exciting. If you don’t have a ticket to the game? That’s OK, come down and experience all that’s going to be in downtown Indianapolis.”
Indianapolis leaders, the NCAA and Indiana Sports Corp gathered at Christian Park on Indy’s near east side, home to the NCAA’s Final Four Legacy Project, for the news conference. By early spring the park’s community center will feature a newly renovated basketball court, part of a long-term investment aimed at creating lasting community impact. Brittany Crone, director of Indy Parks, said, “Now to have the opportunity to offer additional services and multiple sports like not just basketball but pickleball, and soccer, futsal and many other opportunities, it’s so impactful. Indy Park’s our hub for community connection. We’re directly tied to quality of life. We are always ready and able to serve, so we’re excited to be able to now offer that in greater detail.”