Indiana University Men’s Basketball travels to #8 Illinois to kick off a two game Road Swing The Indiana Hoosiers face the #8 Illinois Fighting Illini this afternoon in the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois at 1 PM with the game televised on CBS. Indiana leads the all-time series 96-93 and are 35-55 all time in Champaign. Illinois has won the last two meetings in this series. The Hoosiers are 17-8 overall and 8-6 in the Big Ten. Indiana has won two in a row and five of the last six. Illinois is 20-5 overall and 11-3 in the Big Ten. Illinois has dropped two in a row both in overtime at Michigan State 85-82 and at home to Wisconsin 92-90. The Fighting Illini lost at home to Nebraska 83-80 on December 13 and rattled off 12 straight wins before this two-game losing skid.
The game features two of the top guards in the Big Ten with Indiana Senior Lamar Wilkerson and Illinois Freshman sensation Keaton Wagler in a battle of experience vs youth. Wilkerson is coming off a 41-point game against Oregon at home Last Monday. It’s the second time this season that he has scored 40 plus points after he set the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall scoring record in December with 44 points. The Senior from Ashdown, Arkansas has two of the top four scoring performances of all time in one of the iconic venues in all of College Basketball. Wilkerson is averaging 21.2 points per game and has scored in double figures in 22 of the 25 games this season. Wagler is averaging 18.5 points along with a team leading 4.3 assists 0.8 steals per game. The Shawnee, Kansas Native has put the Big Ten and the Nation on notice with his 44-point performance at Purdue on January 24 in an 88-82 victory against the Boilermakers. Wagler scored 34 points in the home loss to Wisconsin. Wagler has two double doubles this season against Southern and Nebraska with 10 assists in both games.
Tucker DeVries is averaging 13.8 points and a team leading 5.5 rebounds per game. Tayton Conerway is averaging 10.5 points and a team leading 1.3 steals per game. Conerway has missed three games with ankle injury and has been coming off the bench since Nick Dorn has replaced him in the lineup. Conor Enright leads the Hoosiers with 4.8 assists per game, and he has had the defensive assignments on Purdue’s Braden Smith and UCLA’s Tyler Bilodeau and has done a great job of keeping those players in check and now to defend the Freshman Wagler. Enright has dished out 119 assists, 17 steals and 29 turnovers as he returns to his home state as the Mundelein native looks forward to facing the Fighting Illini in Champaign. Sam Alexis is averaging 8 points, 4.7 rebounds and team leading 1.2 blocks per game. Alexis 6-8 will have his hands full with the Ivisic Brothers giving up 6-7 inches height and 15-20 pounds of weight as the Hoosiers battle a physical Fighting Illini team who could be their toughest opponent yet with the size and physicality they pose. Indiana is averaging 81.5 points, 17.6 assists and 10.2 turnovers per game. The Hoosiers shoot 47% from the field, 35% from three-point range and 78% from the free throw line.
Kylan Boswell is averaging 14.3 points for Illinois but has missed 7 games due to hand injury but he is very close to returning for the Illini that gives them another scoring threat. Andrej Stojakovic is averaging 13.7 points; David Mirkovic is averaging 12.6 points and a team leading 8 rebounds per game. Tomislav Ivisic is averaging 10.4 points, and his brother Zvonimir leads the team with 2.3 blocks per game. Illinois is averaging 84.7 points, 14.7 assists and 9.4 turnovers per game. The Fighting Illini shoot 46% from the field, 36 percent from three-point range and 78% from the free throw line. The Ivisic Brothers are a load inside with Zvonimir 7-2 255 LBS and Tomislav at 7-1 245 pounds and will be a major challenge for a Hoosiers team who does not have a true post player and has the strength to matchup up with them inside. Illinois has a 14-player roster that includes two Indiana Natives in Jake Davis who played at Cathedral HS in Indianapolis and Ben Humrichous from Tipton. The rest of the team represents Illinois, Michigan, Kansas, California, Croatia, Puerto Rico, Montenegro and Serbia. There are 3 Seniors, 5 Juniors and 6 Freshman on this years team for Head Coach Brad Underwood.
For Indiana they will have to do what they have done all season to win games. Shoot the ball well especially from outside and get to the free throw line. Indiana can limit their turnovers and get Illinois rattled early in front of their home crowd the Hoosiers have a chance to win in Champaign for the first time since an 80-65 victory on January 19, 2023. For Illinois it’s a chance to break a two-game losing streak. How do the Fighting Illini respond after two tough losses, and do they go inside early with Ivisic Brothers who have a big advantage against the Hoosiers. Will this be another breakout game for Keaton Wagler or will Lamar Wilkerson show the Freshman how it is done. This will be a big test for both teams with the postseason on the horizon and if Indiana wins in Champaign the Hoosiers could be a lock for the NCAA Tournament if they are able to win this game.
Indiana University Women’s Basketball Closes Out its two game West Coast Trip with #2 UCLA The Indiana Hoosiers close out their two-game road trip to Southern California this afternoon at 3 PM Bloomington Time Noon Los Angeles Time in Pauley Pavillon as they go up against the #2 UCLA Bruins with the game streaming on Peacock. The Hoosiers are 14-12 overall and 3-11 in the Big Ten after a 79-73 loss at USC Thursday Night. Leading scorer Shay Ciezki rolled her ankle Thursday morning during the teams shoot around and was not able to play for the first time all season. Ciezki averages 24.1 points and 1.5 steals per game. She is closing in on 1,000 points for her Indiana career and needs 9 points to become the newest member of the 1,000-point club. Her status for today is uncertain but if she is not able to go it will make it even harder for the Hoosiers facing the top team in the Big Ten.
Maya Makalusky scored a career high 29 points against the Trojans. The Freshman has been in the starting lineup since Mid-December averaging 8.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. Indiana had four in double figures against the Trojans and led at halftime but could not close it out down the stretch. Makalusky is starting to find her rhythm on the floor shooting the ball and being aggressive on both ends. Lenee Beaumont is averaging 13.1 points and a team leading 3.1 steals per game. Edessa Noyan is averaging 5.2 points along with a team leading 5.3 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per game. The Hoosiers are averaging 71.6 points, 12.5 assists and 15.7 turnovers per game. Indiana shoots 48% from the field, 38% from the three-point range and 78% from the free throw line.
UCLA is 24-1 overall and 14-0 in the Big Ten. The Bruins have not lost since November 26, 76-65 to Texas in Las Vegas in the Players Era Festival Championship Game. The Bruins have won 18 straight and looking to get back to the final four for the second year in a row and contend for a National Championship. Lauren Betts leads the team with 16.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Lauren Betts came back to UCLA for one final season so she could play with her sister Sienna who is averaging 7.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game in her freshman season.
Kiki Rice is averaging 15.4 points and a team leading 1.7 steals per game. Gabriela Jaquez is averaging 14.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal per game and provides veteran leadership for the Bruins as the floor general. Gianna Kneepkens is a transfer from Utah and scored 24 points in 37 minutes in a first-round loss to the Hoosiers last year in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as #9 Indiana beat #8 Utah 76-68 in Columbia, South Carolina. Kneepkens is averaging 13 points per game. Charlisee Leger-Walker is leading the Bruins with 5.6 assists per game. UCLA is averaging 86 points, 22.5 assists and 13.2 turnovers per game. The Bruins shoot 52% from the field, 38% from three-point range and 78% from the free throw line. The Bruins have 12 player roster that represents California, Colorado, Illinois, Utah, Minnesota, Maryland, Croatia, Sweden and New Zealand. There are 8 Seniors, 1 Sophomore and 3 Freshman on this year’s team for Head Coach Cori Close.
UCLA finished 16-2 in the Big Ten a season ago with both loses to USC. The Bruins won the Big Ten Championship in Indianapolis beating the Trojans 72-67 to win the first Big Ten Title in their first season in the conference. UCLA finished 34-3 last season and lost to defending National Champion UConn 85-51 in the final four in Tampa. This year the Bruins are four games away from an 18-0 Big Ten Regular Season and look to be the # 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament which returns to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis next month. But the goal for the Bruins is to get back to the final four and get revenge after losing to the Huskies a season ago.
For Indiana they will have three regular season games left with two at home against Oregon and Penn State and one on the road at Rutgers. The Hoosiers are sitting in the 15th and final spot for the Big Ten Tournament after home wins over Northwestern and Purdue along with a road win against Wisconsin. The Hoosiers have the bottom two teams left in the Big Ten along with an Oregon team who sits one game below .500 in the Big Ten Standings to close out the regular season. The Hoosiers were on the outside looking in for the Big Ten Tournament and after this tough two game road trip out West the Hoosiers will have the chance to close out the regular season strong a clinch their spot in the Big Ten Tournament just an hour up the road in Indianapolis.
Hadley Laughlin Finishes 5th in the One Meter Event at the IHSAA Girls Swimming and Diving State Finals Bloomington South Sophomore Hadley Laughlin finished in 5th place in the one-meter diving event at the 52nd annual IHSAA Girls Swimming and Diving State Finals Saturday at the Indiana University Natatorium on the Campus of Indiana University-Indianapolis. Laughlin was 10th after the Prelims with a score of 190.45 and 7th after the Semifinals with a score of 302.20. Laughlin won the Sectional and finished second in the regional. New Albany’s Cali Kurer finished in 8th place and Senior Adelyn Fleener of North Central (Indianapolis) won the title with a score of 529.30. Senior Harper Eakin finished 14th in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:07.06 after she finished 14th in the prelims with a time of 5:07.14. The Panthers scored 22 points and ties for 22nd place along with Pike and Greenfield Central.
Carmel scored 326.50 points to win a national record 40th Consecutive State Championship and 41st overall. The Greyhounds started the streak in 1987 and have won 41 of the 52 Girls State Swimming and Diving Championships. Fishers and Carroll (Fort Wayne) tied for second with 227 points. Carmel Senior Molly Sweeney won the 100 Yard Butterfly and the 100 Yard Breaststroke. Sophomore Ellie Clarke won the 200 Yard Individual Medley and the 100 Yard Backstroke, and the Greyhounds won the 200 Yard Medley Relay. Fishers Junior Emily Wolf won the 200 Yard Freestyle, and the 500 Yard Freestyle Carroll (Fort Wayne) Sophomore Maris Williams won the 50 Yard Freestyle, Junior Kate Fetters won the 100 Yard Freestyle and Chargers won the 200-yard freestyle relay and the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay.
Bloomington South Sophomore Nick Russell Punches His Ticket to the IHSAA Boys Wrestling State Finals Bloomington South’s Nick Russell punched his ticket to the IHSAA Boys Wrestling State Finals with a 3rd place finished in the 106-pound weight class on Saturday at the Semi State at the Ford Center in Evansville Hosted by Evansville Reitz. Russell won his first two matches and then lost in the Semifinals and bounced back to in the third-place match as the Sophomore is 31-7 on the season. Russell is the only Monroe County Wrestler to advance as it was a rough day for the remaining contingent that represented Monroe County. Bloomington North’s Ryan Watkins-113 Trae Hopkins-144 and Miguel Tedrow-165 all lost in the opening round bringing the Cougars Season to an end. Edgewood’s John Orman won his opening round match at 126 pounds but lost in the Quarterfinals and misses out on going to State. His teammates Cayleb Stephens-150 and Lincoln Getts-285 lost their opening round matches bringing the Mustangs season to an end.
Bloomington South’s Jaxsen Jean-113, Josiah Santon-120, Brian Conley-138, Amrin Pratt-144 and Wyatt Cooksey-157 all won their opening round match and fell in the Quarterfinals. Jude Pratt-126, Mark Hand-132, Gerardo Hernandez-Ibarra-150, Denny Allgood-176 and Mason Grubb-215 all lost in the opening round. The Panthers finished eighth in the team standings with 38 points. Center Grove won the team title with 210 points followed by Brownsburg with 178 points and Evansville Mater Dei with 124 points. Edgewood tied for 34th with 2 points.
Russell and all the State qualifiers will learn who they face in the opening round of State Finals this afternoon at 4 PM when the IHSAA State Finals Parings show is announced on IHSAAtv.org. State Finals are Friday and Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Russell will take part in the second session Friday at 6 PM when the opening round of the 106 through 144-pound weight classes get underway. The 150 through 285-pound weight classes will start at 3 PM. On Saturday the Quarterfinals and Semifinals will start at 9 AM and then at 4:30 PM the Consolation Matches will get underway and then the State Championship Matches will get underway at 7:30 PM.
Floyd Central Takes Down Bloomington South for the Class 4A Girls Basketball Regional Championship The Floyd Central Highlanders beat the Bloomington South Panthers 48-35 Saturday Afternoon in the Class 4A Girls Basketball Regional Championship at Bedford North Lawrence. The Highlanders improve to 22-3 and win their second regional title in program history after winning in 2010 at BNL. The Highlanders will learn their opponent on Sunday Afternoon when the Pairings are announced for the Semi State at 2 PM on IHSAATV.org. The Semi State is a four team two game format with one class at each site. The four sites in the Southern half of the state are Southport, Greencastle, Jasper and Jennings County.
Bloomington South ends the year at 19-6 and they were looking for back-to-back regional titles for the first time in program history and their fourth in program history. The Panthers finished 10-34 from the field, 4-17 from three-point range and 11-13 at the free throw line and committed 27 turnovers. Avery Schwartzman scored 9 points, Tatum DeVries and Violet Hall scored 7 points apiece and Julia Lashley added 6 points. Rebekah Arnold missed the game with a prior commitment.
Bloomington South led 11-8 after the first quarter and 17-16 at halftime as the Highlanders outscored the Panthers 8-6 in the second quarter. Floyd Central took control in the second half outscoring the Panthers 32-18. Floyd Central led 36-29 at the end of the third quarter. The Panthers led 22-19 with 5:36 left in the third quarter as Floyd Central went on a 12-0 run to lead 31-22. The Panthers got to within four points 33-29 but the Highlanders held strong outscoring the Panthers 20-12 in the third quarter and closed it out with a 12-6 fourth quarter as the Highlanders advance and the Panthers quest for back-to-back Regional Titles is denied.
Indiana University Softball Tops Nevada in Saturday Showdown Indiana kept up its winning ways, picking up the third win of the weekend at the Littlewood Invitational on Saturday defeating Nevada, 6-3, at Farrington Stadium. With the win, Indiana improves the season record to 7-2. Indiana scored first for a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Jada Ellison made it from second to home on a fielder’s choice hit by Ellie Goins. In the next inning, Avery Parker broke the game open with a 3-run bomb over the right field wall that bumped the score to 4-0. Brooke Mannon stole home to add an insurance run and make it a 5-0 lead in the top of the fourth. Nevada threatened with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth but could only muster one run in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 5-1 game. When back at the plate, Peyton Drummond got the lead back to five with an RBI single down the left field line to score Cassidy Kettleman. Nevada got two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but their run ended there.
Parker’s home run was her fifth of the season. Her 2-for-4 day at the plate marked her third multi-hit game this season. VanBrandt hit her fourth double in the last three days. Taylor Hess earned her second win of the season to improve her record to 2-0. Six different Hoosiers scored a run. Indiana will finish out play in the Littlewood Invitational today with another game against Nevada at noon (ET).
Indiana Hoosiers Track and Field Continue Breaking Records to Close Weekend Indiana track and field opened the Valentines Invitational in Boston and the Music City Challenge in Nashville with nine different event winners and several personal bests on first day of the event. “Overall, I was pleased with the effort from the team the past two days. We were able to improve in several areas that will position us better going into the Big Ten Championships in a couple of weeks,” said head coach Ed Beathea. In Boston, Nola Somers Glenn started the day personal best in the 800-meter open race. She finished in a time of 2:07.73, which was best for sixth overall. Veronica Hargrave had a strong performance in the women’s 800-meter invite, breaking her own record set in the Meyo Invitational. Her time of 2:01.64 ranked as the top collegian in the race, finishing fifth overall. Her time also now ranks in the top 10 in the country as of now.
In Nashville, the day started in the field with the men’s shot put. Caleb Smith threw for a career best 16.11m/52-10.25 to finish fifth in the competition. Seth Brosseau closed the day in the field with a strong showing in the shot-put invite. His mark of 17.44m/57-2.75 finished third overall. On the track, Kiera Davis got the Hoosiers started with a third-place finish in the women’s 400-meter. She recorded a time of 54.42. Indiana saw several individuals make the sprint finals. John Colquitt and Tyler Tarter finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 60-meter hurdle final. Trelee Banks-Rose and Jasiah Rogers followed in the men’s 60-meter finals, finishing second and third, respectively. Laiyah Johnson rounded out the sprint finals, finishing second in the women’s 60-meter sprint. The Hoosiers will look to close the season competition next weekend as the travel back to South Bend, Ind. for the Alex Wilson Invitational on Saturday, February 21st, before heading to Indianapolis, Ind. for the Big Ten Championship.