Indiana Hoosiers and the North Carolina Tar Heels Set to Play in a Men’s Basketball Preseason Exhibition The Indiana men’s basketball program will take on the North Carolina Tar Heels in a preseason exhibition contest on Sunday, Oct. 18, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Tip time and television designation will be announced at a later date. The two sides have met 16 times on the hardwood, most recently a 77-65 IU victory on Nov. 30, 2022, at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. North Carolina (6) and Indiana (5) are two of the six programs in Division I men’s basketball to claim at least five national titles. Both programs rank inside the top-10 in championship game appearances, Final Four appearances, NCAA Tournament appearances, and March Madness victories. Tickets will be available through Gainbridge Fieldhouse beginning on Thursday, June 18.
Complete Sports Management, the group putting on the event, is an all-encompassing sports events and marketing agency whose core capabilities include the creation of sporting events globally, event management, sponsorship, and hospitality packages. A global brand with a personal touch, Complete Sports Management is responsible for the creation of top-tier sporting events, including the Battle 4 Atlantis Basketball Tournament and the Bahamas Bowl, college football’s longest running international FBS bowl game.
Former Indiana University Quarterback Brendan Sorsby decides against playing for Texas Tech After a wave of near consensus public outcry, former IU football quarterback Brendan Sorsby has decided to end his college career and enter the supplemental NFL Draft. That’s according to multiple national reports on Monday evening, and statements by Texas Tech officials. Sorsby was declared ineligible for the 2026 season by the NCAA after he admitted to placing 40 wagers on his 2022 Indiana team, and more than 9,000 total disallowed bets, amounting to at least $90,000, over three years while he was enrolled at Indiana, Cincinnati and Texas Tech. Last week, Sorsby was granted a temporary injunction against the NCAA that would have cleared the way for him to play for Texas Tech in 2026, even after he was declared ineligible.
The backlash following Sorsby’s receipt of the injunction was immediate and loud. It culminated Monday when the Big 12 Conference filed a federal lawsuit seeking both a declaratory judgment and injunctive relief to allow the league the authority to use its bylaws to potentially punish Sorsby. Sorsby only appeared in one game for IU in 2022, a 45-14 loss to Penn State. There is no indication he gambled on that contest or any other game he played in.
The 6-3, 230-pound native of Denton, Texas split time at quarterback for IU with Tayven Jackson in 2023. He threw for 1,587 yards in 10 games for Indiana with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. He rushed for 477 sack adjusted yards with four touchdowns. His completion percentage was 57% and his quarterback rating was 129.9. He started the last six games of the season and appeared in 10 contests for the Hoosiers in 2023. After IU coach Tom Allen was fired in late 2023, Sorsby entered the transfer portal. He played for Cincinnati in 2024 and 2025.
U.S. Tennis Open Opportunity Beckons for IU’s Michael Andre and Matteo Antonescu Michael Andre was home in Las Vegas retired from college tennis, focused on his promising used car business. Matteo Antonescu was vacationing in Hawaii taking a well-deserved break after a grueling Indiana sophomore season. Then came the call that changed everything for these doubles standouts — a chance to qualify for the U.S. Open, one of professional tennis ‘s four major tournaments, and something no Hoosier has done in 36 years. They were all in. “It’s hard to wrap my head around this,” Andre says. “This is something every player dreams about — a chance to play in the biggest tournament in the world. We want to make the most of it.” Adds Antonescu: “This is unbelievable. Amazing. We just have to get the job done.”
Third-seeded Indiana is one of four doubles teams to make this week’s American Collegiate Player Wildcard Playoffs set for the United States Tennis Association National Collegiate Center in Orlando, Fla. The others are top-seed Ohio State, second-seed Stanford and fourth-seed Northwestern. Andre and Antonescu, who beat Ohio State during the regular season en route to a 19-7 record and a Big Ten double tourney semifinal showing, are two wins away from qualifying for the U.S. Open, set to start Aug. 30 in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. The Hoosiers will face Stanford (17-10) in one Wednesday semifinal. Ohio State (37-6) will play Northwestern (17-0) in the other. Those winners will meet on Thursday with that winner advancing to the U.S. Open. “This was something not even in my thought process,” IU coach Jeremy Wurtzman says. “A lot of players want to play pro tennis, but they usually have to start in futures challengers. To make a grand slam, I wasn’t even thinking about it. It’s pretty incredible that we’re two matches away from doing it.”
To understand how unique this is, consider only one other IU man has ever played in the U.S. Open before — Sven Salumaa, who reached the 1990 semifinals in doubles. Opportunity comes from a changed qualifying format designed to help U.S. tennis. International players dominate college rosters. This week’s event is only for American singles and doubles players. Wurtzman says USTA officials selected the top four ranked American doubles teams, as well as the top four U.S. singles players. “This is giving college tennis the best opportunity for Americans to make it to the next level,” he says. “It could jump start their careers.”
Winning two best-of-three-set matches, Andre says, means “taking care of our serve, close out easy volleys and make sure (the other team doesn’t) have a chance to make a play. If we do that, it puts pressure on the other team and gives us a chance to break.” Adds Antonescu: “It will take a lot of grit. It will be hot. We have to take our time, relax, breathe and know we have each other. We have the strokes and the serve. It will be a mental game. Stay in the present and focus on one match at a time.” Beyond that, Antonescu says, “We can’t go into any of these matches scared. We have to stay confident and know we can beat them.”
The regular season victory over Ohio State helps. The Buckeyes’ duo of Brandon Carpico and Nikita Filin were national runner-ups last fall to Virginia. Wurtzman calls that Hoosier victory the highlight of their careers as well as the team’s season. “We knew we were a good team,” Wurtzman says, “but we didn’t think we’d be able to hang on at that level to win that match. We played really well.” That must continue against the Stanford’s team of Alex Razeghi and Alex Chang that is ranked No. 6 nationally. “We’ve already beaten the No. 1 team,” Andre says. “The first matchup is good for us. We’re not just going there to have fun. We’re going there to have fun and win.”
Andre and Antonescu thrive from similar aggressive styles centered on big serves and attacking net play. “We serve and volley,” Antonescu says, “and are both super aggressive. We know what we’re going to do.” Adds Andre: “At the higher levels of college doubles, it’s more about a race to the net and who can get there first.” The fact Andre is a lefthander and Antonescu a right hander provides an added advantage. Andre’s serves can reach 135 mph. Add a wicked lefty spin and returners are in big trouble. “It’s tough for them to deal with that,” he says. What sets Andre and Antonescu apart as a doubles team? Chemistry and communication top the list, Wurtzman says.
They started playing doubles together last year, when Andre was a fifth-year player and Antonescu was a true freshman. The age difference made it easier for Andre to assume the leadership role. Their comfort with each other came quickly. “Michael and Matteo both like to go to the net,” Wurtzman says. “They’re always looking to get in and serve big. They both serve and volley quite a bit. If you offset that with someone who likes to stay back a lot, and if they’re not hitting penetrating ground strokes through the court, then the guy at the net will really get in trouble. “Matteo’s skills for doubles are phenomenal. He has great hands, really good returns, is great out of the ad side of the court with his backhand, and has a great serve. Michael is really able to play at a high level in doubles with him, even though Matteo is a lot younger.”
This season, Andre and Antonescu were 13-4 in dual matches and 3-0 against ranked teams. Besides Ohio State, they also beat No. 31 Taym Alazmeh and Danial Rakhmatullayev from Michigan State, and No. 52 Max Dahlin and Pierce Shaya from Michigan. They reached as high as No. 33 in the national doubles rankings. “I tried doubles with other guys,” Antonescu says, “but we didn’t play the same way. With Michael, we clicked right away and kept being aggressive.”
Preparations included a lot of hitting with each other was well as IU coaches, plus running in the recent heat. “It was super humid in Bloomington like it will be in Florida,” Antonescu says, “so that should help.” Shoulder and elbow injuries plagued Andre throughout his six-year college career, even though he compiled a 61-19 career doubles record, including the Big Ten Doubles Tournament title in 2022 with teammate Luka Vukovic. It was why he decided to retire from the sport after IU’s season ended with an April 23 Big Ten tourney loss to Michigan State. He returned to his hometown of Las Vegas to focus on his used car business. Then came the phone call. “When I got the news,” Andre says, “I flew back to Bloomington and started training again.” Andre, who earned a finance degree through the Kelley School of Business, sees this as a potential life-changing event if he and Antonescu qualify for the U.S. Open and then do well there. “It would change my outlook on my future in tennis,” he says. “Maybe I pursue it as a pro. Being a professional player has been my dream, but I have to take care of the day-to-day stuff and not put too much pressure on myself.
“I know how mental tennis is. You have to stay in the moment and be relaxed to play your best. I have to take care of what’s in front of me. I don’t want to get ahead of myself.” Adds Wurtzman: “Michael went through so much over his six years here with the injuries and surgeries and thinking about quitting tennis a year or two ago because he couldn’t get over his shoulder and elbow injuries. “Getting another chance to play tennis is such an amazing opportunity. It’s an incredible blessing for him.” While Antonescu’s college success has mainly come in doubles, he has a potential future in singles. He had a 5-3 singles record last season after going 3-7 as a freshman. “Right now, I’m a doubles player,” he says, “but I’d like to become a singles player. I have to prove I can play.”
Wurtzman will give him that chance, starting this fall. “We’d like him to play singles. A lot of times, we see doubles players get the confidence to get in the singles lineup. We’re hoping his junior year will be his best year. I think he can move up, have a good fall and win a lot of matches. “With the extra practices he’s getting now, the experience he’ll get from this tournament, and the work he’s putting in, it should set him up for next season. He can use this to propel himself to feel he belongs with the best players in the country.” For now, there’s a Wildcard Playoff to win. “They won’t feel like they’ll be overmatched,” Wurtzman says. “They go into this thinking they can beat whoever they have to play. We’ve watched a lot of videos on Stanford and gotten to see them play quite a bit. We have a good plan in place. “We’ll give it our best shot. As long as don’t pass out in the heat and humidity, we’ll have a good chance.”
Indiana Fever Release the Injury Report Ahead of Tonight’s Game with Toronto The Indiana Fever currently hold an 8-5 record and host the Toronto Tempo inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse Tonight at 7 PM. Ahead of Tonight’s matchup, the Fever have a new addition to the injury report. Fever rookie guard Raven Johnson is listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game with a left ankle injury. Indiana selected Johnson with the 10th overall pick in this year’s WNBA Draft and she is averaging 4.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game this season. Caitlin Clark is also listed on the injury report. Clark is listed as probable for this evening’s game with a back injury. Clark has played in eight straight games since missing a game against the Portland Fire on May 20th.
Former Purdue University Men’s Basketball Stars Trey Kaufman-Renn and Braden Smith Work Out for the Indiana Pacers Two of Purdue’s most accomplished players took another step toward their professional basketball dreams Monday, participating in a pre-draft workout with the Indiana Pacers. Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn, who helped lead the Boilermakers to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and a national championship game appearance in 2024, worked out in front of the Pacers’ front office and coaching staff less than two weeks before the NBA draft. For Smith, the opportunity carried extra significance. The Westfield native grew up rooting for the Pacers and attending games, making Monday’s workout a full-circle moment. “I’ve been a Pacers guy my entire life, almost, that I’ve lived here,” Smith said. “I’ve been to multiple games every year. It means a lot. Having this opportunity to be here in the first place and be able to compete and play basketball, that’s the fun part.” Smith leaves Purdue as one of the most decorated players in program history. The point guard finished his career as the NCAA’s all-time assists leader and was widely regarded as one of the nation’s top floor generals throughout his four seasons in West Lafayette.
While questions about his size have followed him throughout the draft process, Smith said they are nothing new. “To be honest, I believe I hit most of the boxes,” Smith said. “Obviously size is a factor, but it’s been a factor all four years and it’s been a factor before that in high school. It’s continued to be a factor and I’ve found a way around that.” Smith believes his playmaking ability gives him a chance to earn a spot at the next level. “I think I’m at least one of the best playmakers in this draft class,” Smith said. “For me, it’s being able to find my teammates and make their jobs easier. Being able to do that, I think you can find yourself on the floor.”
Kaufman-Renn is also looking to turn a standout Purdue career into an NBA opportunity. The forward emerged as one of the Big Ten’s top players during his senior season and said sharing the workout with Smith made the experience even more memorable. “Obviously being able to play my entire college career with him and see how he’s developed and to still continue to play basketball on the floor as a guy that’s as good as he is is really cool,” Kaufman-Renn said. Like Smith, Kaufman-Renn understands what it would mean to remain in his home state and potentially suit up for the Pacers. “It’s incredible,” Kaufman-Renn said. “It’s what you dream of as a child. Playing for your hometown NBA team would be incredible. All of your family gets to come and everything. It would feel great. I’m just happy to have the opportunity to come out here and do it.” Whether their path to the NBA comes through the draft or free agency, both former Boilermakers are hoping Monday’s workout helped move them one step closer to achieving their goal. The 2026 NBA draft will be held June 23-24 in Brooklyn.
Bulter University and the University of Pittsburgh Agree to a Home and Home Men’s Basketball Series The Butler University men’s basketball program announced on Monday that it has agreed to a new home-and-home series with Pittsburgh. The two teams will face off this season, on Friday, Nov. 13 inside Hinkle Fieldhouse. They will then play in Pittsburgh during the 2027-28 season. The Bulldogs are 8-6 all-time against the Panthers. The most recent matchup between the two programs was in the semifinals of the 2012 CBI, when the Panthers beat the Bulldogs 68-62 in overtime inside Hinkle Fieldhouse. Monday’s announcement came less than a week after the Bulldogs revealed they would be playing another school in the ACC. The Bulldogs will play at North Carolina on Sunday, Dec. 6. This will be the first season for the Bulldogs under new head coach Ronald Nored.
Evansville Purple Aces to Face the University of Southern Indiana in the River City Men’s Basketball Classic at Ford Center The University of Evansville and the University of Southern Indiana, in partnership with the Evansville Regional Sports Commission and presenting sponsor Old National Bank, have announced the inaugural River City Classic. Set for Saturday, November 7, the Purple Aces men’s basketball team will face the Screaming Eagles in a 7 p.m. neutral site contest at the Ford Center. Tickets for the public will be available for purchase July 15th through the UE ticket office. Please click the link at the bottom of the release for information on how to reserve tickets. The match-up marks the first regular-season Division I meeting between Evansville’s two Division I men’s basketball programs and provides a unique opportunity to celebrate the passion, pride, and tradition of Evansville basketball.
For Purple Aces fans, the River City Classic represents more than a game. It is an opportunity to unite the Evansville community, showcase the energy of the Ford Center, and create an electric atmosphere that captures the passion of Evansville basketball. “Our community has wanted to see these two programs compete for a long time, and we’re excited to provide that opportunity for our fans and student-athletes,” said University of Evansville Head Coach David Ragland. “Playing at the Ford Center in an atmosphere that showcases the passion of Evansville basketball will be a tremendous experience. We know this game will generate a lot of excitement throughout the community, and we’re looking forward to being a part of it.”
“We are excited to give Purple Aces fans the opportunity to be part of a historic moment for our community,” said University of Evansville Director of Athletics Dr. Kenneth “Ziggy” Siegfried. “The Ford Center has become one of the great gathering places in Evansville, and we look forward to seeing Purple Aces fans create an electric atmosphere. This game celebrates the pride of our University, the tradition of Evansville basketball, and the excitement that comes from bringing our community together.” The River City Classic is the result of a collaborative effort between the University of Evansville, the University of Southern Indiana, the Evansville Regional Sports Commission, and Old National Bank. Representatives from both institutions worked closely together to create an event that celebrates the passion for college basketball throughout the Evansville community.
“The conversations surrounding this game were rooted in doing what is best for our student-athletes, our fans, and our community,” Siegfried said. “I appreciate the collaborative spirit shown by USI, the Evansville Regional Sports Commission, and Old National Bank in bringing this event to life. This is a great example of what can happen when organizations come together to create something special for Evansville. In addition to creating an unforgettable experience, events like this generate meaningful support that helps position our Athletics Department for long-term success.” The collaboration between the two universities extends beyond the River City Classic, with additional details regarding a future women’s basketball home-and-home series expected to be announced at a later date. The River City Classic is currently scheduled as a one-year agreement for the 2026-27 season, with both institutions remaining open to evaluating future opportunities following this year’s event.