Team USA (Indiana University) Men’s Basketball Blitzes Peru 115-36 in the FISU America Games Opener in Lima Basketball drama? Not on Tuesday night. Not with Indiana as Team USA dominating Peru 115-36 in its FISU (International University Sports Federation) America Games opener. The victory showcased a deep and versatile roster, and if it came against an opponent that won’t match Big Ten talent, don’t disregard the energy and effort. Coach Darian DeVries didn’t as he works to build chemistry and smooth-flowing play on offense and defense. “The No. 1 thing we talked about before the game was making sure, whatever the scoreboard said, that we’re continuing to work on the things we prioritize,” DeVries said. “I thought the guys did a good job of that, especially in the second half.”
FISU rules limit coaches to using no more than 12 players in a game, and DeVries maximized that opportunity, including playing freshmen Prince-Alexander Moody, Trevor Manhertz and Vaughn Karvala. Even with a 37-point halftime lead, DeVries said he didn’t see much slippage in play. “Overall, from start to finish, the guys did a good job of staying focused and maintaining and trying to work on the things we thought were important. This is an opportunity and we want to make the most of it.”
Team USA opened Group B pool play by starting Markus Burton, Bryce Lindsay, Darren Harris, Trent Sisley, and Aiden Sherrell at VES Sports Centre. The result Team USA jumped to a 12-0 lead and then 16-6 and 28-10 after the first quarter. It was 59-22 at halftime and then 90-28 at the end of the third quarter. “As the first half went on,” DeVries said, “we started gambling and got a little aggressive and lacked a little discipline of what we would normally do. But as the game went on, we settled into the things we wanted to establish. “When you get big leads, guys can start to hunt and take bad shots. Our guys did a good job of continuing to move the ball, share the ball, make plays for one another. Defensively, we stayed sound. “I’m really pleased with the way the guys approached it and the way they finished.”
Former Hoosier Sam Alexis is on the team but didn’t play Tuesday night. The 6-foot-9 Alexis can provide inside size Team USA could use with 7-foot-2 Samet Yigitoglu and 7-foot Clemens Sokolov ineligible for the tournament because they are not American-born players. Alexis signed a summer league deal with the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder last month. He finished playing on Sunday and arrived in Peru on Tuesday. “Sam gives us some more versatility without two of our bigs,” DeVries said. “Just to be able to sub more and have enough bodies. We were originally going to play six games in eight days and didn’t think we had enough bodies for that. “Having his experience from last year, it’s a great opportunity for us to take advantage of him and this trip.”
Former Indiana Hoosier Sam Alexis joins the Indiana University Basketball Roster for International Event in Peru Former IU basketball forward Sam Alexis has joined the 2026-27 Hoosier squad for its international games in Peru this week. Indiana is playing as Team USA in the FISU America games. Event rules allow players from other teams to join Team USA. Baylor had a player from Yale last year. The 6-foot-9 Alexis only played four seasons of college basketball and could pursue a fifth year via the courts if he so chooses. The NCAA recently passed a prospective five-year eligibility rule but did not extend that option to players who exhausted their eligibility in the 2025-26 year under the old rules. Several players around the country in Alexis’ scenario are seeking injunctions to play during the 2026-27 season. Indiana did not respond to a question regarding whether Alexis has any intentions to pursue additional college eligibility. A spokesperson would only confirm Alexis is with the team for this week’s event.
Alexis arrives in Peru after playing for Oklahoma City in the NBA Summer League. There he averaged 3.3 points in 10.2 minutes per game. Alexis spent one season with Indiana and etched his name in the program record book. His 68.7 field goal percentage is the best single season ever by an IU player on 100 or more attempts. After transferring in from Florida, Alexis played in all 32 games and started the final 23 for the Hoosiers. He averaged 8.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 21.3 minutes per game. Alexis also made a personal best 72.5% (50-of-69) from the free throw line, had a team-best 50 dunks, posted 13 games with 10-plus points, and eight games with at least eight rebounds.
The Curt Cignetti Effect: Prominent new hires making viral comments and facing lofty expectations It seems IU football coach Curt Cignetti is having a Field of Dreams effect on newly hired college football coaches. If you make viral comments, the wins will come? New Kentucky head coach Will Stein, the former offensive coordinator at Oregon, did just that at his SEC media day podium appearance this week. Stein was asked why he thinks it’s possible to win at Kentucky, a program that has just three double-digit win seasons and two conference titles in its history. Stein couldn’t respond “Google me” because he’s never been a head coach. So he just left out the Google part. “I think because of me, to be honest,” Stein said in front of a packed room. “I think because of me. I know what it takes. I have seen it at the highest levels. I know what it takes to recruit at this level.”
Cignetti also generated considerable buzz very early in his tenure with fiery remarks at an IU basketball game. You know, when he said everybody sucks. New UCLA coach Bob Chesney also used a basketball game appearance to energize the crowd, coincidentally when the Bruins were playing IU at Pauley Pavilion. Similar to Cignetti in a BTN interview during which he predicted Indiana would play in the Big Ten title game, Chesney made a bold prediction. “I did not come here to be average,” Chesney told the UCLA crowd. “I want you to support this thing. Understand what we’re building: we’re about to win a Big Ten championship.”
Not all of the new coaches are making viral comments similar to Cignetti. Others are hearing the Cignetti comparisons before they even coach a game. In the era of the transfer portal, and let’s face it, the era of Cignetti, the turnaround timeline in college football has never been shorter. And every new coach is facing an “if Indiana can do it why can’t you” reality. Like Cignetti a couple years ago, new Auburn coach Alex Golesh brought several key members of his staff and several key players from his last stop at South Florida. That has prompted many to wonder if Auburn can be the next Indiana — including long time Cignetti detractor, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum. “To compare it to coach Cignetti and what they did at Indiana, I would say probably, if that’s the expectation, awesome,” Golesh told Finebaum. “What those guys did in that two-year run that they’ve had so far is unprecedented. This can be, and I’m okay if that’s the expectation, like you come to Auburn, you come to this conference because you want real expectations. So, I’m okay with that.
Even programs with rich histories are using Indiana and Cignetti as a measuring stick. Florida has an iconic brand and three national titles in the last 30 years. The architect of the first of those three crowns hopes the program’s new head coach Jon Sumrall can be Cignetti-like. “This guy, he might be a little bit like Curt Cignetti,” Spurrier said on a podcast after Sumrall was hired. “I mean he is serious and guys are going to play hard, they’re going to play with effort. We’re not going to have 13 on the field, all the kind of stuff.” Maybe Spurrier is right. Perhaps one of these coaches will have a Cignetti effect on their programs. But maybe Cignetti is just one of one, often imitated and compared, never duplicated.
Taylor University Women’s Basketball receives Team Academic Excellence Award The Taylor University women’s basketball program has been recognized with a Team Academic Excellence Award, posting the 12th-highest team grade-point average in the NAIA at 3.678, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced Tuesday as part of its 2025-26 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Rolls. The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes college women’s basketball teams across the nation in their respective divisions that carry the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. A team must have a combined GPA of 3.0 or better and be nominated by its head coach who must be a member of the WBCA to be recognized. The 2025-26 season is the 31st in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls.
Green Bay, coached by Kayla Karius, finished first among NCAA Division I members for the second straight year with a 3.965 cumulative team grade-point average, which is also best overall across all membership divisions. Mercy, coached by Scott Lagas, claimed top academic honors in NCAA Division II with a 3.853 GPA. Nebraska Wesleyan, coached by Sydney Golladay, took top honors in NCAA Division III with a 3.897 GPA. Bethel, coached by Chris Nelson, was No. 1 in the NAIA division with a 3.829 GPA. Trinity Valley, coached by Precious Ivy, finished atop the two-year college standings with a 3.777 GPA.
Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark Named the WNBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has been named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for Week 5 of the 2026 WNBA season, it was announced Tuesday. Clark scored a cumulative 75 points this past week, the second-most scored by any player in the Eastern Conference, and the fourth-most points scored in the WNBA over the span. Averaging 25.0 points per game, Clark had the fourth highest pointers per game average within the league. Additionally, Clark’s 7.6 assists per game were the third highest in the WNBA.
On July 17 against the Seattle Storm, Clark made history, setting a new franchise record with 45 points scored, helping the team earn a 110-107 win. In that game, Clark also became the first player in WNBA history to score 40+ points and provide 10+ assists. The game also marked Clark’s 20th points/assist double-double, tied for the fourth-most in WNBA history. This past week Clark also became the fastest player to reach 200 three pointers made, doing so in just 74 games, surpassing the league’s previous record of 81 games held by Katie Smith. Finally, Clark moved into fifth all-time in Fever history for three pointers made with 206 across her career, passing Tully Bevilaqua (203). This is the fifth time in her career Clark has won Player of the Week, and her second win of the season. With her selection, Clark joins Tamika Catchings (11) and Kelsey Mitchell (5) as the only Fever players to win five or more Player of the Week awards.
NASCAR Hauler Parade returning to Speedway ahead of the Brickyard 400 The NASCAR Cup Series Hauler Parade is returning to Speedway Today. The annual tradition gives fans a chance to see their favorite drivers’ haulers up close, along with special guests, entertainment and more. The haulers will drive down Main Street starting at 5 p.m. this evening and lasts until 7 p.m. The event is said to be family-friendly, and many businesses along Main Street will be open for the occasion. This year, IndyCar driver Conor Daly will join The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck as he hosts his weekly podcast, “The Gluckcast,” from the Hauler Parade. The live recording starts at 5:30 p.m. at the 14th Street Stage, near 14th and Main streets. Some of the other special guests include IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles, Coca-Cola Racing legend Kyle Petty and 1996 Brickyard 400-winning crew chief Todd Parrott, who is also known for helping create the tradition of kissing the bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Race weekend kicks off with practice on Friday with tickets starting at $25. Saturday features the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Pennzoil 250. Tickets start at $40. Then Sunday drivers will start their engines for the NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400. Gates open at IMS at 10 a.m., and the race is set to start at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $45.
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton to captain charity softball game at Victory Field Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton is set to captain the Pacers Foundation Charity Softball Classic on August 24. The game will take place at Victory Field. The game supports Drive & Dish, a program founded by Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle that fights food insecurity, providing nourishing food to families in Indiana. Drive & Dish is also supported by the Pacers Foundation. The Softball Classic is set to feature numerous prominent athletes in the Indiana sports world. Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, running back Jonathan Taylor, wide receiver Alec Pierce, cornerback Sauce Gardner, safety Cam Bynum, and tight end Mo Alie-Cox are scheduled to attend the event. As for the Pacers, guards Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, and T.J. McConnell are set to attend the game as well. Other members of the Pacers, Colts, and Indiana Fever are also set to make appearances. Former Colts punter and media personality Pat McAfee is set to emcee the event. In addition to the players, Pacers mascot Boomer, Fever mascot Freddy Fever, and the Indiana Pacemates will make an appearance at the game. General admission tickets to the game are $10. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, July 24.