#2 Indiana Women’s Basketball dominates #13 Ohio State in Columbus Facing another ranked opponent, on the road, Indiana women’s basketball made it look easy. The second-ranked Hoosiers ran away with an 83-59 win over No. 13 Ohio State on Monday in Columbus. It’s IU’s seventh top-15 win of the season, and second on the road. The Hoosiers thoroughly dominated the Buckeyes in the first half, with perhaps their best offensive display of the season. Indiana led 54-29 at the break, a season-high in points for IU in any half. The Hoosiers scored an overwhelming 1.636 points per possession, while shooting 74 percent as a team. Sara Scalia hit a season-high five 3-pointers in that half alone. Ohio State fought back in the third quarter, however, as Indiana’s offense cooled off. The Buckeyes got the deficit down to 10 points, but IU got it back up to 15 by the end of the period.
But IU regained control in the fourth quarter by clamping down defensively, holding Ohio State to six points and a 23 percent clip from the field. For the whole game, IU shot 60 percent from the field, 45 percent from 3-point range, and scored 1.339 points per possession. Mackenzie Holmes was nearly unstoppable on Monday when Indiana got her the ball inside. The senior enjoyed one of her finest games as a Hoosier, setting career-highs with 33 points and 15 made field goals (out of 18 attempts). She added five rebounds and a block. Scalia finished with a season-high 24 points on a 9-for-12 line, including a 6-for-8 mark from 3-point range. Grace Berger recorded her second double-double of the season, with 16 points and 10 rebounds. She also dished five assists. Chloe Moore-McNeil made steady contributions, as usual, with seven rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.
The win puts the Hoosiers at 24-1 overall and 14-1 in the Big Ten. The win Monday Night guarantees the Hoosiers a double bye in the Big Ten Tournament in March which means a top 4 place in Big Ten. Indiana returns to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall to host No. 12 Michigan Thursday night at 8:30pm and will be televised on Big Ten Network.
Trayce Jackson Davis and Jalen Hood Schifino earn Big Ten Weekly Honors Indiana senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week for the fourth-straight week, while freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, the league announced on Monday.
The award is the seventh of TJD’s career, breaking the tie with Calbert Cheaney and Steve Alford (six each) for the all-time Hoosier record for Big Ten Player of the Week selections. Alan Henderson and D.J. White are the only other IU players to claim at least five awards. Jackson-Davis also moves into a tie with White for single-season selections with four. The National Player of the Year candidate averaged 24.0 points, 14.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game in a pair of Indiana victories over No. 24/RV Rutgers (66-60) and Michigan (62-61) this week. He played a combined 79 minutes in the two games. Against the Scarlet Knights, Jackson-Davis posted 20 points, 18 rebounds, and six assists in 39 minutes. The IU win marked the first of his career against Rutgers. His encore performance included a 28-point, 11-rebound double-double in Ann Arbor against the Michigan Wolverines. He added three rebounds and two blocked shots while playing the full 40 minutes. Jackson-Davis is the first player in Big Ten history to win four-straight Big Ten Player of the Week accolades since the award’s inception ahead of the 1981-82 season.
Hood-Schifino has now been named the league’s best freshman three times (including Jan. 9 and 23). He is tied with Fletcher Loyer (Purdue) for the second most selections, trailing only Brice Sensabaugh (Ohio State) with four. For the week, Hood-Schifino averaged 14.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. He shot the ball at a 41.7% clip and hit all seven of his free throw attempts in the two Hoosier games. JHS was masterful against the Wolverines and posted a line of 21 points, four rebounds, and five assists in the victory.
IUMBB Sophomore Logan Duncomb had surgery last week and may be unavailable for the rest of the season Indiana sophomore center Logan Duncomb had surgery last week to address a major sinus infection. Tyler Tachman reported the news first for the Indy Star on Monday afternoon and was confirmed by multiple outlets. It is unknown whether Duncomb will return for game action this season. He has not played since Jan. 14.
The 6-foot-9 sophomore has not been a part of Indiana’s main rotation this season. He is averaging 2.9 points in nine appearances. Duncomb has played an average of 5.7 minutes in those contests. He produced 10 points and five rebounds in 17 minutes in a game against Elon in December. Duncomb has been described by IU as having a “non-COVID illness” prior to each of the last six games. Head coach Mike Woodson said two weeks ago Duncomb had a “major sinus infection.” Since he had surgery and has only played in nine games, it is conceivable Duncomb could qualify for a medical redshirt. The Cincinnati, Ohio product also appeared in nine games last season while dealing with multiple bouts of illness.
Purdue Men’s Basketball loses #1 ranking IU moves up to #14 in AP Poll Purdue’s loss to Northwestern on Sunday caused a jumble at the top of the AP Top 25 that resulted in the Boilermakers dropping two spots. Indiana made a four-spot jump from No. 18 to No. 14 after a 66-60 win over No. 24 Rutgers and a 62-61 road victory over Michigan. The Hoosiers have now eight of their last nine.
Alabama is the new No. 1, rising to the top spot in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for the first time in 20 years. The Crimson Tide received 38 first-place votes from a 62-person media panel Monday, moving up two spots to leapfrog No. 2 Houston. The Cougars had 22 first-place votes to remain at No. 2 and Purdue, down to No. 3, still had two first-place votes. UCLA and Kansas rounded out the top five. Alabama has made a name for itself as more than just a football school since coach Nate Oats arrived from Buffalo in in 2019. The Crimson Tide reached the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight two years ago, and Oats pulled in one of the nation’s best recruiting classes last year. Alabama is No. 1 for the first time since spending two weeks atop the poll midway through the 2002-03 season. Alabama (22-3, 12-0 Southeastern Conference) beat Auburn and Florida last week, with its only loss since mid-December coming at Oklahoma in a nonconference game on Jan. 28.
Indianapolis Indians prospects weekend promotions return to Victory Field for 2023 season With pitchers and catchers officially reporting to spring training this week, the Indianapolis Indians announced Monday that two Prospects Weekends presented by Hoosier Lottery have been added to the 2023 promotional calendar. The fifth installment of the popular promotion will include Oneil Cruz and Ji-Hwan Bae bobblehead giveaways, the Indians wearing ‘Young Bucs’ jerseys on field as an ode to their affiliation with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and appearances by the Pirates Pierogies and Pirate Parrot in September.
The first Prospects Weekend falls on Friday, May 19 and Saturday, May 20 when the Indians host the Iowa Cubs. The Indians will debut their ‘Young Bucs’ jerseys on May 19 with Friday Fireworks immediately following the game. Then on May 20, the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive an O’Neil Cruz bobblehead. During the Sunday, May 21 series finale, the first 250 Knot Hole Kids Club
members will receive a prospect bobblehead thanks to Riley Children’s Health and Williams Comfort Air. The finale also includes Sunday Characters with Princesses (and Pirates!) presented by MHS with a princesses meet-and-greet, and Rowdie dressed like a pirate. Fans are encouraged to dress up like their favorite fairy tale princesses and pirates, too.
The second Prospects Weekend takes place on Friday, Sept. 8 and Saturday, Sept. 9 with the Toledo Mud Hens in town. Pirates Pierogies will be in attendance for both games and the Sunday, Sept. 10 series finale, and ‘Young Bucs’ jerseys will be up for auction from gates open on Sept. 8 through the end of the seventh inning on Sept. 9 to benefit Indianapolis Indians Charities. Friday Fireworks cap the Sept. 8 affair while the first 1,000 fans through the gates on Sept. 9 receive a Ji-Hwan Bae bobblehead. Bae was Indianapolis’ Team MVP in 2022 and made his MLB debut in late September. The weekend finale features Sunday Characters with Princesses (and Pirates!) and an appearance by the official mascot of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pirate Parrot.
Full season, half season and mini plans are on sale, and group and premium reservations may also be made. Single-game tickets go on sale Wednesday, March 1 at 10 AM. For more on the Indians, visit IndyIndians.com or contact the Victory Field Box Office at (317) 269-3545 or Tickets@IndyIndians.com
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