Indiana University Men’s Basketball travels to Northwestern Indiana University concludes a brief two-game road swing in its 123rd season of competition in Men’s Basketball at Northwestern at 9pm tonight at the Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston Illinois. The game will be broadcast on BTN. Indiana overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Michigan by a score of 62-61 at the Crisler Center on Feb. 11. The victory marked the first for IU in Ann Arbor since Feb. 2, 2016, as the Hoosiers improved to 18-7 overall and 9-5 in the Big Ten. Senior Forward Trayce Jackson-Davis led the Hoosiers with 28 points and 11 rebounds, his 45th career double-double. He also dished out three assists and blocked a pair of shots. Freshman Guard Jalen Hood-Schifino overcame early foul trouble to post 21 points, four rebounds, and five assists. The duo scored or assisted on the first 16 Indiana made field goals against the Wolverines. Michigan made just one of their final 10 shot attempts from the field and did not score a point for the final 5:12 of the game. The Hoosiers found a stop on eight-straight possessions to close out the Wolverines.
Indiana leads the all-time series against Northwestern, 120-54, but are just 5-5 against the Wildcats in the last 10 meetings. IU’s longest win streak in the series came in the form of 26-straight triumphs from Feb. 11, 1988, to Jan. 15, 2003. Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino tallied a career-best 33 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the floor and 5-of-7 attempts from the 3-point line against Northwestern in an 84-83 loss against Northwestern on Jan. 8. Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis registered 18 points, a career-high 24 rebounds, eight assists, and four blocks against the Wildcats. He became the first Big Ten player to post a game with at least 15 points, 20 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in a league game since Jordan Murphy (Minnesota, Jan. 19, 2019). Indiana turned the ball over 16 times in the loss, the third-most giveaways for the season. Northwestern turned the extra possessions into 25 points.
In six career games against the Wildcats, head coach Mike Woodson averaged 20.3 points. He scored in double figures in all 60 games played against Big Ten Conference opponents in his storied Hoosier career.
Northwestern, led by 10th-year head coach Chris Collins the Wildcats enter the game with a 18-7 record and an 9-5 mark in B1G play. Northwestern has earned victories in three-straight games, including an upset win over No. 1/1 Purdue (64-58) on Sunday. The Wildcats are aiming to reach the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history.
Indianapolis Colts name Shane Steichen Head Coach It’s official. Less than 48 hours after helping take the Philadelphia Eagles to the brink of a world championship, Shane Steichen is being entrusted to help resuscitate the Indianapolis Colts. The team announced Tuesday it hired the Eagles’ offensive coordinator as its 11th head coach since its relocation in 1984. The team held an introductory news conference in the afternoon. “I’m extremely honored and grateful to be the next head coach of the Indianapolis Colts,” Steichen said during his introduction. He went on to thank his family and a long list of players, teams and coaches who helped shape his career. Among those mentioned: Philip Rivers (Steichen coached him with the Chargers), Norv Turner (Steichen called him his biggest mentor) and Nick Sirianni (coach of the Eagles). Clearly emotional at times, Steichen appeared happy to be in Indianapolis. But it’s been a whirlwind few days for Steichen. He succeeds Frank Reich, who was fired Nov. 7.
Sunday evening, Steichen oversaw an Eagles’ offense that set a Super Bowl record for the most points in a loss (35). That was small consolation considering Philadelphia’s defense was unable to protect a 24-14 halftime time and the Eagles fell 38-35 to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. Monday evening, the Colts dispatched owner Jim Irsay’s private jet to Phoenix and brought Steichen to Indy to finalize his contract. That was done, and Tuesday the Colts have their man. It completed an extensive six-week interview process that involved 13 candidates. Steichen, 37, is the second-youngest head coach in Colts’ history; Don Shula was 33 when he succeeded Weeb Ewbank in 1963. He’s also the NFL’s third-youngest coach, trailing the Los Angeles Rams’ Sean McVay and the Minnesota Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell.
It’s the second consecutive time Philadelphia has provided the Colts with their head coach. In 2018, owner Jim Irsay and general manager Chris Ballard opted for Reich, the offensive coordinator of the Super Bowl champion Eagles, after Josh McDaniels reneged on a pre-Super Bowl agreement. Focus sharpened on Steichen Sunday when multiple outlets reported the Colts had informed the remaining candidates – except Steichen – they had been eliminated from consideration. Steichen declined to comment on his looming deal with the Colts following the game, but it obviously was inevitable. Despite the Eagles’ crushing loss, his offensive stock continued to skyrocket.
Indiana’s own Tony Stewart to run full season in NHRA NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart will return to full-time competition this season as an NHRA drag racer. Stewart, a three-time NASCAR champion, will run a top alcohol dragster for McPhillips Racing for the full 2023 NHRA season. Stewart, who turns 52 in May, will be sponsored by longtime partner Mobil 1. Stewart made his NHRA debut in a Top Alcohol dragster last October at the Nevada Nationals, where he advanced to the finals and finished second by .0002-of a second. Stewart’s 5.258-second, 271.57 mph run in the finals came up just one inch short of the win.
Stewart, who owns a sprint car team and is co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing in NASCAR, last year started an NHRA team that fields one dragster in Top Fuel for his wife, Leah Pruett, and Funny Car for Matt Hagan. Stewart has won championships in NASCAR, IndyCar and USAC, will be competing for the NHRA National Championship this year. Top Alcohol drivers are eligible to earn points at their first 10 national events. Their best six national finishes from their eligible points earning events will constitute their championship points total. Stewart has won championships in NASCAR, IndyCar, and USAC, will be competing for the NHRA National Championship this year. Top Alcohol drivers are eligible to earn points at their first 10 national events. Their best six national finishes from their eligible points earning events will constitute their championship points total.
Indy Eleven W League team switches divisions for upcoming 2023 W League Season The USL W League is gearing up for another exciting season of elite pre-professional soccer during the 2023 season, which will feature 65 teams competing across ten divisions. The newly announced NorCal, Northwest, and Valley divisions will join the South Central, Great Lakes, Heartland, Metropolitan, Mid Atlantic, South Atlantic and Southeast divisions for 2023.
After capturing the Great Lakes Division title during its historic Inaugural Season last year, for 2023 Indy Eleven will shift to the Valley Division, where it will square off against two familiar foes in Racing Louisville FC and Kings Hammer FC (Cincinnati area) and two outfits new to the circuit in St. Charles FC (St. Louis area) and Lexington SC. Also new this season, the league has established four regional conferences: Eastern, Central, Southern and Western which will affect the 2023 playoff structure. The five clubs from the Valley Division will join the six teams from the Great Lakes Division and seven squads in the Heartland Division to form the makeup of the Central Conference.
Each team will play 10-to-12 matches against divisional opponents over the course of the regular season. Upon the start of playoffs, conferences will be used to regionalize match ups with player welfare in mind. More information of the W League Playoffs will be released prior to season kickoff, and the W League will release its full 2023 season schedule next Tuesday, February 21. Indy Eleven will look to repeat the many of the triumphs from its successful Inaugural Season on the field last summer, when the Girls in Blue finished as one of three undefeated teams during the regular season across the then 44-team nationwide circuit. The squad’s 10W-0L-2D record helped the Girls in Blue capture the Great Lakes Division title and earn one of eight playoffs berths in the W League Playoffs.
Indiana Pacers lose fifth straight game Monday Night at home to the Utah Jazz Jordan Clarkson and Lauri Markkanen each scored 29 points and the Utah Jazz beat the Indiana Pacers 123-117 on Monday night. Clarkson hit a 3-pointer for a 115-110 lead with 2:03 remaining and added a 13-foot baseline jumper to extend the lead to 117-113 in the final minute. Clarkson scored 22 in the second half and finished with six 3-pointers. Markkanen sealed the win with four free throws in the final 14.2 seconds. He hit 10 of 20 shots and had 11 rebounds for the Jazz, who had lost four of their last five games. Kelly Olynyk had four 3-pointers and 18 points with 10 rebounds for the Jazz. Collin Sexton also had 18.
The Pacers, who rallied from a 12-point deficit to within two with 3:06 remaining, have lost five in a row and 16 of 18. Clarkson and Tyrese Haliburton dueled in the third quarter. Haliburton scored 13 points, while Clarkson had four 3-pointers and 15 points to help the Jazz to an 89-88 lead heading into the final quarter. The Pacers, who rallied from a 12-point deficit to within two with 3:06 remaining, have lost five in a row and 16 of 18. Clarkson and Tyrese Haliburton dueled in the third quarter. Haliburton scored 13 points, while Clarkson had four 3-pointers and 15 points to help the Jazz to an 89-88 lead heading into the final quarter.
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