Local Sports Headlines: March 24, 2023

Indiana University Men’s Basketball Center Logan Duncomb enters the Transfer Portal Indiana sophomore center Logan Duncomb is entering the NCAA transfer portal. A four-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class, the 6-foot-10 big man spent the last two seasons in Bloomington. An Archie Miller recruit, Duncomb reaffirmed his commitment to the Hoosiers after Miller was fired in the spring of 2021 and Mike Woodson was subsequently hired.

But Duncomb spent his first season buried on the depth chart and couldn’t stay healthy as a sophomore. Due to illness and various injuries, Duncomb only appeared in nine games this season. The Cincinnati native averaged 2.9 points and 1.7 rebounds in 5.9 minutes per game. Duncomb last played in Indiana’s 63-45 win against Wisconsin on January 14 at Assembly Hall. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining at his next school.

Mackenize Holmes named 2023 Wade Trophy Finalist Indiana Senior forward Mackenize Holmes is one of four finalists for the 2023 Wade Trophy, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced Thursday. The prestigious award is presented by the WBCA each year to the best player in college women’s basketball. Holmes joins Aliyah Boston of South Carolina, Caitlin Clark of Iowa, and Maddy Siegrist of Villanova as the four finalists. Holmes is the second player in IU’s history to be named a finalist as Hall of Famer Denise Jackson was a finalist for the award in 1983 and 1984.

The Gorham, Maine native averaged a team-high 22.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and is one of the nation’s most accurate shooters by going 68.0 percent from the floor. She is second in the nation and leading the Big Ten in field goal percentage, fifth in field goals made (281), sixth in points scored (692), and seventh in points per game (22.3). Holmes led the Hoosiers in scoring on 25 occasions this season while posting double figures in 31 games, scoring 20 points 19 times and three 30-point scoring efforts. Her nine double-doubles led the team, as six of her double-doubles occurred in conference play which ranks eighth all-time in a single season. She led the league in blocks (58) and blocks per game (1.9) and averages 1.1 steals (35) per game. She set a season-high five blocks against Nebraska and Michigan while recording multiple blocks in 14 games. Holmes is now in the top five in scoring in school history (1,897) and second in all-time blocks (208).

Other awards for Holmes this season included the program’s first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and is now a three-time All-Big Ten selection in her career. She has also been named a 2023 Lisa Leslie Award finalist and the first Hoosier to appear on the 2023 Wooden Award national ballot. She is also a candidate for a variety of other national player of the year awards including, 2023 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy, 2023 Wade Trophy and 2023 USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Player of the Year.

The Wade Trophy now in its 46th year — is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women’s basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen. First awarded in 1978 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as SHAPE America, the Wade Trophy has been presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I National Player of the Year since 2001.

Record 75 Hoosiers named to Winter Academic All-Big Ten Team
The Big Ten Conference recognized a total of 1,000 students competing in winter sports who have been named to the Academic All-Big Ten team on Thursday (March 23). The list of honorees includes 67 men’s and 83 women’s basketball students, 141 men’s and 237 women’s swimming and diving students, 59 men’s and 132 women’s gymnastics students, 85 men’s ice hockey students and 196 men’s wrestling students.

Seventy-five Indiana University student-athletes made the Academic All-Big Ten team in this cycle, a record for IU’s winter sports. The previous record, 70, was set a year ago. Indiana’s women’s basketball and men’s swimming and diving teams combined for 28 honorees while both capturing Big Ten titles this winter. To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, students must be on a varsity team (as verified by being on the official squad list as of Nov. 1 for fall sports), have been enrolled full time at the institution for a minimum of 12 months and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.

INDIANA 2023 WINTER ACADEMIC ALL-BIG TEN HONOREES
Men’s Basketball – Shaan Burke, Nathan Childress, Miller Kopp, Anthony Leal, Michael Shipp
Women’s Basketball – Grace Berger, Kiandra Browne, Mackenzie Holmes, Chloe Moore-McNeil, Arielle Wisne, Mona Zaric
Men’s Swimming and Diving – Luke Barr, Warren Briggs, Finn Brooks, Mikey Calvillo, Andrew Capobianco, Jackson Carlile, Mason Carlton, Jasper Davis, Jacob Destrampe, Tristan DeWitt, Tomer Frankel, Logan Graham, Quinn Henninger, Josh Matheny, Van Mathias, Rafael Miroslaw, Lucas Piunti, Joseph Radde, Maxwell Reich, Carson Tyler, Gavin Wight, Jassen Yep
Women’s Swimming and Diving – Katie Broderick, Elizabeth Broshears, Katie Carson, Kabria Chapman, Brearna Crawford, Mariah Denigan, Anna Freed, Ching Hwee Gan, Catherine Graham, Elyse Heiser, Dominika Kossakowska, Mackenzie Looze, Kacey McKenna, Catherine Minic, Grace Pangburn, Anna Peplowski, Noelle Peplowski, Ella Ristic, Mia Ristic, Ashley Turak, Sydney Turner, Megan Carter, Morgan Casey, Anne Fowler, Tarrin Gilliland, Alaina Heyde, Margaret Rogers, Zain Smith, Emma Wolf
Wrestling – Luke Baughman, Nico Bolivar, Santos Cantu, Derek Gilcher, Drayton Harris, Isiah Levitz, Robert Major, Jacob Moran, Cayden Rooks, Graham Rooks, Zack Rotkvich, Nick South, Nicholas Willham  

Indiana University Field Hockey announces spring Schedule Indiana coach Kayla Bashore has announced this year’s spring schedule for the team. The Hoosiers will compete on three different weekends, including one weekend at home. The team’s 2023 spring schedule is as follows: April 1-2 – at Louisville, April 8 – vs. Ball State, Bellarmine, Miami (OH), Louisville (Deborah Tobias Field) April 15-16 – at. Northwestern

The final schedule of home matches on April 8 will be finalized soon. All matches at Deborah Tobias Field are free admission.

Circle City Football Classic returns for 2023 with matchup announced The 39th Circle City Classic football game will feature the Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils versus the North Carolina Central University Eagles, with their respective bands, on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. “After a year hiatus, we are excited to announce HBCU football is coming back to Lucas Oil Stadium,” said Indiana Black Expo President and CEO, Alice Watson. “Bringing these Division One storied football teams, representing the MEAC and SWAC conferences with a great alumni base and incredible marching bands is a great opportunity to showcase the best of the best HBCU’s to the Midwest.

The Circle City Classic “Battle of the Bands” will feature the North Carolina Central University Sound Machine Marching Band and the Mississippi Valley State University Green Marching Machine Band. The last time Mississippi Valley State University participated in the Circle City Classic was Oct. 3, 1984, when wide receiver Jerry Rice scored two touchdowns against Grambling. “It is an honor to be one of the first teams to compete in the Circle City Classic and to be selected again after a 38-year hiatus and a great way to begin the celebration of 70 Years of Football at Mississippi Valley State University,” said Hakim McClellan, Director of Athletics at Mississippi Valley State University.

North Carolina Central University last played in 2012, winning against South Carolina. “North Carolina Central University is thrilled to be returning to Indianapolis and the prestigious Circle City Classic,” said NCCU Director of Athletics, Dr. Louis “Skip” Perkins. “We are looking forward to showcasing NCCU on this grand stage and reuniting with our proud alumni and fans in the region.” Tickets are available starting March 31 on Ticketmaster. “We are thrilled to welcome back Circle City Classic football by offering a 30-day special. For the first 30 days, $50 tickets will be 50% off, said Watson. For More Information, visit the Circle City Classic website www.circlecityclassic.com

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