Indiana University Men’s Basketball completes its first Big Ten road test with a win
The Indiana Hoosiers are 2-0 in the Big Ten after a 78-75 road win at Michigan Tuesday Night. The Hoosiers are 7-1 on the season and have won their fourth game in a row and will travel to Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday Afternoon to face the Auburn Tigers in the Holiday Hoopsgiving Event at the State Farm Center. Michigan falls to 4-5 and 0-1 in the Big Ten. It’s the first time since the 2018-19 season that the Hoosiers have started Big Ten Play 2-0. Indiana leads the all-time series with Michigan 111-65 and have won four in a row against the Wolverines dating back to the 2022 Big Ten Tournament.
Malik Reneau led Indiana with 15 points and 6 rebounds, Kel’el Ware scored 13 points and pulled down 8 rebounds and Freshman Mackenize Mgbako added 11 points. Freshman Gabe Cupps got his second career start as Xavier Johnson was unavailable for the second consecutive game after he suffered a foot injury against Harvard on November 26, in Indianapolis. Cupps played 32 minutes and scored 2 points along with 2 assists, a steal and committed one turnover. Indiana finished 30-58 from the field for 51%, 3-9 from three-point range for 33% and 15-21 from the free throw line for 71%. The Hoosiers pulled down 30 rebounds, 8 steals, 7 assists, 4 blocks and committed 13 turnovers. Indiana dominated inside with 52 points in the paint and got 28 points off the bench. Mike Woodson used a nine-player rotation with a balanced scoring effort with nine points from Trey Galloway, CJ Gunn and Anthony Walker scored eight points each while Kaleb Banks and Payton Sparks scored 6 points apiece. This was the first true road test of the season for Indiana after playing 4 games at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and 3 games at Neutral Sites between Madison Square Garden in New York and Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Road wins are hard to come by in the Big Ten and this was a huge conference road win as the Hoosiers will go back to non-conference play before traveling to Nebraska on January 3rd.
Michigan got 18 points from Oliver Nkamhoua, 17 points off the bench from Will Tschetter, 13 points from Dug McDaniel and 10 points from Terrance Williams II. Michigan finished 26-65 from the field for 47%, 4-17 from three-point range for 23% and 19-24 from the free throw line for 79%. The Wolverines pulled down 30 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, 2 blocks and committed 14 turnovers. Michigan scored 28 points in the bench and got 28 points off their bench led by Tschetter along with 5 points from Tray Jackson and 3 points from Jaylin Llewellyn.
The game was very tight throughout as there were 18 ties and 12 lead changes. Indiana had the largest lead in the first half when a Kaleb Banks jumper put the Hoosiers up 28-21 with 8:01 to go in the first half. Michigan had a four-point lead with 2:18 left when Dug McDaniel hit two free throws as the Wolverines were up 37-33. Terance Williams II scored with 43 seconds left in the first half to send Michigan into the locker room up 39-37. In the second half Kel’el Ware tied the game up 14 seconds in at 39-39 scoring in the paint. Michigan’s largest lead came with 8:59 left in the ball game when Will Tschetter hit a three pointer to put the Wolverines up 59-53. The Hoosiers led by as many as three points in the second half. Indiana led 75-74 with 35 seconds left after Dug McDaniel hit his second free throw. Mackenize Mgbako hit two free throws to put the Hoosiers up three 77-74 with 5 seconds left. McDaniel hit the free throw to put Michigan within two with 3 seconds left 77-75. Trey Galloway was fouled and hit a free throw to give the Hoosiers the three-point lead with two seconds left. Michigan had one last chance to go the length of the court as Tschetter in bounded the ball and seven-foot Kel’el Ware was guarding the baseline making it difficult for Tschetter to get the pass inbounds. Ware was able to get his hands on it and recover the ball to give the Hoosiers the victory and get out of the Crisler Center with its second consecutive win in back-to-back seasons.
Aaron Casey named to the Associated Press All-Big Ten Team
The nation’s leader in solo tackles for loss and first Indiana football defender with 100 tackles since 2016, linebacker Aaron Casey was honored by the Associated Press as a first-team All-Big Ten selection for the publication on Wednesday. He is the first Hoosier to earn first-team honors on defense since Tegray Scales in 2017. Casey was selected first-team All-Big Ten by the conference media and second-team all-conference by the Big Ten coaches.
In 2023, Casey was the first IU defender to earn multiple Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week awards in a career and gave IU two defensive weekly award winners for just the second time in a single season. Casey was among the nation’s best at the linebacker position with 109 tackles on the season, which included a Big Ten-best 20.0 tackles for loss – a total that ranked No. 2 in the FBS entering bowl season. The only FBS defender with multiple games of 4.0 tackles for loss or more, Casey ranked No. 2 nationally in TFLs, while his 19 solo tackles for loss led the nation.
In 2023, Casey led the Big Ten and ranked No. 2 nationally in tackles for loss (20.0) and solo tackles (78). His 109 total tackles sit No. 4 in the Big Ten and No. 23 in the FBS and mark the first 100-tackle season by an IU defender since Scales (126) in 2016. He led the Power 5 with 22 tackles for loss or no gain per Pro Football Focus. His 20.0 tackles for loss are tied for No. 4 on the single season charts with Nathan Davis (1995) and were the most by an IU defender since Scales’ 23.5 in 2016. Of his 20.0 tackles for loss, 19 of those were solo TFLs, which led the FBS. His career total of 36.0 tackles for loss finished No. 8 all-time at IU, just one behind Micah McFadden’s career total (37.0).
Indiana University Athletics records 90 percent graduation rate
Indiana University’s student-athletes are graduating at an extremely high rate according to an NCAA study released Wednesday. The NCAA announced that IU Athletics enjoyed a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) score of 90 percent in its most recent report, marking the fifth time in the last six years that IU’s student-athletes have had a GSR score of 90 percent or higher. This year’s report provides the graduation information for the most recent six-year graduating class of student-athletes who entered IU as freshmen in 2016-17.
“While so much attention is placed on how our students do athletically, our department is equally focused on supporting their efforts to excel academically,” said Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson. “The ultimate goal for every individual who represents Indiana University in intercollegiate athletics is to earn an IU degree so that they’re well prepared to succeed in the next stages of life. We are extremely proud to have once again hit the 90 percent threshold in this important metric. Congratulations to our student-athletes and to Senior Associate Athletic Director Lorian Price and her entire academic services team for this accomplishment.”
The NCAA developed the Graduation Success Rate in 2002 to accurately assess the long-term academic success of student-athletes. It allows student-athletes six years to year their degree. Unlike the federal graduation rate, the GSR holds institutions accountable for transfer students and mid-year enrollees. The GSR does not penalize institutions for outgoing transfer students who leave in good academic standing. The outgoing transfers are included in their new institution’s GSR cohort.
Four Indiana University Divers Qualify for the 2024 World Aquatics Championships
Of the eight Indiana University affiliated divers that competed at USA Diving Winter National Championships over the last week at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, four qualified to compete for Team USA at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, in February. Indiana will send two current student-athletes, juniors Quinn Henninger and Carson Tyler, as well as alumni Andrew Capobianco and Jessica Parratto, who both actively train in Bloomington. Henninger and Tyler will participate in their first senior world championships.
Capobianco and Henninger paired to win the men’s synchronized 3-meter event with a score of 828.63. The duo put an emphasis on its performance, scoring 88.92 and 93.48 points, respectively, from their final two dives. In July, Capobianco finished fourth in the individual 3-meter event at the 2023 World Championships. He was also a silver medalist in the synchronized competition at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, partnering with another IU teammate, Michael Hixon. The reigning NCAA Champion on platform, Tyler won the men’s synchro event from an 825.21 score. Tyler and his partner earned at least 78 points on each of their final four dives to clinch the national title and spot on the worlds roster. He also finished third in the individual event, scoring 808.35 points. Parratto is into her second straight World Championships in two years after earning bronze in the women’s synchronized platform competition with partner Delaney Schnell at Fukuoka this summer. The duo won at winter nationals again, posting a 597.18 total. Parratto is a two-time Olympian and earned silver with Schnell from the same event in Tokyo.
Indiana University Football Running Back Jaylin Lucas enters the Transfer Portal Indiana football running back Jaylin Lucas has entered his name into the transfer portal. Lucas is the 23rd player since the end of the 2023 season to exit the program, a list that includes the Hoosiers starting quarterback Brendan Sorsby, top receiver Donaven McCulley, leading running back Trent Howland and four of the five starting offensive linemen. The fall transfer window opened on Monday and goes to Jan. 2. “The chance to pursue both my academic and athletic ambitions at Indiana University has been an incredible experience that I deeply appreciate, however, after careful consideration I’ve decided to enter my name in the transfer portal with two years left of eligibility to explore new opportunities for growth and development, both on and off the field,” Lucas posted on X. “I’m immensely thankful for the time, guidance, and opportunities provided by Indiana University and will be forever cherish the memories made here.”
In 2023, Lucas led the team in all-purpose yards for a second straight season. His 1,108 yards were the most in a single season for the Hoosiers since Stevie Scott III (1,223) in 2018. He had 67 carries for 275 rushing yards, 34 catches for 247 yards and returned 22 kicks for 572 yards. He had five total touchdowns that included a 100-yard return for a score in the season-finale against Purdue. It was the third career touchdown return for Lucas, who tied Marcus Thigpen for the IU career record. Lucas was named All-Big Ten third team on special teams. While Lucas was plenty productive, he fell short of the expectations he set for himself after earning All-American honors as a true freshman in 2022. He represented IU at Big Ten Media Days and told reporters he wanted to break the FBS records for return touchdowns. Former Indiana coach Tom Allen told reporters at the time that the first thing he did after the 2022 season was to visit with Lucas and his parents in Houma, Louisiana to re-recruit him. “I never said have you gotten an offer from somebody else, I knew he did,” Allen said, on Thursday. “I was born at night, but not last night. That’s exactly what happened.”
Former Indiana University Quarterback Brendan Sorsby to Transfer to the University of Cincinnati
Indiana will have a new starting quarterback when the Curt Cignetti era kicks off in 2024. Brendan Sorsby announced he was entering the transfer portal before IU announced Cignetti as its next head coach, so it seemed plausible he could return to Bloomington. But Sorsby announced on Wednesday he is transferring to Cincinnati. Sorsby started the last six games of the season and appeared in 10 contests for the Hoosiers in 2023.
The 6-3, 230-pound native of Denton, Texas threw for 1,587 yards in 10 games for Indiana and rushed for 477 sack adjusted yards with four touchdowns. His completion percentage was 56.96% and his quarterback rating was 129.88. Cignetti could be eyeing his former James Madison quarterback Jordan McCloud as Sorsby’s replacement for the 2024 season. McCloud entered the transfer portal a few days ago. As of Wednesday, Indiana still has quarterbacks Tayven Jackson and Broc Lowry returning next year for their respective redshirt sophomore and freshman seasons. End of 2022 starter Dexter Williams is also in the transfer portal. The Hoosiers have also offered a pair of class of 2024 high school quarterbacks over the last few days.
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