Indiana University Men’s Basketball looks for a win at Rutgers for the first time since 2018
The Indiana Hoosiers are looking to snap a four-game losing streak in Jersey Mike’s Arena this evening when the take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at 7pm with the game streaming on Peacock which is owned by NBC. The Series is tied 8-8 and the Hoosiers are 7-8 all-time against the Scarlet Knights in Big Ten meetings dating back 2015 when the Scarlet Knights joined the Big Ten. Indiana is 3-4 all time in Piscataway and lost the last four meetings on the road since 2018. Indiana last won in Jersey Mike’s Arena on February 5, 2018, 65-43. Indiana won the last meeting in Bloomington on February 7, 2023, 66-60 but the Scarlet Knights won six straight from 2020-2022. Indiana has struggled to score against Rutgers scoring no more than 70 points in the last seven meetings. The Hoosiers scored 58, 50, 63 and 48 in their last four trips to New Jersey since 2019.
The Hoosiers are 11-3 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten after a 71-65 win over Ohio State Last Saturday Night in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers average 75.5 points per game and give 73.7 points per game on defense. The Hoosiers are shooting 49% from the field, 68 % from the free throw line and 34% from three-point range while committing 12.2 turnovers per game. Malik Reneau is averaging 16.5 points per game and scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half to lead the Hoosiers past Ohio State. Reneau has scored 96 points in his last four games and recorded his first double-double of the season with a 34 point and 11 rebounds against Kennesaw State. The Sophomore from Miami is now the team scoring leader along with 5.8 rebounds per game. Kel’el Ware is averaging 14.8 along with a team high 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. The seven-footer scored 8 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals against Ohio State. Trey Galloway is averaging 10.8 points per game and is leading the team with 3.7 assists. Xavier Johnson bounced back to score 18 points and did not commit a turnover against the Buckeyes. Johnson is averaging 10.8 points in 8 games, but he struggled at Nebraska last Wednesday in which he committed four turnovers in 14 minutes and did not score. Freshman Mackenize Mgbako is averaging 9.4 points per game; Anthony Walker is averaging 7.2 points per game and has been a big help off the bench. C.J. Gunn scored 10 points off the bench Saturday Night and leads the team with 1.3 steals per game. The Hoosiers were outrebounded 47-29 on Saturday Night as Rutgers is a team averaging 38.2 rebounds per game and the Hoosiers 35 per game.
Rutgers is 8-6 overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten after an 86-77 loss last Saturday Afternoon at Iowa. Rutgers trailed 41-34 at halftime and were outscored 45-43 in the second half. Mawot Mag scored 24 points and pulled down 10 rebounds which were both Career Highs and his first double-double of the season. Austin Williams added 14 points and Jamichael Davis added 11 points. Rutgers finished 6-19 for 32% from three-point range and 28-71 from the field for 39% and cut the lead to nine points twice against the Hawkeyes finished 7-14 from three-point range. Aundre Hyatt leads the Scarlet Knights with 11.9 points per game, Clifford Omoruyi is averaging 10.7 points and leads the team with 8.9 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game. Mawot Mag is averaging 10.3 points per game. Guard play is important for Rutgers as Derek Simpson who averages 9.7 points per game is the team leader with 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game. The Scarlet Knights average 68.5 points per game. Rutgers is shooting 39 % from the field, 66 from the Free Throw line and 29% from three-point range.
Steve Pikell is in his 9th season as Rutgers Head Coach 125-112 record along with two NCAA Tournament Appearances in 2021 and 2022 and NIT Appearance last season. Pikell was 192-156 at Stony Brook from 2005-2016 with 2016 NCAA Tournament Appearance along with three NIT Tournament Appearances and Two Appearances in the College Basketball Invitational. Pikell coached one season at Wesleyan University in Middletown Connecticut in 1995-96 with 5-18 record. Pikell is 322-286 in 20 seasons with 11 winning seasons and 9 trips to the postseason. Pikell was a point guard at the University of Connectiut from 1987-1991 playing 106 career games and averaging 8.6 points as Freshman. The Huskies won the Big East Title in 1990 and went to the Elite 8 and followed up with a Sweet 16 Appearance in 1991.
Indiana University Football officially announces the addition of five transfer student athletes for the 2024 season
Five transfer student-athletes joined the Indiana football program prior to the beginning of the 2024 spring semester on Monday announced head football coach Curt Cignetti. Along with the 17 transfers announced in December, the five transfer newcomers include Shawn Asbury II (Stafford, Va./North Stafford/Old Dominion), Elijah Green (Roswell, Ga./Blessed Trinity/North Carolina), Terry Jones Jr. (Baltimore, Md./Mergenthaler Voc Tech/Old Dominion), Jayden McDonald (Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett/Troy) and Elijah Sarratt (Stafford, Va./St. Frances Academy/James Madison).
With the five January signees, Indiana has added 38 student-athletes for the 2024 season with 29 of those arriving on campus for the spring semester. Along with the 22-transfer student-athletes enrolling in classes, six true freshmen will enroll early and participate in spring practice: freshmen Tyler Cherry (Greenwood, Ind.), Dontae Henderson (Charlotte, N.C.), Brody Kosin (Davisburg, Mich.), Mario Landino (Macungie, Pa.), Daniel Ndukwe (Lithonia, Ga.) and Josh Philostin (Palm Beach, Fla.). Overall, IU signed 22 players on offense, 14 on defense and two specialists. Indiana’s defense added five defensive linemen, five defensive backs and four linebackers, while the Hoosier offense on-boarded seven offensive linemen, five running backs, five wide receivers, three quarterbacks and two tight ends. The special team’s unit added one long snapper and one kicker.
The signees arrive in Bloomington from 13 different states and one from Canada. In all, 10 from Virginia signed with the Hoosiers and five more came from the state of Georgia. Four signees are from Indiana and three each arrive from Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. IU then signed one each from Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, and Texas. Kurtis Rourke joins the program from Oakville, Ontario, via Ohio University.
Indiana University Women’s Soccer Head Coach Erwin van Bennekom agrees to a contract extension
Indiana Women’s Soccer Head Coach Erwin van Bennekom has been extended through 2029. van Bennekom enters his sixth season at the helm of the Indiana women’s soccer program in the Fall of 2024. In his fifth season, van Bennekom led the Hoosiers to their best season since 2013 after they made their first NCAA appearance in a decade with an at-large bid and made their third appearance in the B1G Tournament in the last five seasons. IU achieved a 12-4-4 overall record passing the 2021 record and went 6-2-2 in the Big Ten for their best conference finish (20 points) in program history along with their highest RPI since the 2021 season. He led them to five appearances in the United Soccer Coaches Poll this season, earning the team’s highest ranking of 17th in week six of the polls.
Offensive leader Paige Webber was named All-Big Ten First Team alongside Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, Jamie Gerstenberg. They were the first duo to earn first team honors in the same season. Gerstenberg earned the Hoosiers first Goalkeeper award in program history after she set the career and single season shutout records. Freshman defender Piper Coffield rounded out the awards as she was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman team. Van Bennekom coaches two NCAA Player of the Week recipients, seven Big Ten Weekly Award nominees, the most in a single season, and four named to the TDS Midseason Top-100 Lists.
In 2022, Indiana earned nine shutouts as the Hoosiers set a program record of 788 minutes for the longest streak without conceding a goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg was named to the All-Big Ten Third team after being named to the Freshman Team last season. Van Bennekom coached Gerstenberg to six shutouts where she held a GAA of .77 and made 52 saves. Van Bennekom’s third season at Indiana University led the Hoosiers to a 9-5-4 record in 2021, posting their most overall wins and their highest RPI since 2013.
In van Bennekom’s second season with the reins, he led the Hoosiers to their best season since 2013 with a 6-5-1 record. Indiana tied its record for most program wins with six and recorded the most points in Big Ten Conference play. The Hoosiers placed fifth in the Big Ten for their highest finish since the 2013 season. The Hoosiers were just outside an at large bid selection due to the smaller field of the NCAA Tournament allowing only 48 teams. Junior Oliwia Wos and freshman Anna Aehling were named to All-Big Ten Second Team. Aehling also earned a spot on the All-Big Ten Freshman team. Indiana collected wins against Rutgers, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan. After the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hoosiers saw their best finish since 2013 with a 6-4-1 record in conference play in the 2020-21 season. IU set a program record for most points with 19. Indiana advanced to the semifinals round of the Big Ten Regional Tournament after their quarterfinal matchup was deemed a no contest. Indiana also received their first ranking since 2013 after coming in No. 24 in the United Coaches Poll.
Van Bennekom was named head coach on Dec. 4, 2018. And went 8-9-2 on the year and advanced to the program’s 14th appearance in the Big Ten Tournament in his first season at the helm. Allison Jorden was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team, Avery Lockwood was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team and Hanna Németh was tabbed as a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honoree. Bethany Kopel shutout nine opponents in 2019, setting the new program record for most shutouts in a career with 16.
Purdue-Maryland Women’s Basketball game rescheduled for January 14
Purdue Women’s Basketball will head back out to College Park, Md., for a rescheduled game against Maryland on Sunday, Jan. 14, at noon. The game will be streamed on B1G+. The Boilermakers were originally slated to play the Terrapins last Saturday, but a facility issue forced the postponement for a week.
The game was supposed to tip at 4:30pm on Saturday and was scheduled to be televised on the Big Ten Network but water was leaking onto the floor during warmups because of heavy rain in the area. The teams waited about 30 minutes to see whether they could solve the problem by diverting the water, but it didn’t work. “We wanted to see if we could divert the water off the roof into a different direction, but unfortunately we weren’t able to accomplish that,” Maryland athletic director Damon Evans said. “We were hoping it would stop, but it just didn’t.” Evans said that the teams considered playing in an auxiliary gym in Maryland’s arena, but Purdue didn’t feel comfortable with that option. The teams had 48 hours from the time of the postponement to reschedule the game.
Indy Eleven Soccer Team announces Sean McAuley as New Head Coach
A proven leader at the top tier of U.S. soccer and abroad, Indy Eleven has today announced Sean McAuley as the fifth Head Coach in club history. McAuley comes to the Circle City having previously served as the Interim Head Coach, as well as an assistant, at MLS-side Minnesota United FC. With more than 30 years of experience as a player and coaching stops at the professional and youth development levels, McAuley spent four seasons (2020-23) as an assistant in Minnesota before taking over at the helm during the 2023 season. The Sheffield, England, native also served as an assistant coach with the Portland Timbers (2012-18) and Orlando City (2018-20).
“We are extremely excited to welcome Sean and his family to Indy Eleven and the Circle City,” said Greg Stremlaw, President & CEO of Indy Eleven. “After an extensive search that produced an unparalleled number of talented candidates from around the world, including a pool from more than 25 countries, we believed Sean’s experience as both a coach and player at the highest levels of soccer in the United States and Europe made him the top choice to lead our club starting in 2024 and beyond. “Sean’s proven ability to help lead championship-caliber teams, produce a culture of excellence and develop top players at the professional level will help us achieve our objectives on the field and make Indy Eleven a consistent force in the USL Championship.”
At Minnesota, McAuley helped the club to playoff appearances in each of his first three seasons, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2020. The 2015 season saw McAuley help Portland hoist the MLS Cup with a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Crew and was also part of the 2014 and 2020 Western Conference Finalist squads as well as the 2014 and 2017 teams that topped the Western Conference regular season standings. No stranger to the Timbers’ locker room, McAuley played for the club in 2002 as part of the USL A League.
“I am delighted to take on the position of Head Coach at Indy Eleven,” said McAuley. “The organization has a great reputation and I believe we can achieve success together. I would like to thank Ersal [Ozdemir] and Greg [Stremlaw] for the opportunity, as well as everyone who has given me such a warm welcome. “It’s clear that Indy Eleven has a loyal and passionate fan base and I am committed to giving our supporters a team to be proud of. I look forward to the new season and being part of a new era at Indy Eleven.”
McAuley’s coaching career began with Halifax Town (2002-05) before moving on to serve as Sheffield Wednesday’s Academy Manager (2005-12) and Wednesday’s Interim Head Coach (2006, 2009-10). As a player, McAuley enjoyed a lengthy professional run, opening his 15-year senior career with Manchester United in 1990 and playing with clubs in the U.S., England and Scotland as well as the U21 Scottish National Team. McAuley holds a US Soccer Pro License as well as a UEFA Pro License, the highest certifications in U.S. and European soccer. His education also includes BSc Hons Sports and Exercise Science as well as a certification in PGCE Teaching and Education.
The Boys in Blue have previously announced 10 returners for the 2024 season and have signed a pair of defenders in Danny Barbir (Oakland Roots SC) and Aedan Stanley (The Miami FC). Stay tuned to IndyEleven.com and Indy Eleven social channels for additional roster moves in the coming weeks.
Indy Eleven Roster as of 1-8-24
Goalkeepers (1): Yannik Oettl
Defenders (6): Danny Barbir, Younes Boudadi, Callum Chapman-Page, Adrian Diz Pe, Macauley King, Aedan Stanley
Midfielders (4): Jack Blake, Cam Lindley, Aodhan Quinn, Diego Sanchez
Forwards (1): Sebastian Guenzatti
Season Ticket Renewals and new Season Ticket Packages are on sale now for 2024, as well as deposits for groups and hospitality areas. For more information on tickets click here. For questions, please email tickets@indyeleven.com or give us a call at 317.685.1100.
Opponents set for the Indianapolis Colts 2024 season
The Indianapolis Colts now know who their opponents are for the upcoming regular season. Because this regular season in the books, next year’s opponents have been set. Since the Colts (9-8) finished in third place in the AFC South, they will play games against the Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North), the Denver Broncos (AFC West), and the New York Giants (NFC East). All three of those teams finished in third place in their respective divisions.
Here’s a look at the Colts’ home game opponents for the upcoming season: Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans.
Meanwhile, here are the Colts’ Road opponents: Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets and Tennessee Titans.
Indianapolis had already known that it, along with the rest of the teams in the AFC South, would play the AFC East and NFC North this upcoming season. The schedule will be announced at a later date.
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