Indiana University Men’s Basketball looks to snap a three-game losing against Iowa
The Indiana Hoosiers look to snap a three-game losing streak tonight against the Iowa Hawkeyes at 7pm inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall with the game televised on the Big Ten Network. The Hoosiers are coming off at 70-62 loss at Illinois Last Saturday and were without seven-foot Sophomore Kel’el Ware for the second straight game with a lower leg injury and his status for tonight’s game is questionable. The Hoosiers tied the game at 62-62 with 1:29 left when Illinois scored the final eight points of the game. Indiana was 0-9 from three-point range marking the first game since 2010 that Hoosiers have gone without hitting a three pointer in game. Indiana had a rough time at the free throw line missing ten free throws and finishing 12-22 for 54%. Malik Reneau led Indiana with 21 points along with a double-double from Mackenize Mgbako who finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Xavier Johnson scored 14 points which has been his best game since coming back in early January from a knee injury he suffered in late November.
The Hoosiers are 12-8 overall and 4-5 in the Big Ten. Malik Reneau leads the team in scoring at 16.7 points. Kel’el Ware is leading the team 9.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game along with a 14.2 scoring average. Mackenize Mgbako is averaging 10.9 points along with 4.3 rebounds per game. The Freshman from Gladstone, New Jersey has shown a lot of improvement from his struggles at the start of the season scoring five straight games in double figures and 14 games overall. Trey Galloway averages 10.5 points per game and leads the team in assists with 3.8 while Sophomore C.J. Gunn leads the team with 1.1 steals per game. The Hoosiers are averaging 73.6 points and committing 12 turnovers per game. Indiana is shooting 47% from the field, 33% from three-point range and 66% from the free throw line.
Iowa is 12-8 on the season and 4-5 in the Big Ten after an 88-78 victory Saturday at Michigan. Peyton Sandfort scored 26 points and Indianapolis native Tony Perkins added 24 points. Sandfort went 6-8 from beyond the arc and Perkins went 9-12 from the field and dished out five assists. 6-10 Freshman Owen Freeman added 15 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks for the Hawkeyes and the 230-pound big man will be next test for the Hoosiers interior defense. Iowa trailed 44-42 at halftime and outscored the Wolverines 46-34 in the second half including 8-0 run that sparked the Hawkeyes to close out the Wolverines. 6-9 Senior Ben Krikke leads the Hawkeyes in scoring with 15.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Tony Perkins is averaging 15.2 points along with a team leading 4.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Perkins loves to get run outs and finish at the other end with a big-time slam and coming back to his home state he would love to get a couple of run outs that lead to big time dunks against the Hoosiers. Payton Sandfort averages 14.5 points and a team leading 6.9 rebounds per game Owen Freeman averages 11.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and a team leading 1.7 blocks per game. 6-9 Senior Patrick McCafferty is the son of Iowa head Coach Fran McCafferty as the Senior averages 9.2 points per game. Iowa is averaging 85.3 points and 10.2 turnovers per game. The Hawkeyes shoot 48% from the field, 34% from three-point range and 76% from the free throw line.
Indiana leads the all-time series 106-82 but the Hawkeyes have won the last four meetings and Indiana Head Coach Mike Woodson is 0-4 against the Hawkeyes. The last meeting between these two teams was February 28, 2023 when Iowa ran the Hoosiers out of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall 90-68 in which Woodson apologized to the fans in his post-game press conference after the game for his teams very poor performance. The Hoosiers last beat Iowa on February 7, 2021 in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall 67-65. Hoosier fans are not happy with the way this team has performed as of late and if they see a repeat of the Hawkeyes dominating the Hoosiers in Bloomington for the second straight season then it could be another long night and very tough rest of the season for the cream and crimson.
The Road to Gainbridge Fieldhouse kicks off with Girls High School Basketball Sectionals
The 2024 IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament kicks off this evening with 390 teams across the State of Indiana playing a total 386 games in 26 days in four classes for the right to be one of four teams to cut down the nets in Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on February 24. The Sectionals will go through Saturday evening. The one game regionals will be played on February 10, Semi States are February 17th. There are 64 Sectional Sites, 16 Regional Sites that will host a doubleheader at one site and Semi States will be 8 sites hosting 4 teams in a two-game format in one class to advance to the State Finals.
Both Bloomington North and Bloomington South will be playing this evening in the Class 4A Sectional at Mooresville. The 18-6 Cougars will play 8-16 Martinsville at 6 pm followed by 12-10 Bloomington South taking on 22-1 Center Grove at 7:30pm. 19-4 Mooresville gets the winner of the Martinsville-Bloomington North game at 6pm Friday Night followed by 6-16 Greenwood taking on the Bloomington South-Center Grove winner at 7:30. The championship game will be Saturday Night at 7:30pm Saturday.
13-9 Edgewood will take on 5-18 West Vigo at 7pm this evening in the Class 3A Sectional at Owen Valley with the winner facing 6-18 Owen Valley on Friday in the first semifinal game at 6pm. 18-4 Indian Creek with Indiana University signee Faith Wiseman will take on 11-10 Brown County at 6pm Wednesday followed by Game 2 at 7:30pm between 19-4 Northview and 0-23 South Vermillion with the winners to face off on Friday in the second semifinal. The championship game will be at 7:30 pm on Saturday.
In Class 1A at Bloomfield, 11-11 White River Valley will face 14-10 North Central (Farmersburg) at 7pm this evening with the winner to face 9-14 Clay City on Friday in the first semifinal at 6pm. On Wednesday at 6pm 3-18 Dugger Union will take on 2-21 Bloomfield followed by 14-9 Lighthouse Christian against 16-6 Shakamak at 7:30pm with the winners facing of in the second sectional semifinal on Friday. The Championship game is Saturday at 7:30pm.
Bloomington North comes into the sectional fresh off their first Conference Indiana championship since 2010 and fifth in school history. 1st year head coach and former Cougar All-Star Kiley Jarrett has the Cougars on a nine-game winning streak as Senior Mia Robbenholt is just four points away from breaking the school’s all-time scoring record that is held by Jarrett. The Cougars beat Martinsville 52-25 on the road on November 14. Bloomington North is averaging 51 points on offense and allowing 43.1 on defense. Bloomington South finished the regular season on a four-game winning streak for head coach Larry Winters who has been the head coach at Bloomington South for 25 seasons. The Panthers lost to Center Grove 55-24 at home on December 7. The Panthers are averaging 48.3 points on offense and allowing 39.4 on defense.
Edgewood has won four of their last five games under Gary Sims who has coached the Mustangs for 16 years and returned to the Edgewood bench after taking the 2018-19 season off. Edgewood is always known for their in-your-face defense allowing 44.3 points per game. Edgewood on offense averages 42.8 points per game. Edgewood opened the season with a 41-31 win at West Vigo on October 31. Lighthouse Christian has won four of their last five games coming into the sectional led by fifth year head coach Brian Brown. The Lady Lions are averaging 48.4 points on offense and 39.5 points on defense. The Lady Lions are looking for their first ever sectional win in just their fourth state tournament appearance dating back to 2021. Shakamak beat the Lady Lions 59-23 on January 13, at Shakamak.
Indiana University Men’s Soccer announces Spring Schedule
Indiana men’s soccer will play five exhibition matches this spring, the program announced Monday. IU’s spring slate kicks off February 24 when the Hoosiers host Evansville in Bloomington, one of two home matches this spring. Indiana will also welcome IUPUI to Bill Armstrong Stadium April 12. Admission is free.
The Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield, Indiana, will host two more scrimmages. On March 2, Indiana will play Saint Louis – a familiar spring opponent. The spring season will close against Notre Dame – IU’s 2023 Elite Eight opponent – in Westfield. Both matches are expected to be played at Grand Park’s indoor facility. Indiana’s lone true road match comes April 6 when it visits Kentucky in Lexington. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw in the 2023 regular season matchup, and both appeared in the NCAA Tournament.
Indiana Men’s Soccer 2024 Spring Schedule (All Times Eastern)
| Date | Time | Opponent | Location |
| Feb. 24 (Sat) | 1 p.m. | Evansville | Bloomington, Ind. (Bill Armstrong Stadium) |
| March 2 (Sat) | 5 p.m. | vs. Saint Louis | Westfield, Ind. (Grand Park Sports Complex – Indoor) |
| April 6 (Sat) | 6 p.m. | at Kentucky | Lexington, Ky. (Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex) |
| April 12 (Fri) | 7:30 p.m. | IUPUI | Bloomington, Ind. (Bill Armstrong Stadium) |
| April 19 (Fri) | 7:30 p.m. | vs. Notre Dame | Westfield, Ind. (Grand Park Sports Complex – Indoor) |
Indiana University Swimming and Diving sweeps archrival Purdue No. 6/9 Indiana Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving each improved to 6-0 in dual meets this season with dominant performances Saturday against Purdue. The Men won by a final score 218-82 and the Women won by a final score of 221-79. IU swimming and diving celebrated 14 seniors during a ceremony before the meet: Warren Briggs, Elizabeth Broshears, Brendan Burns, Billy Cruz, Tristian DeWitt, Anna Freed, Anne Fowler, Catherine Graham, Logan Graham, Maxwell Reich, Ella Ristic, Mia Ristic, Ashley Turak and Armando Vegas. Eight of those seniors tallied victories Saturday. “Our seniors and our fifth years were just spectacular today,” IU head swimming coach Ray Looze said. “They really led the way. They set the tone, and we did what we were supposed to do today. We have two very tough competitions coming up next Friday, so we’re going to have to lay this one to bed and get ready for what I think are two top-10 teams coming in here next week.”
Indiana had the top three finishers in 10 events; the women’s 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly, and the men’s 50 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, 100 butterfly and 200 IM. The Hoosiers swept the women’s diving events as the 1-meter springboard and platform events were contested. Junior Skyler Liu won the platform event with a 378.60 score, while Fowler earned her victory on 1-meter. Fowler also dove off the 3-meter board in exhibition and scored 415.58 points – 16 points better than IU’s dual meet record. Sophomore Maxwell Weinrich had a notable performance on platform, earning scores of 10 and a 9.5 on his third dive, a forward 3 1/2 somersault pike, for a total of 87.75. He would finish second in the event, totaling 439.80 points.
“I’m really happy with how the kids did today,” assistant diving coach Eric Best said. “Skyler was great, winning the platform, and then of course Anne winning 1-meter and then when she dove 3-meter – that’s a school record. So, that was a great performance for her, and we filled in all of our zone cuts for platform, so now everybody’s qualified on everything. That’s a big deal. It’s nice to get that done. “Obviously, Anne Fowler was spectacular,” Looze said. “It really couldn’t happen to a nicer person. She’s spent so many hours behind the scenes developing and leading her team of divers that it’s just nice to see her get a little recognition by a performance like that, and I’m super excited about what she’s going to do at Big Ten’s and NCAAs down the line. “Maxwell was great on 10-meter – any meet you get a 10 in is always a great meet. Will [Jansen] lit it up. That’s a personal best for Will on 1-meter.”
#28 Indiana University Wrestling takes down Purdue in Wilkinson Hall Saturday Night
It was a dominant Hoosier performance in Wilkinson Hall as No. 28 Indiana defeated rival Purdue, 22-9, on Saturday night. Indiana took seven of the ten bouts in the match, storming out to a 13-3 lead through the first half and never looking back. With the win, Indiana remains undefeated at home with a 5-2 overall record and a 2-2 conference mark.
Indiana redshirt senior Michael Spangler (125) gave No. 1 Matt Ramos a close fight in the opening match, securing a late takedown but it wasn’t enough as Ramos finished with an 8-6 decision victory. Graduate student Cayden Rooks (133) got Indiana on the board with an 11-2 major decision win over Jacob Matangay. It was the match’s only bonus-point victory. No. 23 Dan Fongaro (141) fended off a few late shots from Purdue’s Christian White to hold on for a 5-2 win by decision. Coming back from a 3-0 deficit, graduate student and No. 15 Graham Rooks (149) scored on a third period takedown and rode Marcos Polanco out in the last minute to secure a 5-4 decision. In a heated battle Indiana redshirt senior+ No. 20 Brayton Lee (157) fought through a 1-1 tie in the third period and took down No. 16 Joey Blaze for a 4-2 win. Stoney Buell (165) got Purdue back on the board with a 5-1 win over No. 22 Tyler Lillard.
No. 10 DJ Washington (174) bounced back from being taken down early and racked up two takedowns over No. 32 Brody Baumann in a 9-4 decision.
Indiana redshirt sophomore Roman Rogotzke (184) worked to a 3-3 tie in the third and then scored on a takedown in overtime to win SV-1, 6-3, over James Rowley. Purdue’s Ben Vanadia (197) scored on a takedown in Sudden Victory for a 6-3 win over No. 33 Gabe Sollars. Nick Willham (285) closed out the night with a steady 4-2 win by decision for Indiana over Tristan Ruhlman.
This was the second year in a row that Indiana topped Purdue. Indiana picked up wins over two ranked opponents. With Washington’s win, his season record now stands at 13-2. Lee remains undefeated at 3-0 in his final season of eligibility. Cayden Rooks’ win was his second win by major decision this season.
The 13-point win for Indiana was the largest point differential for an Indiana win in the series since 2007. Indiana now leads the all-time series 55-43-3. Indiana Wrestling will be back in action on Sunday against Michigan State at noon in Wilkinson Hall and that will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
The Indianapolis Indians to retire Razor Shines’ Number 3 Jersey on September 14
The Indianapolis Indians today announced that the organization will retire Razor Shines’ No. 3 jersey on Saturday, Sept. 14, as part of Razor Shines Weekend at Victory Field. Shines will become the first former Indianapolis Indian to have his number retired, and his No. 3 will be recognized in the stadium alongside Jackie Robinson’s No. 42, which is universally retired in professional baseball. Tickets for Sept. 13, Sept. 14 or Sept. 15 go on sale to the public on Friday, March 1.
A name synonymous with Indians baseball, Shines played in 793 games for Indianapolis across nine regular seasons (1984-89, ’91-93) and hit .274 (696-for-2,539) while etching his name on the Indians’ all-time leaderboards in home runs (T-3rd, 68), RBI (4th, 404) and doubles (5th, 138). His best single season with Indy came in 1984, when he had 26 doubles, 18 home runs and 80 RBI to earn Team MVP. Shines appeared in 68 career games in the major leagues spanning parts of four seasons with the Montreal Expos (1983-85, ’87), but his connection to the Indians’ era of dominance in the 1980s is unmatched. Indianapolis reached the postseason in five of his first six seasons (1984, ’86-89), winning the American Association pennant in 1984 before adding American Association East Division titles in 1986, ’88 and ’89. Shines started in all 42 postseason games over those five years, and Indianapolis went 27-15 overall, including an astounding 16-5 at Bush Stadium. After falling to Louisville in the best-of-seven 1984 American Association semifinals 4 games to 2, the Indians won their next seven playoff series – an American Association semifinal set in 1987 that was sandwiched among four American Association Championship Series from 1986-89, and two Triple-A Classic crowns in 1988-89 that pitted the American Association champion against the International League champion in a best-of-seven series. Of the seven straight playoff series victories, the 1986 American Association Championship Series against Denver was the first and most magical of them all, with Billy Moore walking off the visitors in the bottom of the ninth of Game 7 on a two-out, two-run single after Shines was intentionally walked to load the bases. When the bat wasn’t taken out of his hands he shined, batting a combined .329 (26-for-79) with 16 RBI in the four American Association Championship Series.
Shines served as a player-coach for Indy in 1993 – the final year of his playing career – and the organization held Razor Shines Day during that season’s final homestand, making him just the second player in franchise history to have a day in his honor as an active player, joining Frank Sigafoos in 1933. Shines made Indianapolis his home into the late ‘90s, coached baseball at Bishop Chatard High School and attended the final game played at Bush Stadium on July 3, 1996. He managed and coached for various minor and major league teams through 2015. The Indians open the 2024 season on Friday, March 29, at Louisville. The home opener at Victory Field is slated for Tuesday, April 2, vs. Memphis, the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Full season, half season and Mini Plans are on sale, and group and premium reservations may also be made. 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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