Indiana University Men’s Basketball pulls out Senior Day Squeaker over Michigan State
The Indiana Hoosiers squeaked out a win on Senior Day against the Michigan State Spartans 65-64 on Sunday Afternoon in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers finish the Regular Season 18-13 overall and 10-10 in the Big Ten. Michigan State finishes with the same record 18-13 overall and 10-10 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers head into the Big Ten Tournament in Minneapolis on a four-game winning streak.
Kel’el Ware led the Hoosiers with 28 points and 12 rebounds for his 14th double-double of the season. the 7-0 Sophomore hit the game winning free throw with 17 seconds left to seal the win after Tyson Walker missed a jumper with four seconds left and Xavier Johnson got the rebound and dribbled it out to give the Hoosiers their 12th home win of the year as they go 12-5 at home this season. Malik Reneau finished with 16 points and Mackenize Mgbako added 13 points. Freshman Gabe Cupps played 21 minutes, 3 assists, a rebound and a steal. The Hoosiers finished the game 27-57 from the field for 47%, 6-17 from three-point range for 35% and 5-12 from the free throw line for 41%. The Hoosiers had 40 points in the paint, 10 points off turnovers and 3 bench points.
After the game four seniors were honored sixth year senior Xavier Johnson played 29 minutes off the bench and had 3 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block and 4 turnovers. Graduate Transfer Anthony Walker who played against Indiana a season ago in the second round of the NCAA Tournament for Miami (Florida) pulled down a rebound in 4 minutes of action. Seniors Trey Galloway and Anthony Leal went through Senior Day ceremonies and announced that they are coming back for their fifth and final due to the extra year of eligibility athletes were given in the 2020-21 season during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Galloway was injured late in the first half and did not return after limping off the floor and did not warm up and returned for the second half. Galloway played 7 minutes and score 5 points and pulled down 3 rebounds. Bloomington South Graduate Anthony Leal played 28 minutes off the bench with 3 assists and 2 rebounds.
Michigan State was led by Tyson Walker who scored 30 points and 20 of those coming in the second half. Walker was 7-14 from the field, 3-6 from three-point range and 3-3 from the free throw line. In the first half Walker was 4-7 from the field, 1-2 from three-point range and 1-1 from the free throw line. Jaden Akins and A.J. Hoogard added 10 points apiece. Michigan State finished 25-65 from the field for 38%, 8-25 from three-point range and 6-7 from the free throw line. Michigan State pulled down 33 rebounds, dished out 15 assists, 12 steals, no blocks and committed 12 turnovers. The Spartans scored 22 points in the paint, 17 points off turnovers and 7 bench points. The Hoosiers jumped out to 6-0 lead on three pointers by Galloway and Mgbako. Michigan State got on the board with a Hoogard Three as the Hoosiers went on another 6-0 run to lead 12-3 with 15:10 left in the first half. The Hoosiers led throughout the entire first half leading 30-19 with 3:55 left in the first half. Michigan State made a 10-4 to close out the first half as Indiana led 34-29 at halftime as the Spartans closed the half on an 8-0 run in the last 1:23.
Michigan State took the lead with 18:01 left when Jaden Akins hit a three pointer to give the Spartans the lead 36-35. Michigan State went on a 5-0 run and led 43-36 with 15:23 left. Indiana went on a 6-0 run to cut the Spartan lead to 1 point 43-42 with 14:07 left. The Spartans maintained the lead until the 7:58 mark when Xavier Johnson drilled a three pointer to put the Hoosiers up one 56-55. The game was tight the rest of the way the largest lead as Indiana led by three 60-57 with 5:33 left. Michigan State tied the game 60-60 with 2:56 left as Carson Cooper hit a free throw. Malik Reneau scored on a jumper with 2:37 left to make it 62-60 IU. Tyson Walker hit two free throws to tie the game 62-62 with 2:10 left. Indiana retook the lead with Kel’el Ware with a layup with 1:55 left to give the Hoosiers 64-62 lead. Tyson Walker put the Spartans on his back with a driving layup to tie the game with 1:28 left. Ware was fouled by Malik Hall with 17.8 seconds left when he missed the first free throw and hit the second to put the Hoosiers up 65-64 as Walker missed a shot at the end and Johnson got the rebound and celebrated with Hoosier Nation to give Indiana a .500 record. in conference play and third winning season in Head Coach Mike Woodson’s three seasons at his alma mater.
As a tradition that is has been going on for 50 years that started with Bob Knight the head coach and the Seniors address the crowd after the game. Mike Woodson thanked the “True Fans” and let them know that “I’m the Coach Here”. Woodson talked about each of his seniors and saved Xavier Johnson for last. He told Johnson “I saved you for last because you put up with more shit from me, I’ve got so much respect for you, so much respect. Because the true fans understand all that other shit they don’t understand.” Both Leal and Galloway defended Woodson in their senior day speeches. “There is no other coach in the country that I would trust, with anything in my life, than coach Woodson, and there is no other university that I’d want to represent” Leal said. “Were gonna to run it back. But you guys gotta chill” Leal’s message to the fans. Galloway added “I will be back next year. Let’s do it”. Before the Minnesota game It was announced that Mike Woodson would return for next season, but he said in the Press Conference “There shouldn’t be anything floating around my job, I have done my job”. The Hoosiers now focus on the Big Ten Tournament where they will have to win four games in four days to get the automatic bid to NCAA Tournament.
Indiana University Women’s Basketball Falls in the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Quarterfinal to Michigan
The #3 Seed Indiana Hoosiers lost to the #6 Michigan Wolverines 69-56 Friday Night at the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Hoosiers are 24-5 and know they will be in the NCAA Tournament when the field is announced on Sunday March 17, at 8pm on ESPN. The question is will they host or will they have to travel. The top 16 seeds get to host first, and second round games and the Hoosiers have done that the last two seasons as a number #3 seed in 2022 and a number 1 seed a season ago. Indiana had been projected a #4 seed coming into the Big Ten Tournament, but this loss could be the deciding factor that could see the Hoosiers drop to #5 seed and go on the road for the NCAA Tournament.
Mackenize Holmes, who suffered a knee injury in Last Sunday’s senior day win over Maryland, did not start, but was available if Head Coach Teri Moren needed her. Holmes played 5 minutes, coming in midway through the fourth quarter with the Hoosiers trailing a needed a momentum shift. Indiana could not get that momentum shift as the Gorham, Maine native struggled going 0-2 from the field, 1 assist, 1 turnover, and picking up 2 fouls. Holmes took the role of being a cheerleader and extra coach while on the bench encouraging her teammates and also shouting out instructions during the game. The Hoosiers finished the game 22-61 from the field for 36%, 9-26 from three-point range for 36% and 3-3 from the free throw line. Indiana pulled down 23 rebounds, dished out 13 assists, 7 steals, 5 blocks, and committed 14 turnovers.
Sara Scalia scored 14 points in her home state to lead the Hoosiers. The Stillwater, Minnesota native playing just 29 minutes West of her Hometown, scored 11 first half points and four three pointers. Sydney Parrish added 13 points, Chloe Moore-McNeil finished with 10 points. Yarden Garzon scored 9 points and was 1-7 from the free point range and Lexus Bargesser scored 8 points. Garzon played in Holmes spot as the Hoosiers went with a smaller lineup since Lilly Meister who suffered an ankle injury in Last Sunday’s win against Maryland was available but not going to start. Meister who hails from Rochester, Minnesota which is 87 miles Southeast of Minneapolis played 22 minutes off the bench scoring 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal 1 block, 1 turnover, and committed 3 personal fouls. Moren went with Meister off the bench first instead of Holmes to give the Hoosiers the post presence they needed. Juliana LaMendola played 9 minutes with a rebound and assist. Freshman Lenee Beaumont played 2 minutes and did not score.
Michigan is 20-12 and should be a lock for the NCAA Tournament after this win over the #12 team in the country. Lalia Phelia scored a career high 30 points to lead the Wolverines. Lauren Hansen added 16 points along with 10 points apiece from Jordan Hobbs and Cameron Williams. Michigan finished the game 27-57 from the field for 47%, 6-14 from three-point range for 43% and 9-12 from the free throw line for 75%. Michigan pulled down 37 rebounds, dished out 14 assists, 7 steals, 3 blocks, and committed 11 turnovers.
It was a tale of two halves with Indiana leading 12-9 at the end of the first quarter after both teams struggled to make shots. The Hoosiers outscored Michigan 23-12 in the second quarter to go into the locker room with a 14-point lead 35-21. In the third quarter Michigan came out and made the adjustments they needed outscoring Indiana 19-8 and holding the Hoosiers to is lowest point total in any quarter this season to get back in this game after being down 14 at the break. Indiana in their five losses this season has had one bad quarter in each of those games and that showed up again with a rough third quarter performance in which the Hoosiers were careless with the basketball and struggled to get back in the game.
Indiana went into the final ten minutes up 43-40 but Michigan took the lead with 8:45 left in the game 45-43. Yarden Garzon tied the game at 45-45 on a layup at the 8:27 mark. Phelia scored to give the Wolverines the lead back at 47-45 with 7:53 left. Chloe Moore-McNeil was fouled on a layup with 7:36 left and hit the free throw to give the Hoosiers a one-point lead at 48-47. Jordan Hobbs drilled a three with 6:59 left to make 50-48 and Michigan finished the game on a 19-8 run after they outscored the Hoosiers 29-13 in the fourth quarter.
Bloomington North Girls Gymnastics Finishes 5th at the IHSAA State Finals
Bloomington North Finished 5th in the IHSAA Girls Gymnastics Meet at Ball State on Saturday with a Team Score of 107.600 after 1.0 Team Deduction. The Cougars had scored a 108.6 which was better than Columbus North which had a 107.825 but a judge halfway through the competition gave the Cougars the deduction. The Cougars tie the 1981 team that finished 5th for the best finish in school history in a state final meet. Bloomington South Finished 9th with a score of 101.025. Bloomington North’s Jessica Floyd finished 4th on the Floor Exercise with a score of 9.000. Sofia Garcia tied for fifth on the Vault with a score of 9.500 and fifth in the All-Around with a score of 37.275. Crown Point won the State Title with a score of 113.150. Elise Kran of Crown Point won the Vault, Floor Exercise and All-Around Titles Austyn Dykes of Franklin Central won the Bars and the Beam.
Former Indiana University Football great John Isenbarger passes away at age 76
John Isenbarger, one of the star players on Indiana’s lone Rose Bowl team, died Thursday at age 76. Isenbarger is one of only four IU football players to earn first team All-America recognition on two different occasions. Isenbarger and the 1967 Indiana squad were co-Big Ten champions and played in that Rose Bowl game against USC. After going to IU as a quarterback, Isenbarger switched to running back when Harry Gonso was named that team’s starter. For his career the Muncie, Ind. native averaged an impressive 5.0 yards per carry. Isenbarger is currently tenth on IU’s all-time rushing yards list despite not playing his freshman year (1966). He was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1970 NFL Draft and played professionally for San Francisco. He played four seasons with the 49ers and caught two touchdown passes. Isenbarger was inducted into the IU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991.
In 1969, Isenbarger had a career-best 184-yard performance against Minnesota. He ended his career with a bang, with a 165-yard outburst against Purdue. He finished his senior season with 1,217 yards, the 11th best total in program history. Isenbarger also had a career total of thirteen 100-plus yard games. At the time he graduated, Isenbarger was IU’s all-time leading rusher, and he held the single season rushing mark as well. Ise nbarger was also the starting punter for the Hoosiers, and he was quite good at it — when he decided to kick the ball. He is the name behind one of the most iconic slogans associated with the IU football program. His judgment (or lack thereof) in deciding whether to punt the football or run is the story behind the “Punt John Punt!” expression you’ve likely heard before. Isenbarger was Indiana’s Most Valuable Player in 1969 and first team All-Big Ten that same year.
Mackenize Holmes on the National Ballot for the John R. Wooden Player of the Year Award
Graduate Student Forward Mackenize Holmes has been named to the 2024 Women’s National Ballot for the John R. Wooden Award® presented by Principal® and announced by the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Sunday. Selected by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board, the National Ballot consists of 15 student-athletes who are candidates for the Wooden Award All American Team and Wooden Award Trophy as the most outstanding college basketball player in the United States.
On Friday Holmes was named by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association as a Top 5 finalist for the 2024 Lisa Leslie Award, which honors the nation’s top center for the second straight season. Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting today on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process. The five finalists will be presented to Leslie and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The Selection Committee for the Lisa Leslie Award is composed of top women’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
Holmes repeats as a national ballot honoree for the second-straight season as she was a Top 5 finalist for the award in 2023. A unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection this season, the Gorham, Maine native leads Indiana (and second in the Big Ten) in scoring with 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and shooting a nation’s-best 66.7 percent from the floor in 29 games. She has scored in double figures in 27 of those 29 outings and a team-high six double-doubles. Nationally, Holmes also ranks 14th in field goals made (238) and 22nd in points per game.
All balloted players have been certified by their university to meet or exceed the qualifications for the Wooden Award as set forth by Coach Wooden when the Award was established. The qualifications include: candidates must exhibit strength of character, both on and off the court; candidates must be full-time students in an accredited NCAA college or university; candidates must be making progress toward graduation and have a cumulative 2.00 grade point average since enrolling in their school; candidates must contribute to team effort; candidates must excel in both offense and defense; and candidates should be considered on their performance over the course of the entire season. Voting will take place from March 19th to March 26th, and voters take into consideration a player’s entire season of play, as well as the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The finalists for the 2024 Wooden Award presented by Principal will be announced on April 2nd.
Indiana University Men’s Basketball Signee Liam McNeely asks to be released from his National Letter of Intent
Indiana will enter the spring with no class of 2024 commits. 5-star wing Liam McNeeley has requested a release from his national letter of intent, according to multiple reports. Joe Tipton of On3 broke the news. The news comes a day after Indiana announced the return of Mike Woodson as head coach for the 2024-25 season. McNeeley chose Indiana over Kansas in the fall.
Yesterday Indiana announced McNeeley, a consensus five-star commit out of Montverde Academy, was named to the 2024 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Boy’s High School All America Third Team. In 30 games at Montverde Academy, the top-ranked high school program in the country, McNeeley is averaging 12.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He is shooting 51.0% (130-of-255) from the field, 46.0% (64-of-139) from the 3-point line, and 80.0% (56-of-70) from the free throw line.
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