Welcome to another edition of 6-Banner Sunday, a joint production between The Assembly Call and Inside the Hall, where we highlight the five most essential IU basketball stories of the past week, plus take a look at how the other IU sports programs are doing.
During an ordinarily quiet summer, several big-time stories came to light this week in the IU and Big Ten basketball world. This included the Hoosiers filling the final scholarship for the fall and the conference hoops tournament returning to Indiana in 2025.
Besides this, season previews, an update on a top recruiting target, and weekly shows round out the basketball portion of 6-Banner. We will, as usual, conclude with a look at other IU teams led by a schedule update for men’s soccer.
In late-week breaking news, Hoosier Hysteria’s date was announced for Friday, October 18. This year’s Hysteria will feature scrimmages from the men’s and women’s programs.
Also, former IU star Victor Oladipo will be inducted into the IU Athletics Hall of Fame as part of a larger class. The class also includes Kayla Bashore (Field Hockey, 2002-05), Kevin Berry (Men’s Swimming, 1964-66), Danny O’Rourke (Men’s Soccer, 2001-04), Max Skirvin (Radio Broadcaster, Contributor 1950-2000) and Jody Yin (Women’s Tennis, 1991-94).
Here is what’s in this week’s edition:
• IU fills 13th scholarship with Dallas James• Future Big Ten Tournament Basketball sites announced• Power rankings, bracketology update, non-conference team previews• Jalen Haralson sets more official visits• Podcast on the Brink and Back Home Network shows• Hoosier Roundup
IU men’s basketball will play several games this upcoming season on Peacock and the women will play a few as well, making the streaming service essential for IU basketball fans. Sign up for Peacock using Inside the Hall’s link to help support the site and also enjoy Big Ten hoops all season long! (The link is an Inside the Hall affiliate link, so a commission will be paid to ITH if you click and subscribe to Peacock.)
Banner #1 – IU fills 13th scholarship with Dallas James
While the top 12 players and major contributors were long known for Indiana basketball heading into this fall, the final scholarship was filled this week. It went to South Carolina State transfer Dallas James.
However, James did not play a significant role at his previous stop, averaging just 1.4 points per game for his career. That said, he is a 7-footer and will provide a body in practice. He also carries a 4.0 GPA.
Banner #2 – Future Big Ten Tournament Basketball sites announced
It turns out the Hoosiers’ many-year streak of playing at least a game each year in Indianapolis will continue. Despite not playing there in the regular season for the first time in a while, Indiana will play in the state’s largest city come March.
This is because it was announced this week that both the men’s and women’s conference basketball tournaments will be contested in IU’s home state in March of 2025. The 2026 women’s as well as the 2027 men’s competition will also take place 50 miles north of the team’s Bloomington campus.
However, the rest of the events between now and 2028 will be held elsewhere. The 2026 edition for the men will be in Chicago while the 2027 men’s and 2028 women’s Big Ten championship will be in Las Vegas. Finally, the 2028 women’s event will move to Detroit for the first time.
Banner #3 – Power rankings, bracketology update, non-conference team previews
The expectations for the 2024-2025 season continue to be relatively high, according to multiple publications. Notable college basketball insider Jon Rothstein picked IU to finish second in the Big Ten behind Purdue. Also, Joe Lunardi released an updated ESPN Bracketology for March of 2025, where he has the Hoosiers as a five seed.
Indiana will need to get off to a good start to meet these standards. Inside the Hall continued its detailed preview of each opponent. This week ITH previewed South Carolina, UNC Greensboro, Sam Houston State, Miami (OH) and Chattanooga this week. They also looked at where each squad in the Big Ten stands on player transactions as well as did a mailbag.
Banner #4 – Jalen Haralson sets more official visits
As the Hoosiers continue to target 2025 in-state top prospect Jalen Haralson, their competition for his services continue to be top-notch. While the ninth-ranked national prospect will visit IU in late August, he also added visits to Kansas, Missouri, and Purdue this fall. This is in addition to already scheduled trips to Michigan State and Notre Dame.
Banner #5 – Podcast on the Brink and Back Home Network shows
Inside the Hall’s Podcast on the Brink returned this week. On it, the IndyStar’s Kyle Neddenriep talks recruiting.
Also, The Back Home Network had a couple of new shows this week. This included Crimson Cast, Doing The Work, and The Dribble Drive.
Banner #6 – Hoosier Roundup
• Men’s Soccer will make a conference-leading five appearances on the Big Ten Network.
• Several Hoosiers continue to compete at the Paris Olympics.
• Football’s TE James Bomba and P James Evans were named to a preseason watch list. Also, IU coach Curt Cignetti and a couple of players spoke to the media this week. Finally, a change was announced to the color analyst for the radio broadcasts.
• Volleyball’s Camryn Haworth was named to the preseason all-conference team.
• Indiana athletics as a whole announced a partnership with Viaggio Pontoon Boats.
Now go enjoy yourself a 6-banner Sunday.
Aaron (Ari) ShifronAssembly Call Contributor
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