Author: Mike Schumann

IU center Oumar Ballo has clicked the turbo button. And like any good sports car, the he needs space to operate at peak performance. The 7-foot and 265-pound Ballo has been dominant in Indiana’s 2-0 resumption of Big Ten play, and that coincides with Indiana playing almost exclusively with a 4-out scheme, or even 5-out when Ballo frequents the perimeter to set screens. With two high-end facilitators on the floor and four good shooters, the paint has been wide open for Ballo, and he has capitalized, with 21 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks per contest over his…

What does a 12-3 start and 3-1 record in the Big Ten mean for Indiana’s outlook in March? Roughly halfway through the 2024-25 season, IU basketball is squarely on the NCAA Tournament bubble according to the most recognizable name in bracketology. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi issued an updated bracket projection on Tuesday morning, and he includes the Hoosiers as part of his first four teams out of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.  And that actually reflects progress.  Prior to their win at Penn State Sunday, the Hoosiers were in just one of 48 brackets at bracketology aggregator Bracket Matrix. While their record…

Over his last two games Indiana center Oumar Ballo has been at his best, averaging 21 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks. A big part of the story has been a greater opportunity. Ballo has tied or exceeded his highs for minutes and field goal attempts in each of the last two games. It was hard to see any of this coming as the starting lineups were announced for Indiana’s game against Rutgers on Jan. 2.  Things seemed to be going the wrong way for Ballo.  After missing IU’s game against Winthrop for undisclosed reasons, he was relegated…

Pittsburgh transfer cornerback Ryland Gandy announced his commitment to Indiana on Monday. HOO HOO HOO HOOSIERS‼️ pic.twitter.com/8BbYh8VIeZ — Ryland Gandy (@iamrdg10) January 6, 2025 The 6-foot and 180-pound Gandy visited IU last week.  He was a starter for Pitt in 2024.  He played in all 13 games and produced 40 tackles and one pass defensed. According to PFF he played 766 snaps and had a 63.4 coverage grade and 33.7 tackling mark.  PFF says he missed 15 tackles and was targeted 54 times for 28 receptions and 19.6 yards per catch.  He limited opposing quarterbacks to just a 51.9% completion…

Indiana is on the board with a Quad 1 win in the NCAA’s NET rankings. It was nip and tuck for the entire first half, with neither team leading by more than four points, and both teams struggling to score.  They went into halftime tied at 29.  But an electric first three minutes of the second half changed the game.  IU opened with a 12-0 run over the first 2:49, and outscored PSU 32-16 over the first 9:40.  The Nittany Lions fought all the way back to 73-71 with 1:43 left, but Indiana was able to make more plays and…

Mike Woodson took questions after his team’s 77-71 win over Penn State on Sunday regarding the health of starting forward Malik Reneau. Based on what Woodson has been told, Reneau has no structural damage to his right knee, but it isn’t clear when he will return to the floor. “Don’t know when he’s gonna be back.  It’s in medical’s hands,” Woodson said from the Palestra in Philadelphia.  “He didn’t tear up anything, but don’t know when he’s gonna come back, I really don’t.  I just gotta follow the doctors’ leads, and he’s gotta do what he needs to do get…

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Indiana defeated Penn State at the Palestra on Sunday afternoon by a final score of 77-71. The game was tied at 29 at halftime.  The Hoosiers were led in the game by Oumar Ballo with 25 points and 13 rebounds.  Mackenzie Mgbako added 20 points including four three-pointers. The three keys to the game, highlights and final stats from the game are below. See also:  Woodson, Mgbako and Ballo postgame Q&A Indiana (12-3, 3-1) will host USC on Wednesday. THREE KEYS TO THE GAME 1. A fast second half start.  Indiana came out of the halftime locker room…

Indiana will be shorthanded against Penn State on Sunday in Philadelphia. Junior starting forward and leading scorer Malik Reneau is out vs. the Nittany Lions after suffering an injury on Thursday. The Daily Hoosier understands Reneau could be out 1-3 weeks with his lower body injury.  There’s a chance this is the only game he misses. Jakai Newton and Gabe Cupps are also out for IU, while Oumar Ballo is questionable for the third straight game.  Ballo is expected to play. With Ballo out of the starting lineup the last two games, Indiana inserted Luke Goode.  He could be in…

Indiana picked up a commitment from Michigan transfer wide receiver Tyler Morris on Saturday. The 5-foot-11 and 185-pound Morris has appeared in 34 career games at wide receiver with 12 starts for the Wolverines. In 2024 Morris played in 11 games and caught 23 passes for 248 yards and two scores.  He was the top wide receiver for the Wolverines in receiving yards as part of inept passing attack.  Morris played about half of his snaps lined up in the slot and half out wide.  He had two drops. In 2023 Morris appeared in all 15 games with four starts…

Offensive lineman Kahlil Benson is transferring back to Indiana after one season at Colorado. Benson started the first four games of the 2024 season at right guard for the Buffs and then missed two games due to injury. When he returned, Benson didn’t start, but was part of a rotation at guard. A versatile offensive lineman, he also played some at right tackle. The Mississippi native missed the last two games, including the Valero Alamo Bowl, with an injury. Overall he played 405 snaps in nine games this season according to PFF, but only 139 of those snaps came after…