Author: Seth Tow

Mackenzie Mgbako came to Indiana men’s basketball this year as one of the highest-rated commits in program history. But the start to his freshman season had been difficult, in several ways. He was arrested at a Taco Bell in Bloomington in late October, which didn’t lead to any suspension from IU head coach Mike Woodson. And on the court, he just didn’t quite settle in through the first five games. Mgbako particularly struggled defensively, and wasn’t producing enough offensively to make up for it. He’d scored in double-figures just once, against Wright State — and that was the only game…

Indiana starting quarterback Brendan Sorsby is entering the transfer portal, he announced on social media. The redshirt freshman battled for the starting job throughout the last offseason with fellow redshirt freshman Tayven Jackson, who transferred in from Tennessee in January. The duo split reps during the first two games of the season before Jackson was named the starter ahead of IU’s third game against Louisville. But Jackson was pulled from the Maryland game a few weeks later, with the score out of hand, and Sorsby put himself back in contention. They once again split the reps in the next game…

IU Athletics has announced Tom Allen’s dismissal as head football coach. The news matriculated around social media this morning, and this makes it official. IU’s press release included some notable information regarding Allen’s widely-discussed buyout. The university and Allen settled on two $7.75 million payments, which will come from the athletic department’s donor funds. The original buyout, as stated in the extension Allen signed after the 2020 season, would’ve been four installments of $5.2 million. So this gives Allen larger payments, but drops the overall buyout from $20.8 million to $15.5 million. “After continued evaluation of our entire football program,…

Indiana’s football season came to another unceremonious end in the Old Oaken Bucket game, and it’s now decision time. IU blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter against Purdue to lose the rivalry game for the third straight time, and the fifth time in the last six meetings. That dates back to the start of Tom Allen’s tenure as IU head coach. And now, vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics Scott Dolson has to determine what course the IU football program will chart going forward. Allen has four years remaining on the seven-year extension he signed after the…

If Indiana’s win over Tennessee on Thursday was the Yarden Garzon game, Saturday’s matchup with Princeton was the Sara Scalia game. The fifth-year senior dominated this contest from the very beginning, and finished with 28 points, the most she’s scored in an IU uniform. Her Hoosiers had to battle in the second half against a tough Tigers squad, but IU hung on for a 72-63 win in the Elevance Health Fort Myers Tip-Off in Fort Myers, Fla. Scalia got into a rhythm quickly, shooting 3 for 3 on threes in the first quarter. She racked up 18 points in the first…

Indiana women’s basketball faced real questions after its one-sided loss to Stanford. It was the type of game the Hoosiers hadn’t played in years. One that was, for all intents and purposes, over before halftime. Was it the confluence of a really bad day for them and a really good day for the Cardinal, or was it a red flag for this group moving forward? IU put those concerns to bed on Thanksgiving night in Fort Myers, Fla. The 21st-ranked Hoosiers defeated No. 19 Tennessee for the second straight year, a 71-57 win in the Elevance Health For Myers Tip-Off.…

The NFL is into the second half of its season. IU has 13 players on NFL rosters or practice squads as of week 12, and most of those players haven’t seen much game action.   Some have, though, and one has enjoyed a strong year. Three former Indiana players have made their NFL debuts this season. Here are individual updates on various Hoosiers around the league. Micah McFadden, LB, New York Giants McFadden has started all 10 games for the Giants in a really solid individual season. Pro Football Focus ranks him No. 38 (out of 81) overall among linebackers across…

With Indiana football in its final week of the 2023 season, the Hoosiers will soon start thinking ahead to 2024 and beyond. Questions persist about head coach Tom Allen’s job security, after the Hoosiers missed a bowl game for the third consecutive season. Allen’s contract runs through 2027. The buyout on his deal drops to $20.4 million on December 1; it takes a more significant hit on December 1, 2024, to around $8 million. If there’s no change at the top, one of the next questions heading into the offseason will be about other coaching staff changes. Some assistants could…

NEW YORK — For the second day in a row at the Empire Classic, Mike Woodson had to go to his bench early. Indiana men’s basketball saw guard Xavier Johnson commit two fouls in just over two minutes on Sunday against UConn. On Monday, freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako picked up two fouls even quicker. IU never really recovered from Johnson’s foul trouble on Sunday — the backcourt was a big problem in that loss. But Monday, Indiana’s bench was up to the task. And it was one of the main reasons the Hoosiers pulled out a 74-66 win over Louisville…

NEW YORK — Xavier Johnson was questionable going into IU’s game on Sunday, but he started without issue. His problems — and his team’s — arose when the game began. After going down at the end of the Wright State game, the senior guard’s status was uncertain entering the Hoosiers’ matchup with No. 4 UConn Sunday in the Empire Classic. He was listed as questionable on Indiana’s availability report, but dressed for warmups, looked healthy, and appeared set for a normal workload. But Johnson picked up two fouls in the first 2:11 of game time, and Indiana never recovered. UConn…