On the final day of 2023, we take a look back at the year that was in IU Athletics.
These are our top stories involving the current IU teams, players and coaches for the 2023 calendar year.
10. VOLLEYBALL EMERGES
The Hoosiers finished the season 21-12 (11-9), matching a program record for regular season wins (21) and finishing with the most conference wins (11) since 1999. IU finished in a tie for sixth in the Big Ten, the program’s highest finish since the conference expanded to 14 teams. They had an RPI that put the Hoosiers on the outskirts of the bubble of the NCAA Tournament. IU set multiple Wilkinson Hall attendance records.
9. WOMEN’S SOCCER ON THE RISE
The IU women’s soccer program earned their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in program history and their first since the 2013 season. Indiana finished with a 12-4-4 record and had their best finish in the Big Ten with a 6-2-2 record. The Hoosiers made their first appearance in the national polls since 2021, and achieved their highest ranking in program history.
8. BASEBALL RETURNS TO NCAA TOURNAMENT
After the sixth 40-win regular season in program history, the Indiana baseball program earned an at-large selection to the 2023 NCAA Baseball Championships. It was the 10th all-time appearance in the NCAA postseason for the Hoosiers, and the first since 2019. IU advanced to the winner-take-all game against Kentucky at the NCAA Lexington Regional. Their 43 wins mark the fifth most in Indiana baseball history and the regional championship game is the fourth in program history (2013, 2014, 2018, 2023).
7. SOFTBALL MAKES NCAA TOURNAMENT, GOES ON HISTORIC RUN
Indiana softball set a new program win streak with 23 straight victories in addition to sweeping six conference opponents. IU led the conference in every major offensive category including batting average, runs scored, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, total bases, slugging percentage, walks, hit by pitch OBS, and OPS. With a No. 2 seed, IU got back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011, and made their first appearance under head coach Shonda Stanton.
6. MEN’S SWIM AND DIVE MAINTAINS PLACE AMONG NATION’S ELITE
The IU men finished as the No. 4 team in the nation at the 2023 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in late March. The Hoosiers scored 379 points to earn their fourth top-five finish of the last five championships. Indiana remains among college swimming’s elite – in the last five years, only four team have consistently finished top six nationally: Cal, Texas, Florida and Indiana.
Three Hoosiers won individual NCAA titles: Divers Andrew Capobianco (3-meter) and Carson Tyler (platform), and swimmer Brendan Burns (100-yard backstroke).
5. MEN’S SOCCER DOUBLES UP (AGAIN)
IU men’s soccer did what they do. The Hoosiers captured their 12th Big Ten Championship double (regular season and tournament title) and their fourth double in the last six years, meaning the Hoosiers have won eight of the last 12 available Big Ten titles. In all, Indiana has won 34 Big Ten Championships in 33 seasons of conference play, combing 18 regular season and now 16 tournament titles.
The Hoosiers advanced all the way to the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament before coming up short in penalty kicks at Notre Dame.
4. JACKSON-DAVIS ASCENDS RECORD BOOKS ON WAY TO CONSENSUS FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN
Trayce Jackson-Davis averaged career bests in points (20.9), rebounds (10.8), assists (4.0), and blocked shots (2.9) in his fourth and final season on campus. TJD claimed All-America First Team honors from all four (The Sporting News, Associated Press, NABC, USWBA) entities used to calculate consensus All-America status.
Jackson-Davis finished his collegiate career as the program’s all-time leader in rebounds (1,143) and blocked shots (270), third on the all-time scoring list (2,258), and third in double-doubles (50).
3. HOOD-SCHIFINO SILENCES MACKEY
Jalen Hood-Schifino surgically dissected Purdue’s defense on Feb. 25 at Mackey Arena. The freshman point guard scored 35 points on 14-of-24 shooting. It was a career-high for Hood-Schifino and the second most points ever scored in a game by an IU freshman. He played the full 40 minutes and added seven rebounds while making 6-of-7 from the line. Indiana’s 79-71 win was their first in West Lafayette since 2013.
2. WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CLAIMS BIG TEN TITLE
No. 2 Indiana’s 83-60 victory over Purdue on Feb. 19 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall secured the program’s first Big Ten title since 1983. It came in front of a sellout crowd of 17,222, the largest in program history and the third biggest ever in Big Ten play. Indiana went on to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and head coach Teri Moren was named the AP national coach of the year.
1. TOM ALLEN FIRED, CURT CIGNETTI HIRED
Following a third straight disappointing season, Indiana made a change at the top of the football program in late November. Tom Allen led IU to consecutive January bowl games following the 2019-20 seasons, but his teams went just 9-27 from 2021-23.
Just a few days later, IU announced the hiring of Curt Cignetti, who became the 30th coach in program history. Cignetti posted an 11-1 record in 2023, his fifth season as James Madison head coach. He had an overall mark of 52-9 (.853), including a 19-4 run over 2022 and 2023, JMU’s first two years as an FBS program.
IN MEMORIAM:
On Nov. 1 legendary former IU men’s basketball coach Bob Knight passed away.
On Dec. 14 former IU basketball star George McGinnis passed away.
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