Aaron

I'm not 100% sure but I believe the same bag policy applies for indoor sports like women's basketball and volleyball but not for outdoor sports like soccer, softball, and baseball. That could have changed this year but I am fairly sure that's how its been through last spring.

I really hope this is a repeat of the 'great freakout of early 2012' when our no. 1 ranked basketball squad got taken to the wire by Georgetown early in season and everyone panicked. Turned out no one knew the Hoyas were a top 10-15 squad with future pro Otto Porter who SHOULD have been ranked there (and were pretty quickly) much like this Northwestern squad who probably will be eventually. I will say Hoover and this secondary scare me a bit. The RB's, WR's, front seven, and O-line are pretty much championship worthy. As long as QB and CB play can be just average this should be a playoff team. Hoover just needs to stop missing open throws and secondary needs to stop leaving gaping holes in coverage on back end. Its the difference between 8-10 wins and getting decent bowl or sneaking into playoffs and 11-12 wins with being a championship contender.

This game perfectly captures both why you feel so much better about this team and why they still scare you to death. It was an absolute microcosm of what the change to Mroz in goal—combined with a backline improved 100% from last year—delivers. It was also the full showcase of the Njike experience: everything he creates and everything he leaves on the table. Defensively, Indiana has cut opponent chances to a fraction of what they surrendered last season. Even so, all it takes is one wonder-strike—an opponent fluke goal that Indiana was helpless to stop—to tie the match and put everything in jeopardy. At the same time, we saw exactly why putting Mroz between the pipes is a total game-changer. IU could have easily been down 2–1, watching Penn State bleed out the clock, if not for his massive breakaway save—one that neither keeper from last year likely makes. Outside of that moment, the Nittany Lions generated virtually nothing, a massive upgrade from the half-dozen quality looks the backline conceded on a nightly basis a year ago. Then there is the offense and the sheer adventure of watching Njike. His dribbling and on-ball ability are among the best I have ever seen at the college level. That skill set is 100% the reason the game-winner materialized; he created the opportunity out of nothing to set up Moller Jensen, a play very few collegiate attackers could pull off. The downside, however, is his finishing touch. He puts way too much power behind certain shots. His lack of composure is why the Hoosiers failed to bury the game on a penalty sequence late, blasting an easy rebound over the bar after a solid initial save—a tap-in that 99% of attackers convert. Blown chances like that left IU vulnerable at the death, surviving only because a late handball review in the box went their way. Still, pairing Njike with Moller Jensen on the flanks makes for a lethal wing tandem, and you simply have to take the good with the bad here. My biggest concern remains Easton Bogard at striker. Bogard would start for 90% of programs in the country, but his ceiling doesn't quite match Indiana’s historical standard at that spot. You find yourself wishing for Palmer Ault from last year, or any of the endless line of future pros IU normally features up top. It is not the subpar striker play of the mid-2010s; it is slightly above average when this system demands elite—especially with dynamic creators feeding balls in from the wings. This roster is trending toward a top-eight, if not a top-four national seed reminiscent of the late 2010s. Yet the attack feels equally capable of driving a run to the College Cup or bowing out in a heartbreaking Sweet 16 overtime loss. If IU had a true dynamic threat leading the line, I would put their College Cup odds at 75%. Outside of that spot, there are very few glaring holes, and historically, a solid Hoosier squad can cruise to the Elite Eight before facing a true 50/50 test. Right now, though, an underdog could still steal a result in the opening rounds—something that never felt possible during the dominant 2017 and 2018 runs, when results were basically decided before kickoff and the only real tests were heavyweight battles against the likes of Michigan State or Notre Dame in regional final in each season.

Yup. Exactly what I described above. If you still had Palmer Ault from last year, this is sure fire no. 1 team and would be a tragedy if they didn't win it all similar to 2017 and 2018.

Yup. And healthy big Z can be close to that. Especially with adding Kenzie Hare and Jess Petrie in portal who are dead eye three-point shooters. My concerns are Z staying healthy, who is go to scorer, and is their enough depth in the backcourt. That's what needs to be paid attention to this yr. Not adding a top center which is on roster if healthy.

This result confirmed everything I said after last game that team finally has the goalie and defense to win a title for the first time since late 2010's (when its a travesty they didn't). However, the lack of a dynamic forward with speed will mean needing to create goals other ways and that's hard to do more than once a game against squads with good defenses and conference is full of those this year. This team won't lose much, but could see a good amount of 1-1 ties going forward and even some 0-0 draws and of course a lot of 1-0 wins. A 1-1 tie tonight is absolutely not a bad result. However, wonder if its first of many draws due to offensive limitations and costs team a Big Ten title and they end up with something like a 5-0-5 record as a result. As I said D absolutely could win team a national title. However, current offensive personnel could also mean losing 1-0 or 2-1 in Sweet 16 at home as happened in mid 2010's when squad had a similar set up. Also, watching Judwelin Michelle, I think Yeagley made right call to let him move on to be Wiscy's goalkeeper. Michelle has gotten a lot better than with IU last year. However, Mroz has slightly better instincts and awareness and finally combines that with size for first time since Roman Celentano was here, which is number one ingredient to have legitimate chance at ninth star.

As I have said before this is only possible if Big Z isn't on the roster. If she stays healthy finally she is that. If not, its portal time next offseason for one. Can't have two non-shooting threats on roster at once who are top bigs and Z already fills that role. Its a gamble to rely on Z again, but as long as she is on roster that's your dominant post player, and no other top center is coming. A stretch four who can shoot is helpful with her. However, Jess Petrie from portal fills that role perfectly now to go with Makalusky at the 3. You can't have 'a few dominant centers' in modern game. You can have one who is starter quality and one of backup quality which Alisa Williams who transferred from Iowa St is. The questions for this year are: 1. How do pieces fit together? 2. How does the backcourt do outside Lenee with relying on an elite freshman player in GiGi Battle, a mid level transfer in Kenzie Hare, and a defensive specialist in Malia Samuels who has limited scoring ability? 3. Who is the go to player (sorry Lenee is ideally a great second option but not a true alpha) and if there is not one will a by committee approach work? 4. Most Importantly can Z stay healthy to be your dominant post player? Having multiple dominant centers on roster is least of my concerns, especially in modern game.

Once again 'highest ranked recruit in program history directly out of high school per ESPNW' at 24 (beating Nyemchek by one spot) for FOURTH time since Colsten Thompson got here. In order since he's been here its Makalusky (35), Gigi (29), Addy (25), Colvin (24).

1-0 WIN against an elite Washington offense that keeps the game on skates all night with elite speed and scoring ability. Was waiting to see if this defense is for real and tonight showed they are. Also, every IU player and fan is so glad Charlie Kosakoff is in MLS and not on Huskies anymore as he has been the Hoosiers kryptonite like no other for three years and costs them wins or draws each season recently with late goals. His replacement is barely a drop off but fortunately kept him from finding the back of the net. As for this D, Mroz is FINALLY a goalie in the mold of Celentano and Muse who has the combination of size and good instinct to make tough saves. Like in 2016-2020, it is going to be real hard to score on this team and will be close if they let up more than dozen or so goals in 2026. McHenry, Barger, Maher, and Kinsella finally give you an organized back line of steel and then to score opposition has to get by them AND Mroz if they make a mistake which is really hard. For the first time since 2020 I can say almost unequivocally this is a championship level backline and that no. 2 ranking is not a paper ranking. Def should be a top five squad all year and very few teams are better and most are in Big Ten. The key is going to be to get that top four seed so you can play all NCAA Tourney games in Bloomington pre-College Cup. Now my one concern in this offense. Njike is a different kind of forward with elite ball skills and dribbling who can set others up and score. While this is a great dynamic IU has lacked in their striker in past, it makes me nervous when you don't have a bona fide pure scorer who can put the ball in the net at any point like Toye, Rennicks, or Bezerra during that late 2010's run or Ault last year. Might need to win a lot of 1-0 games this year and this team can certainly do it. Just wish we had that pure scorer up top who can create for themselves with pure speed. Then would feel really good that this team would getting its ninth star like 2017 and 2018 where it was 10/10 as best in country. This time its more 8/10 unless someone becomes a sure goal threat. Bogard, Njike, Moller-Jensen, and Oduro can all score and have different traits to do so, but none dominant which makes it slightly more difficult but not impossible to hang a banner with this backline.

Note the 31st game against Purdue is in Bloomington and then the game at Purdue is Feb. 17 in West Lafayette. There was an error on initial release by IU has since corrected on its own site. However, the Daily Hoosier link provided used the initial incorrect info and has not been updated there.

For sure. Goalkeeping is so much better from him and D in general this year is vastly improved and that save was exactly what team was not getting last year in big moments. The only time Indiana had goalkeeping that was as bad as in 2025 was in 2013 and 2019 to begin year with veterans Michael Soderlund and Sean Caulfield respectively. Fortunately in those two seasons Colin Web and Roman Celentano were young freshmen waiting in the wings and Yeagley was able to make change to them midseason and things improved by leaps and bounds and both became elite guys in net throughout their career. Unfortunately last year when veteran Holden Brown was struggling in job, IU went to their projected young hot shot again in Judewellin Michel and the switch didn't work and he was just as bad and for first time in Yeagley's tenure he had no good answers between pipes. That's why he went and got Mroz in portal. Interestingly Michel seems to have gotten a lot better as Wiscy's goalkeeper this year but Yeagley took no chances and wouldn't give him the job so he transferred. In retrospect either choice would have worked for the Hoosiers seemingly, but I don't blame Yeagley for hitting the portal and its tough when every goalie had shined as freshman in past here and Michel did not. Generally goalies play well here from the word go as freshmen and give you 3-4 years of elite play in net starting with TJ Hanning as a freshman in 1997 which is when I began watching. If you look at the run of guys since its been almost all hits: 1. TJ Hannig 1997-01, Championship level goalie from start who won two national titles 2. Jay Nolly, 02-05, Championship level goalie from start who won two national titles 3. Chay Cain 06-08, Solid goalie who could have been better if anyone but Mike Freitag was coaching him 4. Luis Soffner 09-12, Almost ruined by Freitag but Yeagley got him to his potential last couple of years and got team a national title in last hurrah 5. Colin Webb 13-16, This is where IU went with Soderlund who was Soffner's backup only to bench him midseason after worst goals against average in school history for Webb which saved NCAA Tourney streak that remains to this day and then had solid four year career despite being smaller than ideal 6. Trey Muse 17-18, Best goalie Hoosiers have had since Nolly to this day and a tragedy he didn't raise final hardware after leading IU to back to back College Cups as top ranked team in country throughout his tenure allowing 20 goals TOTAL in two years before going pro with 38-4-7 record 7. Roman Celentano 19-21, Only guy who comes very close to Muse and came in mid 2019 after Muse's backup Caulfield was benched and again a tragedy Celentano didn't get that final hardware for IU getting the team to College Cup and now a high level pro who is fringe guy always for USMNT 8. JT Harms 22-24, Like Webb was smaller than ideal and became an issue in PK shootouts that lost IU a national title in 22 and Elite 8 in 23 after Muse and Celentano excelled here but still a really solid career who led Hoosiers on deep runs in December 9. Holden Brown 25, This is where luck ran out as the last guy's backup again struggled but this time the young hotshot in Michel was not ready and for first time in history Hoosiers had no good choices in net, hence why Mroz is here and appears to be at least a decent answer but ceiling still being written and last season was first time since 2013 Hoosiers gave up way more then about a goal a game on avg at worst

Very nice win and you beat a solid borderline top-30 Texas A+M team who has no resemblance to team who national title last year and replaced every single player in main lineup. The #12 is a paper ranking based on last year and they have lost big to all three good teams they have played so far in blowouts and tonight is closest they came to beating a power-five squad and 3-4 record overall now. Definitely a really solid victory against a squad of similar talent on a neutral floor that will help resume. Just don't conflate last years championship squad with this one. TAMU did a fairly poor job of rebuilding after hoisting their banner last year.

First 70 minutes IU was lucky to be tied on most ridiculous Easton Bogard goal ever after an equally insane goal from Louisville on an indirect free kick a bit earlier and Cardinals dominated most of night. Last 20 min Hoosiers were stronger and all those six shots but the goal I believe occurred then. Going on before that, the Hoosiers got one more goal then they deserved, but unlucky to not find a winner near end. Overall though a fair result as games are won playing well all 90 minutes and you can't rely on being good for final 20 only. Good test for Big Ten and postseason play for Indiana against an equally talented side on road and much more fun to watch both teams go all out then the one way traffic against parked buses IU encounters against inferior squads.

I believe it would still be guaranteed, but the fact there would be one year left at 400-500k over 2 years at nearly 1 million right now is a game changer after 2027. Athletic departments rarely let coaches go into the final yr of deal so its basically put up or shut up for 2027 and either extend or fire him after that. Without results next spring, extending him would be indefensible as it wouldn't cost that much more to make a change. Now it can be argued it is a poor financial choice to make a change even if many disagree. There is no such argument after 2027.

Its almost certainly a combo of both and whether paying a one million dollar buyout for a baseball coach is a good ROI in athletic departments mind. You can certainly disagree but that is almost certainly how IU is looking at it.

That is not a fixed price though (see above) and this one could genuinely go higher or lower with novelty of Evansville game. Primary and secondary markets operate same and change prices based on demand.

Don't disagree that it def causes uneducated people to pay way more than needed by jumping when tickets come out without thinking if they are likely to go up or down closer to game. Reality though is 99% of teams have been using this exact dynamic pricing model for a decade and IU was one of very last hold outs till last year. For people who don't want to check everyday, one can set their smart phone for Ticketmaster or whatever secondary app being used to ping an alert as soon as prices drop for a specific game tickets are wanted for. New system every place uses is def less user friendly (especially for non-tech savvy people), but can lead to getting much cheaper tickets later when hand is played right and its the model we have that every single entertainment event has gone to. Its also very possible to decide you are going to an event and mark it into your plans and buy the actual tickets whenever price seems right whether day of, at release, or in between. I don't disagree its an annoying guessing game and many have had a hard time adapting. However, since its the new reality, best thing to do is work within it for when to purchase and never treat a high price as final amount one will have to pay unless its a premium event.

The athletic department held out longer than anyone with dynamic pricing on basketball tickets and it only went to that last year. They bowed to reality of what everyone else was doing 5-10 yrs later so in a way they left old way in as long as they could. I got tickets for $25 in club level day off for Baylor. Same tickets started over $100 when released. Just have to be patient and both UNC and Syracuse games will likely come down if one waits it out. I certainly agree with the annoyingness of this model everywhere uses now. The key is not to jump on a price the second tickets are released and treat it as the final cost as they are likely to come down if they seem to high. Its all about evaluating in the moment if value seems right and if not waiting it out. Whether we like it or not, athletic departments have to squeeze as much money as possible out of fans now with rev sharing to remain competitive. If they don't, they will not compete in this environment. They have to rely on a few fans to pay the overpriced amount upon release to meet budget and then the smart ones will get a better rate with patience. Its all about knowing how to work within the current system with tickets and then a fair price will be paid. Its why I am hesitant to buy season tickets anymore unless I am sure they will have high value like football right now.

I'm going to slightly disagree here. While on the surface the prices are absurd, the market will decide if that is to high. With dynamic pricing on everything, if they don't sell at that price they will come down (this goes for primary and secondary market). Teams and venues always start at the highest prize and bring it down if no one bites. To me UNC and Syracuse games in Indy are to high right now and few tickets have sold. If they continue to move at slow pace price will come down. Its why one cant jump at tickets anymore the moment they are released and have to evaluate if prices will likely go up or down closer to time based on demand. I put in for Kentucky basketball tickets and IU football season tickets already at $100 and $500 respectively since I don't see it getting any lower. However, UNC and Syracuse are overpriced right now with plenty of tickets available so I am waiting it out. Key is not jumping anymore as soon as tickets are released and evaluating if they will likely go up or down closer to time. Its a bit of a guessing game but one has to use best judgement and jumping on every ticket as soon as they are released is worse thing one can do with current model. Its certainly arguable its a more difficult model to get a hold on when to buy and annoying, but if played right, it is possible to get tickets for cheaper then previous system when prices were fixed till event.

Probably because IU can't justify a nearly one million dollar buyout at moment with two yrs left on deal. On the bright side, Denny confirmed he is coming back. Outside Owen ten Over, not sure there is any other player on this roster that is a must keep after losing Hanley. Just a bunch of avg. after that. That Mercer extension in 2023 which looked necessary at time given you lost two coaches previously, is now an anchor around IU's neck. Going to have to grin and bear with it for one more year in 2027 unfortunately then likely a change as no way they let him go into last year of deal.

Shay made her WNBA debut against the Fever here in Indiana for the Mercury last night and hit a 3 late in the game after playing in a blowout in the final two minutes.

Looks like May’s assistant Mike Boynton gets the interim job. Can’t give him the job full time next summer under ANY circumstances no matter how well he does with Dusty’s guys this year if you are Michigan. Already shown he cant run a program at Oklahoma St. From a selfish standpoint I hope Wolverines are dumb enough to give Boynton job full time to remove an obstacle for IU. From a pragmatic stand point would be dumbest thing UM could do a yr from now.

Ann Arbor seemingly didn’t care they won a title. My family was on that campus the day after the title game and said you couldn’t tell a championship had been won. Combine that with the lack of enthusiasm I saw by Michigan fans at the national title game and it’s not hard to see why Dusty left. Michigan will need to decide if they are serious and care about basketball or program will continue to see extreme swings. Also for IU fans who wanted Dusty, you have to wonder if being treated like a king in Bloomington rather than an afterthought in Ann Arbor would have kept him around longer or lure of NBA would have been to strong after a couple of years?

2028. UGH. Wondered why IU had not made a move and this reporting of the unannounced contract extension on that twitter account now explains it and makes sense. Definitely speaks to one sided nature of coaching contracts after a really good season as 2023 objectively was and administration feeling need to keep them long term. Oh well.

I wouldn't freak out over a boot in June. Time will tell if IU made right decision rolling with Z when season starts. If she is injured again, it will look bad and team clearly should have had her go in portal and pay someone else instead. Definitely doesn't calm nerves though after her injuries last season.