The Assembly Call IU Basketball Podcast and Postgame Show

Indiana gave fans plenty of reasons for optimism in a 76–58 exhibition win over North Carolina, combining Bryce Lindsay’s hot shooting with a commanding 53–31 rebounding advantage and an encouraging defensive effort.Coach Brian Tonsoni, Jerod Morris, and Ryan Phillips break down what stood out in the Hoosiers’ second exhibition victory—and why this roster’s depth, athleticism, and variety on offense suggest more ways to win this season.Among the topics discussed:A different tone on the glass: Relentless offensive rebounding supplied the Banner Moment and helped Indiana finish with a 17–7 advantage in second-chance points.More answers in the backcourt: Lindsay’s scoring, Darren Harris’s shooting, Burton’s creation, and Mustaf’s physical drives give the Hoosiers multiple options when an opponent takes something away.Winning beyond the scoring column: Aiden Sherrell received praise for his rebounding, defensive activity, and willingness to contribute without a big scoring night. Samet Yigitoglu’s size and Sam Alexis’s energy also drew praise.Encouraging defensive progress: Better ball pressure, closeouts, and rotations helped Indiana hold North Carolina below 60 points.Room to improve: Turnovers, missed finishes, baseline inbound execution, and developing dependable depth remain priorities for Darian DeVries’s team.The crew also discusses how to balance building chemistry with giving younger players exhibition minutes, then closes with an IU football conversation about the Ohio State loss, offensive concerns, and the upcoming trip to Michigan.Plus: Game Balls, the Hoosier Hustle Award, lingering questions, and a look ahead to the Western Kentucky exhibition in Evansville.

Darius Wabbington is an Indiana Hoosier. The five-star 2027 center has committed to Indiana basketball, giving Darian DeVries one of his biggest recruiting wins yet and adding another major piece to IU’s rapidly developing 2027 class.Galen Clavio is joined by Brian Tonsoni, Ryan Phillips and Mike Wiemuth for an emergency podcast breaking down Wabbington’s commitment, his skill set and why his game fits what DeVries is trying to build. The 6-foot-11 center brings unusual passing and ball-handling ability, developing three-point range, physical size and the versatility to operate both inside and away from the basket.The crew also looks at Indiana’s 2027 class alongside Chase Branham and Felix Kiehlneker, Wabbington’s NBA potential, how he could be used in DeVries’ offense, and what beating Arizona and Illinois for an elite national recruit says about IU’s recruiting trajectory.Plus: why Indiana’s roster construction looks increasingly intentional — and how this commitment compares with the program’s history of landing five-star prospects.Subscribe to the Back Home Network for more coverage of Indiana basketball.

Indiana fell to USC 81-75 in Los Angeles, closing out a grueling West Coast road trip with a flat performance two days after their emotional double-overtime victory over UCLA. Despite battling back from an 11-point second-half deficit to have a chance late, the Hoosiers shot just 28.6% from three-point range and got only 11 combined points from Nick Dorn and Tucker DeVries as physical and mental fatigue seemed to catch up with them. The loss drops Indiana to 15-8 overall and 6-6 in Big Ten play.Jerod Morris and Ryan Phillips break down the disappointing but somewhat expected letdown:Lamar Wilkerson's heroic 33-point performance carrying Indiana offensively when no other Hoosier reached double figures, continuing his remarkable stretch that's put him squarely in first-team All-Big Ten considerationWhy the shooting struggles (Dorn 2-of-12 from three, DeVries 1-of-9 from the field) were symptoms of tired legs after playing deep into double overtime Saturday—flat shots rattling halfway down and out instead of droppingThe critical moments when Indiana needed to adjust away from settling for perimeter shots against USC's length and shot-blocking (11th nationally in block percentage) but continued forcing threesHow USC's Alijah Arenas made the plays of the game, hitting key shots to turn momentum when Indiana cut the deficit to four in the second halfTayton Conerway's return to action showing encouraging burst and driving ability in 10 minutes, raising questions about the optimal starting lineup moving forward with Dorn playing so wellWhy this loss stings less than most of Indiana's eight defeats this year—the mentality shift in this program where they fight for 40 minutes even without their A-gameThe all-important homestand ahead against Wisconsin and Oregon that will determine whether this road trip represents progress or a missed opportunityPlus, as always: the big moments you might have missed, stats that stood out, and our game ball and hustle award.This episode brought to you by the Back Home Network and Homefield Apparel.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Indiana defeated Purdue 72-67 at Assembly Hall to earn Darian DeVries his first signature victory as Indiana's head coach and secure a crucial quad-one win for the Hoosiers' NCAA tournament resume. With the national championship football team honored before the game, Indiana jumped out to an 11-point halftime lead behind balanced scoring and relentless defense on Braden Smith, then survived a second-half offensive drought and several missed free throws to hold off Purdue's late charge and improve to 14-7 overall and 5-5 in Big Ten play.Jerod Morris, Andy Bottoms, Ryan Phillips, and Bob Moats break down the massive victory and what it means for the program:Connor Enright's 40-minute defensive masterpiece on Braden Smith (holding the All-American to 14 points on 14 shots with five assists and four turnovers) and his ice-cold three-pointer at 65-63 that ended a crucial offensive droughtHow Indiana won the first half with physicality, defensive intensity, and a 21-6 run over the final eight minutes featuring clutch buckets from Reed Bailey, Lamar Wilkerson, Tucker DeVries, and Josiah MilesNick Dorn's breakout continued with 18 points including eight straight in a critical second-half stretch, plus key drives that showed he's more than just a shooterWhy Indiana's ability to avoid fouling (only 15 team fouls, nobody with more than three) while forcing Purdue into 10 turnovers was the defensive blueprint they've needed all seasonThe second-half offensive struggles when Indiana went too conservative too early, missing three front-ends of one-and-ones while trying to run clock with five minutes leftWhat this win means for the program's trajectory—not just making the tournament this year, but showing what DeVries can do with the right roster construction as a strong 2026 recruiting class takes shapeTucker DeVries's toughness leading the game with 10 rebounds despite being held scoreless in the second half, and the critical contributions from role players like Miles, Sicily, and BaileyPlus, as always: the big moments you might have missed, stats that stood out, and our game ball and hustle award.This episode brought to you by the Back Home Network and Homefield Apparel.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Indiana fell to third-ranked Michigan 86-72, extending their losing streak to four games and dropping the Hoosiers to 12-7 overall and 3-5 in Big Ten play. After falling behind 22-5 early without injured point guard Tayton Conerway and watching Tucker DeVries pick up two quick fouls, the Hoosiers never found their offensive rhythm against Michigan's size and defensive intensity, though they did show some fight late to cut a 24-point deficit to the final 14-point margin.Coach Tonsoni breaks down the loss solo and looks ahead to Rutgers:Why this team simply cannot go through 8-10 minute stretches scoring only four points against quality competition, and how those droughts continue to define their lossesThe roster construction issues that are becoming more apparent with each loss, particularly the lack of athletic drivers and post presence to attack good defensesTucker DeVries finally seeing shots fall late in the game after struggling for 30 minutes, and whether that can spark him moving forwardSam Alexis showing aggression and efficiency with 11 points in 19 minutes before fouling out, providing a glimpse of what Indiana needs from that positionReed Bailey's improved attack mentality driving to the rim, even if the finishing remains inconsistentCoach Tonsoni's measured approach to staying positive about the program's direction while acknowledging the deep frustration with how they're playing right nowWhy Friday's game at Rutgers feels critical for trying to end this streak before the Purdue rivalry game at Assembly HallPlus, as always: the big moments you might have missed, stats that stood out, and our game ball and hustle award. This episode brought to you by the Back Home Network and Homefield Apparel.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.