The Assembly Call IU Basketball Podcast and Postgame Show

In this episode of The Assembly Call, the crew checks in from the quiet part of the offseason—but with plenty to discuss. From the first glimpses of summer workouts to Indiana's exhibition schedule and the ongoing debate around NCAA Tournament expansion, there's no shortage of reasons to start getting excited for basketball again.The Banner Moment: Summer Workouts Are HereFor the first time, we're getting a peek behind the curtain at this completely rebuilt roster.Early practice observations from those in attendanceWhy Coach Tonsoni is suddenly paying attention to practice videosWhat stood out from the first few days in BloomingtonLooking ahead to Peru and why those games could be so valuableBreaking Down the New-Look RosterThe conversation digs into what little we've seen—and what it might tell us.Why Indiana's roster construction feels more intentional this time aroundThe importance of having multiple ways to create spacing offensivelyWhich newcomers could quietly become the biggest difference-makersA fun exercise: if you're scouting Indiana, who do you try to stop first?The discussion also explores why this team may simply have more answers than recent IU squads when defenses take away the first option.Scheduling, Expansion, and the Bigger PictureThe show wraps with a look beyond the roster.Thoughts on playing marquee games in Indianapolis versus Assembly HallWhether expanding the NCAA Tournament to 76 teams actually improves the eventHow a larger field could change scheduling philosophy across college basketballA few final reflections on the ever-changing landscape of the sportSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.

Indiana fell to Iowa 78-61 at home, dropping the Hoosiers to 12-6 overall and 3-4 in Big Ten play in a third consecutive loss that has this season teetering on the ... yeah, you know what work is coming ... brink.After Iowa controlled the game from the opening tip and imposed their will on the Hoosiers, Indiana briefly cut the deficit to five in the second half before the bottom fell out once again, continuing a disturbing pattern of collapses that has defined their most disappointing losses this season.Jerod, Eddie, Bob, Mike, and Ryan break down the loss and assess where this program stands:Why this team simply isn't talented enough to play poorly and still compete, and how fatigue—admitted publicly by Darian DeVries—is starting to catch up with a rotation stretched too thinThe losing that's starting to creep into this team's psyche after three straight deflating defeats, and whether there's still enough will to fight through the brutal stretch aheadHow Iowa's Bennett Sturts and Payton Sandfort combined to nearly outscore Indiana by themselves, exposing the gap between teams with multiple attackers and Indiana's limited offensive optionsBob and Mike's eye-witness account from Assembly Hall, including the frustration on the bench and the vibes from a crowd that watched another winnable home game slip awayTayton Conway's ankle injury that removed the one player who could consistently penetrate Iowa's defense, and what it means when this team loses its only reliable driverThe roster construction issues that one host compares to having elite wide receivers but no offensive line or quarterback to get them the ballWhether Indiana is now in tournament danger zone after dropping two home games they should have won, and what the math looks like with Michigan and Purdue loomingThis 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 secured a crucial road victory over Maryland 84-66, improving to 12-3 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play. After a sluggish first half where the Hoosiers struggled to find offensive rhythm against Maryland's physical defense, IU leaned on relentless drives to the free throw line—going 16-for-16 in the opening half—to take a five-point lead into the break, then exploded in the second half behind Lamar Wilkerson's sensational stretch to pull away for an 18-point road win.Andy, Coach Tonsoni, and Coach Moats break down the win and look ahead to a massive showdown with undefeated Nebraska:How Tayton Conerway and Conor Enright attacked the paint in the first half when Maryland's physicality took away Indiana's three-point looks, and why their aggressive drives to the basket opened up everything elseLamar Wilkerson's explosive 16-point second-half run where he scored 16 straight Indiana points to blow the game open, including a thunderous dunk that put an exclamation point on the victoryThe coaching adjustments Darian DeVries made throughout the game, and how Maryland's attempt to switch to a matchup zone in the second half backfired and opened up Indiana's offense even moreWhy Indiana's guards scoring 59 points with 18 rebounds and only four turnovers was the story of the game, and what it means for this team's ability to win different waysTrent Sisley's hustle plays on the offensive glass and his continued development as a freshman willing to do the little things to earn minutesThe lingering rebounding concerns on free throw blockouts where Maryland got three offensive rebounds that led to kickout threesWhat this road win means for Indiana's resume heading into a critical four-game stretch against Nebraska, Michigan State, Iowa, and MichiganPlus, 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 handled Siena 81-60 to improve to 10-3 overall, closing out a solid non-conference slate before a 12-day break. The Hoosiers dominated the first half with a 46-20 lead behind intense defensive pressure, but struggled through the opening eight minutes of the second half before regaining control and pushing the lead back to 26 points.Coach Tonsoni, Ryan, and Andy break down a tale of two halves that featured excellent stretches mixed with concerning lapses, highlighting both the team's potential and persistent issues as they prepare for Big Ten play.Lamar Wilkerson's first-half dominance with 19 points showcased his expanded offensive game with shot fakes, drives, and playmaking ability.Tayton Conerway's second-half spark attacking the rim rescued Indiana from an eight-point drought to start the half.Nick Dorn's shooting surge since returning from injury gives Indiana crucial floor spacing as a legitimate three-point threat.The persistent fouling problem with 26 fouls called raises concerns about how this team will handle more athletic Big Ten opponents.Tucker DeVries' 11 rebounds and early post touches suggest potential tactical adjustments for facing bigger conference competition.Trent Sisley's limited nine minutes and the team's 11 assists against 13 turnovers highlight rotation questions and offensive flow issues.The 10-3 non-conference finish positions Indiana as a fringe tournament team (28th in KenPom) heading into a loaded Big Ten with seven top-25 teams.That's all in this edition of The Assembly Call.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

And ... Lamar Wilkerson just hit another 3-pointer.Indiana bounced back emphatically from back-to-back losses, demolishing Penn State 113-72 at Assembly Hall to improve to 8-2 on the season and 1-1 in Big Ten play. Lamar Wilkerson authored one of the greatest offensive performances in program history, scoring 44 points on just 24 minutes while breaking both the Assembly Hall single-game scoring record and IU's single-game three-pointer record with 10 triples.Andy, Ryan, and Jerod break down a dominant performance where Indiana's offense clicked on all cylinders and the Hoosiers looked like a completely different team than the one that struggled against Minnesota and Louisville.Wilkerson's historic shooting display and how he attacked at all three levels, not just from beyond the arc, while maintaining unselfish play with four assists.The fast start that set the tone, with Wilkerson hitting three straight threes after IU's first miss and Indiana never trailing again.Reed Bailey's strong response to coming off the bench, scoring 18 points on perfect shooting while cutting harder and playing more aggressively.Tayton Conerway's all-around excellence with 17 points and seven assists, plus his defensive intensity that helped force 14 Penn State turnovers.The stunning offensive efficiency numbers, including 68.9% shooting from the field, 54.8% from three, and 30 assists on 42 field goals.Nick Dorn's continued development showing he can score off the dribble, not just from three-point range, as he reached double figures for the third time in four games.Plus, looking ahead to Saturday's marquee matchup at Kentucky between two teams ranked in the top 21 of KenPom, plus reflections on Indiana football's historic Big Ten Championship victory over Ohio State.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.