Welcome to another edition of 6-Banner Sunday, a joint production between The Assembly Call and Inside the Hall, and presented by our friends at Trueblood Real Estate, where we highlight the five most essential IU basketball stories of the past week, plus take a look at how the other IU sports programs are doing.
The women’s team’s successful 2023-2024 season ended in the Sweet Sixteen in a thriller against undefeated South Carolina. Also, the men had a really good week when it came to putting together next year’s roster with a recruit and two returnees.
Besides this, other results from March Madness and weekly shows. We will, as usual, conclude with a look at other IU sports, led by swimming and diving at the national championships.
Here is what’s in this week’s edition:
• Women fall to South Carolina in Sweet Sixteen
• Bryson Tucker commits; Mackenzie Mgbako will return for sophomore season
• Kel’el Ware declares for the 2024 NBA draft
• NCAA tournament results
• Podcast on the Brink and Back Home Network shows
• Hoosier Roundup
Banner #1 – Women fall to South Carolina in Sweet Sixteen
The NCAA tournament produced a couple of nail-biting games for the women’s team this week. It started with a win over Oklahoma that saw the Hoosiers rally from a late 64-60 deficit to advance to the second weekend by a count of 75-68.
However, the successful year ended against undefeated and top-ranked South Carolina. IU faced a 61-40 disadvantage near the midway point of the third quarter. However, they pulled off a 20-4 run to get back in the game and kept it close the rest of the way. It was only a 74-72 deficit in the final minute for the Cream and Crimson. However, the Gamecocks hit a three-pointer that sealed the deal as they held on 79-75.
The loss ended the greatest four-year run in program history at 99-25. It included three Sweet Sixteens, an Elite Eight and a Big Ten championship.
This season finished at 26-6 overall with a 17-0 record at home. The non-conference saw signature wins over Tennessee and Princeton on a neutral site and triumphs on the road against Maryland and Nebraska once league play began. The victory over the Terps in College Park was the first one there in program history. However, the top moment was an 86-69 domination of Iowa in a sold-out and raucous Assembly Hall. This full arena led the way as Indiana averaged over 10,000 fans for the first time and was one of just five…