The Assembly Call IU Basketball Podcast and Postgame Show

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Latest Episodes:

IU-Michigan State Postgame Show Feb 12, 2025

Show notes

Indiana delivered a stunning upset in East Lansing, defeating Michigan State 71-67 to delay Tom Izzo's bid to break Bob Knight's all-time Big Ten wins record.

The Hoosiers showed impressive resilience and toughness, particularly in the second half behind Malik Reneau's 16 points after intermission. The win ended a difficult stretch for the program and demonstrated what this team is capable of when playing together for 40 minutes.

Indiana's effective use of zone defense and balanced scoring helped overcome Michigan State's home court advantage, with Reneau (19 points, 12 rebounds) and Oumar Ballo (14 points, 10 rebounds) leading the way. The victory required clutch free throw shooting down the stretch, as every Hoosier who played scored and attempted at least one free throw in a true team effort.

Key topics analyzed:

Indiana's defensive adjustment to more zone looks proving highly effective
Malik Reneau's dominant second half performance after coming off the bench
The Hoosiers' improved late-game execution, particularly at the free throw line
Mental toughness shown bouncing back from early deficit to control middle portion of game
Better offensive balance and ball movement leading to quality shots
Critical road win to snap recent losing streak in dramatic fashion

Plus, as always, the Banner Moment, Meaningful Moments You Might Have Missed, Inside the Numbers, and our Game Balls, Hustle Award, and Lingering Questions.

That's all in this edition of The Assembly Call ... along with a long and spirited edition of AC After Dark discussing the early stages of Indiana's coaching search.

On the mics: Jerod Morris, Ryan Phillips, and Coach Bob Moats

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IU-Wisconsin Postgame Show Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

Indiana's troubling downward spiral hit a new low as the Hoosiers were blitzed early, falling behind 26-4 in the opening minutes en route to a 76-64 loss at Wisconsin.

The final 12-point margin masked what was effectively a 20-point defeat, as Indiana only made it close with late points against Wisconsin's reserves.

While freshman Bryson Tucker provided a rare bright spot with improved three-point shooting, the team's continued defensive lapses and stagnant offensive execution painted a grim picture with just eight regular season games remaining.

Topics Analyzed:

A devastating start that saw Indiana fall behind by 22 points in just six minutes, raising serious questions about preparation and effort
Mike Woodson's halftime lineup change moving away from the two-big lineup showed some promise but proved too late
Concerning body language and competitive response when trailing, continuing a worrying trend
Bryson Tucker's development, including hitting two three-pointers after making just one all season prior
Wisconsin exploiting Indiana's perimeter defense to shoot 12-29 (41.4%) from three-point range
Growing questions about the program's direction amid a sixth loss in seven games

Plus, as always, the Banner Moment, Meaningful Moments You Might Have Missed, Inside the Numbers, and our Game Balls, Hustle Award, and Lingering Questions. That's all in this edition of The Assembly Call.

On the mics: Coach Brian Tonsoni and Ryan Phillips

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IU-Purdue Postgame Show Feb 01, 2025

Show notes

Indiana put together one of its better performances of the season but ultimately came up short in an 81-76 loss at #10 Purdue.

The Hoosiers led by as many as seven points in the first half and showed tremendous resilience in the second half, responding to a Purdue run with a 12-0 spurt of their own to retake the lead. However, the Boilermakers made enough plays down the stretch to secure the victory -- and Indiana made enough mistakes to ensure defeat.

Mackenzie Mgbako led IU with 25 points in perhaps his best game as a Hoosier, while Trey Galloway added 16 points and sparked the second-half comeback. The five-man group of Mgbako, Galloway, Luke Goode, Anthony Leal and Umar Ballo played nearly the entire second half and showed tremendous fight, though fatigue may have been a factor late.

Key Talking Points:

Strong defensive effort limiting Purdue to 2-13 from three-point range
20 turnovers prove costly, leading to 26 Purdue points
Bench contributes 28 points behind Galloway and Goode
Little production from starters Myles Rice (0 points) and Malik Reneau (3 points)
Final possession execution costs IU chance at potential game-tying shot

And stick around after the show for a special musical treat during AC After Dark!

Here is the YouTube link for the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mef0aSPMkac

On the mics: Andy Bottoms, Ryan Phillips, Coach Bob Moats, Jerod Morris

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IU-Maryland Postgame Show Jan 26, 2025

Show notes

Indiana let a late lead slip away in the final minute as Maryland escaped Assembly Hall with a 79-78 victory, dealing a crushing blow to IU's NCAA tournament hopes.

The Hoosiers built a four-point lead in the closing minutes behind huge plays from Anthony Leal and Myles Rice, but defensive breakdowns and poor late-game execution proved costly.

After getting clutch plays from Leal and a strong second-half shooting performance from Rice (3-5 from three), Indiana seemed poised to secure a crucial home win. However, failing to foul with a foul to give and defensive confusion on Maryland's final possession led to a Rodney Rice three-pointer that put the Terrapins ahead. IU's final offensive possession was marred by substitution confusion and resulted in a forced shot that missed at the buzzer.

Key Talking Points:

Efficient offensive performance (1.24 points per possession) wasted by defensive lapses
Maryland shot 12-24 from three while repeatedly finding open shooters
Myles Rice (12 points) and Anthony Leal provided huge second-half sparks
Lineup and execution issues in critical final minute prove devastating
Another tough home loss further damages NCAA tournament resume

On the mics: Jerod Morris, Coach Bob Moats

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IU-Northwestern Postgame Show Jan 23, 2025

Show notes

Indiana continued its frustrating pattern of inconsistency on Tuesday night, falling 79-70 at Northwestern for their fifth straight loss to the Wildcats. After building a six-point halftime lead with an 18-2 run to close the first half, IU's defense completely fell apart after intermission as Northwestern scored 54 second-half points on a blistering 62.5% shooting.

While Indiana showed brief signs of life with a 10-0 second-half run to take a 52-49 lead, Northwestern responded with a devastating 21-4 run that effectively ended any hopes of IU's first win in Evanston since 2019. The loss drops Indiana to 14-6 (5-4 B1G).

Key Talking Points:

• Northwestern torched IU's defense for 1.69 points per possession in the second half

• Four Wildcats (Barnheizer, Martinelli, Barry, Leach) combined for 77 of Northwestern's 79 points

• IU's offense remained overly reliant on contested mid-range jumpers while Northwestern generated clean looks

• Malik Reneau showed significant rust in his return, going 0-6 in 11 limited minutes

• Another game defined by IU's inability to sustain positive momentum when taking leads

On the mics: Andy Bottoms, Coach Brian Tonsoni, and Josh Pos

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IU-Ohio State Postgame Show Jan 18, 2025

Show notes

Join us immediately following Indiana's Friday night game at Ohio State where the Hoosiers won a 77-76 thriller.

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IU-Illinois Postgame Show Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

Illinois thoroughly dominated Indiana in a 94-69 rout at Assembly Hall that represented one of the program's most discouraging performances in recent memory.

The Hoosiers fell behind by 30 in the first half and never mounted a serious challenge, dropping their second straight game by 25+ points.

Defense and effort were major issues from the opening tip, as Illinois built their lead through a combination of hot three-point shooting (8 first-half threes) and dominant offensive rebounding (17 second-chance points in the first half). While IU showed brief signs of life with a 10-0 run to start the second half, they could never seriously threaten the Illini's lead.

Key Discussion Topics:

• Complete defensive collapse, particularly in transition and defensive rebounding

• Concerning lack of competitive response when falling behind early

• Questions about accountability as the same issues persist game after game

• Unprecedented negative crowd reaction including significant departures at halftime

• Growing concerns about the program's direction after consecutive 25-point losses

On the mics: Andy Bottoms, Ryan Phillips, Coach Brian Tonsoni, and (eventually) Jerod Morris

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IU-Iowa Postgame Show Jan 12, 2025

Show notes

Indiana suffered another embarrassing road defeat, falling apart in the second half as Iowa handed the Hoosiers their second blowout loss in Big Ten play.

After briefly showing signs of life with a first-half run to take a 28-25 lead, Indiana surrendered an 18-5 run to close the half and then was outscored 14-5 to open the second period. From there, the team's effort and execution completely collapsed en route to a 25-point defeat.

The loss highlighted ongoing concerns about the program's inability to compete on the road against even average conference opponents, as Indiana has now lost 16 of its 31 Big Ten regular season games under Mike Woodson by double digits, with 12 of those defeats coming by 15 or more points.

Key discussion points from the show included:

Indiana's complete defensive collapse, allowing Iowa to score at will both in transition (26-2 advantage in fast break points) and from three
The team's poor shot selection and offensive stagnation, particularly from young players like Kanaan Carlyle
Questions about accountability and systemic issues within the program
Growing frustration about the team's tendency to follow promising stretches with non-competitive road performances
Concerns about what this means for upcoming games against Illinois and other ranked opponents

On the mics: Coach Brian Tonsoni, Coach Bob Moates, and Ryan Phillips

After building some momentum with five straight wins against lesser competition, Indiana's progress was severely undermined by another road collapse that raised familiar questions about the program's direction under Woodson.

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IU-USC Postgame Show Jan 09, 2025

Show notes

Indiana continued its strong play of late, using a dominant second half and balanced scoring attack to secure its fourth Big Ten win and fifth straight victory overall.

After a sluggish start, the Hoosiers found their rhythm behind outstanding performances from Myles Rice (19 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists) and another efficient outing from Oumar Ballo, ultimately pulling away for a comfortable double-digit win.

For the third straight game, Indiana showed improved offensive flow and spacing playing with one big man, as four players scored in double figures while the team hit timely three-pointers and controlled the offensive glass. The second-half backcourt play of Rice and Trey Galloway proved particularly decisive, as the duo scored or assisted on 15 straight points to help Indiana build a lead it wouldn't relinquish.

Key discussion points from the show included:

The continued benefits of improved floor spacing and offensive balance
Strong performances from role players like Luke Goode (4-5 from three)
The team's growing confidence and connectivity in recent games
Improved ball security against USC's pressure (just 6 turnovers)
Questions about maintaining this momentum heading into a challenging road stretch

On the mics: Andy Bottoms, Coach Brian Tonsoni, and Ryan Phillips

Now 13-3 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten, Indiana heads into a crucial road stretch with growing confidence and an increasingly clear identity on both ends of the floor.

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IU-Penn State Postgame Show Jan 06, 2025

Show notes

Indiana secured its first Quad 1 win of the season, using an impressive 12-0 run to start the second half and strong performances from Oumar Ballo (25 points, 13 rebounds) and Mackenzie Mgbako to earn a crucial Big Ten road victory.

Playing without injured forward Malik Reneau, the Hoosiers showed improved offensive spacing and flow for the second straight game, hitting timely three-pointers and controlling the offensive glass to maintain control despite a late Penn State rally.

The win moves Indiana to 3-1 in Big Ten play and provides important momentum as the team enters a challenging stretch of conference games. For the second straight contest, Indiana displayed better ball movement, defensive connectivity and competitive fire that had been missing in earlier games this season.

Key discussion points from the show included:

The benefits of improved floor spacing and offensive balance with one big man
Oumar Ballo's dominant two-way performance following his one-game absence
Strong complementary contributions from Luke Goode (5 offensive rebounds) and others
The team's improved shooting and decision-making in transition
Questions about how to maintain this offensive rhythm when Malik Reneau returns

On the mics: Coach Tonsoni and Coach Adragna

The victory, combined with Thursday's win over Rutgers, gives Indiana consecutive complete performances to build upon as they look to establish themselves as legitimate contenders in the Big Ten race.

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