Happy Monday Hoosiers! Indiana’s men’s and women’s basketball teams had very strong respective performances over the past week.
Coming off an assertive victory over Wisconsin, the men’s team traveled to Illinois to take on the Illini. Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis continued his stretch of dominance, tallying a Big Ten-high 35 points on 79% shooting. After freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino and junior forward Jordan Geronimo shined in the first half on both ends of the floor — and combined for 23 points in the period — the second half belonged to Jackson-Davis. 22 of the Hoosiers’ 37 second half points belonged to the star big man who was slicing through the lanes and backing down defenders with ease. After the 80-65 win, the Hoosiers returned home to Bloomington to take on Michigan State in a snowy Sunday matinee.
The story of Indiana’s 82-69 victory over the Spartans was again Jackson-Davis. The senior dropped 31 points, grabbed 15 boards and mixed in a few merciless poster dunks over defenders. After a bit of a slump earlier this month, the Hoosiers continue to look like a team with a renewed sense of confidence and heart. A packed Assembly Hall aided the players by bringing the energy after every defensive stop and tough bucket. Aside from Jackson-Davis, sophomore forward Tamar Bates particularly impressed. Bates has continued to display capabilities from beyond the arc, and he put those on full display against the Spartans. The sophomore notched 17 points on 5-6 from deep, a few of which came from way downtown. With the pair of victories, the Hoosiers made up significant ground in the Big Ten. Now just a game out of second place, Indiana has a prime opportunity to make the leap when they take on struggling Minnesota and Ohio State teams this week.
The No. 6 women’s team — fresh off a blowout win over Wisconsin — traveled a few hours west to take on the No. 21 Illini. The Hoosiers’ 83-72 win marked the 189th victory for head coach Teri Moren, the most in program history. Indiana struggled to get going in the first quarter, but senior forward Mackenzie Holmes took over from there on out. Holmes finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds with supreme efficiency, and her strong defensive play helped keep explosive Illini players at bay. The rest of the starters continued to perform well, as graduate guard Grace Berger, freshman guard Yarden Garzon and junior guard Chloe Moore-McNeil all scored in double-digits. With a 17-1 record, tied for the best start in school history, the Hoosiers continue to live up to the billing of one of the nation’s top squads. They will be tested this week, though, as contests against No. 14 Michigan and No. 2 Ohio State await.
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Women's Basketball Reporters: Matt Sebree, Will Foley & Matt Press
Men's Basketball Reporters: Emma Pawlitz, Evan Gerike & Bradley Hohulin
1 (big story with photo)
>> Indiana men’s basketball retaliates against familiar antagonist, dominates Illinois 80-65
The Hoosiers won their first game outside Indiana since Nov. 18, 2022.
>> COLUMN: In supposed rivalry game, Indiana men’s basketball was stone cold
>> Confidence and swagger returns for Indiana men’s basketball in 80-65 win over Illinois
>> ‘Not your typical freshman’: Jalen Hood-Schifino is developing into Indiana’s next star
2 (big story with photo)
>> No. 6 Indiana women’s basketball overcomes slow start to beat No. 21 Illinois
With the victory, head coach Teri Moren became the winningest coach in program history.
>> COLUMN: Moren makes history and Indiana’s Holmes may be on the way to some of her own
>> Balanced and efficient scoring leads No. 6 Indiana women’s basketball to win over Illinois
3 (big story with photo)
>> Electric identity resurfaces in Indiana men’s basketball’s 82-69 win over Michigan State
The Hoosiers bounced back to .500 in Big Ten play.
>> COLUMN: Indiana men’s basketball was in a prime spot to choke. It didn’t.
