The crew opens with something Indiana fans haven’t had in a while during May: actual basketball stuff to look forward to.

Between the Peru trip, summer practices, and a roster that finally looks balanced on paper, there’s a real sense of momentum around the program.

• Why the Peru trip could end up being way more important than just “extra games”
• The hidden value of IU adding “practice body” depth pieces late in the portal cycle
• How Darian DeVries may have quietly overachieved in the transfer portal
• Why this roster feels fundamentally different from some recent IU teams
• The discussion turns into a surprisingly optimistic conversation about fit, shooting, and actual roster construction

There’s also some fun reflection on the current state of IU athletics overall — from football momentum to the feeling that Indiana is finally showing up in national conversations for positive reasons again.

And yes… the guys briefly spiral into memories of the 1992 Final Four loss to Duke, because some wounds apparently never heal.

Segment 2: The Big Ten Schedule Is Out… and IU Might’ve Actually Caught a Break

The conference opponents are officially set, and the panel wastes no time dissecting what’s good, what’s dangerous, and what could become sneaky problem spots.

A few major themes emerge quickly:

• Not having to visit Illinois, Michigan, and Michigan State feels enormous
• Why this schedule may set up well for a first-year roster still learning how to play together
• The road games everyone says are “winnable”… but somehow never feel comfortable
• An unfortunate amount of skepticism about beating Northwestern despite their roster turnover
• Wisconsin in Madison somehow turns into its own emotional subplot

The conversation eventually drifts into way-too-early Big Ten record predictions, and suddenly the panel is casually throwing around numbers that would represent Indiana’s best conference season in years.

Some restraint is attempted. It does not last long.

Segment 3: NCAA Tournament Expansion, College Basketball Chaos, and Coach Wants Golf Partners

The final segment tackles the looming NCAA Tournament expansion debate, and the conversation gets surprisingly thoughtful about what the tournament should actually represent.

Topics include:

• Why expanding the field feels inevitable whether fans like it or not
• The biggest issue with the current “First Four” setup
• A genuinely interesting idea for helping mid-major teams and preserving tournament magic
• Why the NCAA still doesn’t know how to properly treat smaller schools that earn tournament bids
• The guys accidentally workshop better tournament formats than the NCAA itself

And in true offseason fashion, the episode closes with:

• Indy 500 talk
• summer basketball plans
• podcast updates
• retirement excitement
• and Coach Tonsoni openly recruiting Assembly Call listeners to play golf with him around Indiana

Which honestly feels exactly right for a mid-May IU basketball show.

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In this episode of The Assembly Call, we react to Indiana’s massive transfer portal haul and what it might mean for year two under Darian DeVries. After a disappointing season, the tone has shifted quickly—and the conversation wrestles with how much of this excitement is justified versus how much still needs to be proven on the court.

Segment 1: Inside Indiana’s Portal Haul

The discussion centers on just how dramatic this roster overhaul has been—and why it feels different from past offseasons.

• Why this group appears more balanced than recent Indiana teams
• How the pieces might actually fit together in a modern offense
• The significance of adding a true lead guard and legit size up front
• A surprise commitment during the show that adds another wrinkle
• Whether this is finally a roster without an obvious fatal flaw

Segment 2: What It Means (and What’s Still Missing)

The excitement is real—but so are the questions.

• How much of last year’s struggles were roster vs. coaching
• Why this offseason suggests the staff may have learned from year one
• The importance of continuity and multi-year players
• What positions still need to be addressed before the roster is complete
• The big unknown: how it all comes together once games actually start

Bottoms line:

There’s real momentum—and a real plan. But this episode makes it clear: April wins don’t mean much unless they translate to November.

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Indiana fell to Northwestern 74–61 in the Big Ten Tournament, dropping to 18–14 and surely ending any remaining hopes of an NCAA tournament bid.

The Hoosiers built an early 10-point lead and looked sharp offensively before a late first-half collapse and second-half defensive breakdown allowed Northwestern to seize control and pull away.

Andy Bottoms, Coach Tonsoni, Jerod Morris, and Ryan Phillips break down the season-ending loss and what it revealed about Indiana’s roster and program direction:

• The strong opening stretch where Tucker DeVries, Lamar Wilkerson, and Sam Alexis fueled an early double-digit Indiana lead before everything unraveled
• The brutal offensive collapse late in the first half that flipped momentum and set the tone for the rest of the game
• Northwestern’s Nick Martinelli dominating the second half and why Indiana never found a defensive answer for him
• The recurring defensive strategy questions — especially switching decisions that repeatedly created favorable matchups for Northwestern
• Frustration with Indiana’s shot selection and empty possessions during a pivotal second-half stretch
• A bigger-picture discussion of the offseason ahead and why portal additions will define the next phase of Darian DeVries’ rebuild

Plus, 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.

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Indiana fell to Ohio State 91–78 in Columbus in the regular-season finale, dropping to 18–13 overall and 9–11 in Big Ten play and effectively ending their at-large NCAA tournament hopes.

The Hoosiers kept the game competitive early but were undone by Ohio State’s hot perimeter shooting and Indiana’s inability to match the Buckeyes’ physicality and shot creation for long stretches.

Jerod Morris, Ryan Phillips, Mike Wiemuth, and Bob Moats break down the disappointing road loss and what it says about Indiana’s roster and future:

• Ohio State’s blistering three-point shooting that repeatedly stretched Indiana’s defense beyond its limits
• The physical mismatch that showed up in rebounding battles, defensive rotations, and late-game fouling
• Lamar Wilkerson’s aggressive play — including one costly late decision — that captured both his importance and the burden he carried all season
• Why Indiana’s roster construction left them without enough playmakers or shot creators to keep up with elite Big Ten teams
• The defensive dilemma of trying to contain Bruce Thornton while Ohio State’s other weapons punished every adjustment
• Jerod’s sobering “banner moment” reflection on what the end of the regular season means for the program’s immediate future
• The looming offseason and why roster upgrades are now the clearest path forward for Darian DeVries’ system

Plus, 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.

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Indiana rolled past Minnesota 77–47 to improve to 18–12 overall and 9–10 in Big Ten play, delivering one of the team’s most complete performances of the season at exactly the moment it was needed most.

After losing four straight and watching their NCAA tournament hopes slip, the Hoosiers responded with a dominant defensive effort, balanced scoring, and a decisive closing run late in the first half that effectively ended the game early.

Jerod Morris, Andy Bottoms, and Brian Tonsoni break down the emphatic win and what it means heading into a crucial road test at Ohio State:

• The decisive late-first-half burst that turned a somewhat close game into a comfortable Indiana lead
• Sam Alexis’ dominant interior presence that earned him the night’s game ball
• Tucker DeVries’ all-around stat line and leadership performance that showcased how valuable his versatility can be
• Indiana’s suffocating defensive performance that held Minnesota to just 47 points and one of its worst offensive nights of the season
• The massive edge in points off turnovers that turned defensive stops into easy scoring opportunities
• Why this balanced team effort — on both ends of the floor — looked like the Indiana team fans had been hoping to see for weeks
• What the win means for Indiana’s fading NCAA tournament hopes with a massive bubble matchup looming against Ohio State

Plus, 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.

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Indiana dropped its fourth straight game, falling 77–64 to Michigan State as the Hoosiers’ late-season slide continued and their NCAA tournament hopes faded further.

Despite sustained effort and moments of competitiveness, Indiana again struggled to overcome talent gaps, rebounding issues, and offensive limitations against a top-tier Big Ten opponent.

Coach Tonsoni and Ryan Phillips break down another frustrating loss and what it says about Indiana’s present — and future:

• How Indiana’s defensive adjustment to a matchup zone briefly slowed Michigan State but couldn’t overcome sustained shooting efficiency
• The momentum-killing offensive rebounds that repeatedly erased Indiana runs
• Why the Hoosiers’ offense stalled without a consistent downhill creator to put defenses in rotation
• The growing consensus that effort isn’t the issue — roster talent and fit are
• Tucker DeVries’ all-around performance and leadership amid difficult offensive circumstances
• The broader impact of Indiana’s four-game skid on postseason hopes and program trajectory
• Why the upcoming offseason — especially portal additions — now looms as the program’s most important stretch

Plus, key statistical takeaways, game ball and Hoosier Hustle Award selections, and a discussion of how Indiana should approach the final games with pride and long-term perspective in mind.

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Indiana suffered a devastating 72–68 home loss to Northwestern, falling to 17–11 overall and 8–9 in Big Ten play after squandering a strong first half and enduring another prolonged offensive drought.

The Hoosiers built an early lead behind hot shooting but went cold late, allowing a struggling Northwestern team to seize control and dramatically complicate Indiana’s NCAA tournament outlook.

Andy, Ryan, and Coach Tonsoni break down a frustrating defeat that exposed familiar issues on both ends of the floor:

• How Indiana’s red-hot start — fueled by Lamar Wilkerson’s early shooting — unraveled into a second-half scoring drought that decided the game
• Why the offense stalled into perimeter passing and late-clock jumpers during a decisive 10-minute stretch without a field goal
• The puzzling rotation decisions surrounding Tayton Conerway despite his clear impact attacking the rim
• Defensive breakdowns and matchup choices that allowed Northwestern’s Nick Martinelli to take over the second half
• The rebounding and physicality gaps that turned a struggling opponent into the more aggressive team
• Missed late foul calls that loomed large — while also highlighting why Indiana never should have been in that position
• What this loss means for Indiana’s tournament chances with urgency now surrounding the final stretch of the season

Plus, the Hall of a Moment, game balls, Hoosier Hustle Award, and a candid discussion of where Indiana stands heading into a critical matchup with Michigan State.

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Indiana fell to Purdue 93-64 in West Lafayette, dropping to 17-10 overall and 8-8 in Big Ten play after a game the Boilermakers controlled from the opening minutes.

What began as a tough road test quickly turned into a lopsided rivalry loss, as Indiana struggled to generate offense, defend consistently, or match Purdue’s physicality for nearly the entire 40 minutes.

Jerod, Andy, and Galen break down a disappointing performance and what it reveals about Indiana’s ceiling heading into the final stretch of the season:

• Tayton Conerway’s aggressive driving and playmaking performance that stood out as one of the few bright spots in an otherwise flat offensive night
• Why Indiana’s defensive effort — including zero steals and just one offensive rebound — raised deeper concerns about toughness and intensity against elite competition
• How Purdue’s defensive game plan neutralized Indiana’s perimeter threats and forced the Hoosiers into stagnant, uncomfortable offensive possessions
• The troubling trend of Indiana’s defensive decline since January and what the underlying numbers reveal about effort versus schematic issues
• Nick Dorn’s recent struggles on both ends and the difficult roster dilemma created when a streaky shooter stops producing offensively
• Tucker DeVries’ surprisingly low shot volume and whether Indiana can succeed when one of its primary scorers becomes more facilitator than aggressor
• What consecutive blowout road losses mean for Indiana’s NCAA tournament outlook and the urgency facing the team in upcoming must-win games

Plus, as always: the big moments you might have missed, stats that stood out, and our game ball and hustle award.

ALERT: And some NSFW musical fun at the very end. (If you wouldn't be comfortable with your kids listening to an unedited Bob Knight locker room speech, then don't them listen to the very end.)

This episode brought to you by the Back Home Network and Homefield Apparel.

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