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.

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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.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.