The Assembly Call IU Basketball Podcast and Postgame Show

Indiana opened its exhibition schedule with a convincing 96-68 win over Butler, giving us plenty of reasons to be encouraged about this year's Hoosiers. Coach Tonsoni breaks down the impressive second-half turnaround, the newcomers who stood out, and what this first look tells us about the team's potential under Darian DeVries.The Hoosiers led by just three at halftime before taking control with a dominant second-half performance. Coach walks through:The defensive adjustments that completely changed the game.How Indiana's offensive versatility created problems for Butler.Why the rebounding advantage might be one of the most encouraging signs of all.We got our first real look at Indiana's revamped roster, and several players made strong impressions.Markus Burton's aggressive start and the scoring dimension he brings to the backcourt.The inside presence of Indiana's big men and the importance of having multiple ways to score.Why Trevor Manhertz could become a particularly valuable piece of the rotation.The contributions of Jaeden Mustaf, Darren Harris, and a deeper, more athletic supporting cast.It's only an exhibition, but there are some meaningful takeaways as Indiana prepares for tougher competition. Coach discusses the areas that still need work, including defensive consistency, turnovers, and fouling, while explaining why this roster appears better equipped to compete in the Big Ten.Plus, we answer listener questions about rotations, team chemistry, and season expectations before handing out our first Game Ball and Hoosier Hustle Award of the season.

Darius Wabbington is an Indiana Hoosier. The five-star 2027 center has committed to Indiana basketball, giving Darian DeVries one of his biggest recruiting wins yet and adding another major piece to IU’s rapidly developing 2027 class.Galen Clavio is joined by Brian Tonsoni, Ryan Phillips and Mike Wiemuth for an emergency podcast breaking down Wabbington’s commitment, his skill set and why his game fits what DeVries is trying to build. The 6-foot-11 center brings unusual passing and ball-handling ability, developing three-point range, physical size and the versatility to operate both inside and away from the basket.The crew also looks at Indiana’s 2027 class alongside Chase Branham and Felix Kiehlneker, Wabbington’s NBA potential, how he could be used in DeVries’ offense, and what beating Arizona and Illinois for an elite national recruit says about IU’s recruiting trajectory.Plus: why Indiana’s roster construction looks increasingly intentional — and how this commitment compares with the program’s history of landing five-star prospects.Subscribe to the Back Home Network for more coverage of Indiana basketball.

This episode was recorded on Thursday, September 17th.In this episode of The Assembly Call, Andy Bottoms, Ryan Phillips, and Brian Tonsoni break down Indiana’s newly released Big Ten schedule and debate whether it gives the Hoosiers a favorable path through conference play. They also discuss IU’s newest recruiting commitment and share early impressions of the football team.The schedule appears manageable early, but the closing stretch is another story. The guys explore:Where Indiana has its best opportunity to build momentumThe road games that may be tougher than they lookWhy playing the Big Ten’s best teams at home mattersWhether IU can withstand a brutal finishAlso, Ryan offers an initial scouting report on Indiana’s new seven-foot commitment, while the crew considers what the addition says about the program’s recruiting strategy. They also touch on preseason Big Ten projections and strong starts across IU Athletics.The show closes with early reactions to Indiana football’s 2–0 start, including Josh Hoover’s encouraging play and the questions that remain before conference competition begins.

It’s a great time to be a Hoosier. Brian Tonsoni is joined by Ryan Phillips and Bob Moats to break down Indiana basketball’s newly released non-conference schedule, sort through the latest eligibility questions, and get ready for the defending national champion football Hoosiers to open the 2026 season against North Texas. Sam Alexis’ eligibility remains unresolved, sparking a broader discussion about the NCAA, professional contracts, Summer League participation, and where college eligibility rules should ultimately draw the line. Victor Oladipo is attempting an NBA comeback, while a new documentary celebrates longtime Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer.Indiana volleyball earns a huge five-set victory over defending national champion Texas A&M, while IU men’s soccer continues its strong start. The guys dig into a schedule featuring five power-conference opponents, including neutral-site matchups with Syracuse, Arkansas and Kentucky, plus home dates against UCF and Missouri. Add exhibitions against Butler, North Carolina and Western Kentucky, and IU will have plenty of opportunities to learn about itself before Big Ten play. Why the Arkansas-Kentucky back-to-back could provide an early measuring stick.How marquee games at Madison Square Garden and Lucas Oil can help Indiana build its NCAA Tournament résumé.Why the schedule feels appropriately ambitious for a veteran roster—and why the Big Ten alone can’t be counted on to provide enough quality opportunities. The overlooked value of games against teams like Bellarmine and Tennessee Tech, whose styles could give IU useful early-season tests even if they aren’t marquee opponents. And what would constitute a successful record in those five biggest non-conference games.Finally, attention turns to Memorial Stadium as Curt Cignetti and the defending national champions begin another season. Expectations have changed dramatically: IU has reloaded, the entire home schedule is sold out, and simply getting to six wins feels like ancient history. The guys discuss what to watch against North Texas, why nobody should overreact to the first game, and how football success is changing the entire Bloomington experience—from ticket demand and hotel prices to the atmosphere surrounding every home Saturday.

In this episode of The Assembly Call, Jerod Morris and Ryan Phillips take stock of where Indiana basketball stands in mid-August after the Peru trip, Sam Alexis’ return, and the first real glimpses of this rebuilt roster. They dig into the reasons for cautious optimism, what this team’s identity could eventually become, and which questions still need to be answered before the games start counting.Why Sam Alexis’ return may matter more than a typical late-offseason roster addition—and what it changes about Indiana’s frontcourt options.What Bart Torvik’s early projections say about Indiana and a Big Ten that already looks brutally deep.The biggest lesson from Peru wasn’t any individual stat line, but what the roster suggested about how these pieces might fit together.What could define Indiana’s identity on both ends of the floor—and why this roster may offer Darren DeVries more ways to attack than he had a year ago.Which freshmen have raised expectations, which veterans may be getting overlooked, and how much we should really trust anything we see in August.A closer look at whether Indiana’s supposed depth is actually different this time—and why developing the back end of the rotation early could matter later.Does IU football’s incredible success take pressure off the basketball program… or quietly raise the standard for what fans will tolerate?Jerod and Ryan also work through listener questions about pace, rotations, roster fit, player development, and how this group compares with some of the recent Indiana teams that looked promising on paper.And with football season almost here, the show closes with some well-earned IU football talk, including what Ryan trusts most about the defending champs—and the biggest question he still has entering the season.The Assembly Call is presented by Homefield Apparel ... and now Upstairs too!