Indiana
Indiana men’s basketball’s Kel’el Ware timetable to return questionable with ankle injury
MADISON, Wis. — Indiana men’s basketball sophomore center Kel’el Ware was sidelined with an ankle injury during the Hoosiers’ 91-79 loss to Wisconsin Friday night.
After being absent from the bulk of team warmups, Ware emerged in street clothes and sported a walking boot on his right foot. Head coach Mike Woodson said Ware’s timetable to return is currently unknown.
“Don’t know,” head coach Mike Woodson said postgame. “I really don’t. I have no idea how long he’ll be out.”
Woodson said Ware landed on a player’s foot and turned his ankle in practice, though he didn’t specify the day. Junior forward Payton Sparks took Ware’s spot in the starting lineup against the Badgers, logging 29 minutes and scoring 7 points.
The Hoosiers haven’t won at the Kohl Center since 1998.
Friday night marked the longest stretch of play for Sparks in an Indiana uniform. He played 14 minutes against the University of Louisville and Kennesaw State University on Nov. 20 and Dec. 29, respectively.
While Woodson stressed it wasn’t an excuse for the defeat, he said the Hoosiers missed Ware’s presence on the interior against the Badgers.
“Yeah, we missed the big fella tonight to plug the hole,” Woodson said.
After transferring from the University of Oregon this past offseason, where he averaged 6.6 points as a freshman, Ware started to take the next step as a scorer and rim protector with the Hoosiers, as well as quelling concerns about his motor and consistent physicality.
Ware notched a career-high 28 points in Sunday’s win.
In 17 games with Indiana, the North Little Rock, Arkansas, native averages 14.2 points — second on the team behind sophomore forward Malik Reneau — and paces the team in rebounds and blocks with 9.4 and 1.6, respectively.
Aside from Friday night, Ware has started every available game except against Kennesaw State, when he was sidelined due to a bout with COVID. The Hoosiers have a week off before traveling to Champaign, Illinois, to take on No. 14 Illinois on Jan. 27, with Ware’s status for the contest currently unknown.
Follow reporters Will Foley (@foles24) and Matt Press (@MattPress23) and columnist Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
Indiana
‘Foul play’ suspected in death investigation on Indiana-Ohio state line, Wayne County officials say
WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — Police are investigating the death of a person who died in the emergency department of Reid Health in Richmond.
Wayne County Coroner Brent Meadows was notified of the death Wednesday evening, according to a media release. Evidence has reportedly indicated that foul play is involved.
Officials believe the incident may have occurred in the area of the Petro Travel Center in New Paris, Ohio, just across the Indiana-Ohio state line.
The coroner’s office said the deceased person has been transported to the Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio, for a forensic autopsy and identification.
The office is still working the locate and identify the victim’s family.
This remains an active investigation.
News 8’s Michaela Springer contributed to this report.
Braden Smith spent four seasons with Purdue basketball proving all the power conference programs who overlooked him missed out.
Now the former Boilermaker point guard has a chance to do the same in the NBA.
Smith, a Westfield native, is headed to the Pacers after Indiana traded for him when the Chicago Bulls selected him with the 38th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, a source confirmed to IndyStar.
Smith is Purdue’s third draft pick in five years, joining lottery picks Jaden Ivey and Zach Edey among a group of now 11 NBA draft selections to play at Purdue under Matt Painter.
Here’s a look at Smith’s Purdue career and what he brings to the Pacers.
Before capping a career that includes two Big Ten regular season and two Big Ten Tournament championships, along with helping Purdue end a 44-year Final Four drought, Smith broke former Duke guard Bobby Hurley’s all-time NCAA assists record.
Along the way, Smith took home the 2025 Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard in a season where he also was the Big Ten Player of the Year. A two-time consensus first-team All-American, Smith finished his Purdue career eighth in career points (1,932), third in steals (249) and has the top three assist seasons in school history that helped add to his NCAA record total of 1,103.
Smith’s knock is his 5-foot-10 1/2 height measurement, but that didn’t deter him from being one of college basketball’s top players.
What Smith lacked in height, he made up for in basketball IQ. He’s lethal with a midrange jump shot and showcased an unblockable fadeaway that allowed him to shoot over lengthier defenders. He mastered manipulating defenses while playing with marquee big men the last four seasons.
His role in the NBA likely will be not require him to be the team’s primary playmaker immediately. Smith’s awareness of that fact pushed a more defensive-minded approach in preparation for the next level. At the NBA Draft Combine in May, Smith showed he’s capable of defending elite guards.
Smith is an elite competitor who never showed to shy away from the dirty work, which is something that can help him earn NBA minutes as a rookie while trying to find his footing in an unfamiliar backup role.
Nathan Baird and Sam King have the best Purdue sports coverage, and sign up for IndyStar’s Boilermakers newsletter.
The body of a 13-year-old boy was recovered from Lake Michigan during a multiple-day search near a beach in Michigan City, Indiana.
Officials did not provide further details.
A search has been underway since Monday night after witnesses reported seeing a child wearing red shorts enter the water.
Michigan City police said officers responded to a possible drowning just before 5:40 p.m. on Monday near Washington Park Beach.
Police said the child disappeared underwater just south of the lighthouse and did not resurface.
A search was initiated with dive efforts, a fishing boat, drone technology, and a medical helicopter deployed.
The Michigan City Fire Department said three divers suffered minor injuries during the search and are being treated at Franciscan Health. Fire officials said divers encountered “challenging water conditions” before the search was suspended.
Officials have not identified the body recovered.
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