Indiana
Maple syrup season getting underway in central Indiana as weather turns favorable
After weeks of bitter cold and deep snow across central Indiana, a quieter but much sweeter seasonal shift is beginning to take shape. Maple syrup producers across the region are starting to tap trees as weather conditions line up for the first meaningful sap flow of the season.
The key ingredient behind maple syrup production is the freeze-thaw cycle, and that pattern is settling in nicely over the next few days. Overnight temperatures dipping just below freezing, paired with afternoon highs climbing into the upper 30s and around 40 degrees, create the ideal pressure changes inside maple trees that allow sap to move. When nights are cold, trees build internal pressure. When days warm, that pressure releases, sending sap flowing through taps and into collection systems.
Local producers say the upcoming stretch looks promising. One central Indiana sugar camp noted that the next couple of days should produce a solid early run before temperatures warm too much heading into Sunday. Once daytime highs climb well above the 40s and overnight lows stop dropping below freezing, sap flow typically slows or pauses.
Recent weather patterns may also help this year’s production. While snowpack across central Indiana has not been extremely deep, consistent snow cover in recent weeks likely helped insulate tree roots and maintain steady ground moisture. That slow melt provides trees with water reserves needed to support sap production.
Unlike some past seasons, drought is not a major concern across most of central Indiana this year. Adequate soil moisture through fall and winter plays an important role in determining how much sap trees can produce. However, producers farther north in Indiana may face more challenges, where drought conditions have been more pronounced.
Maple syrup season in Indiana typically begins in late January, peaks through February, and winds down by mid-to-late March once trees begin budding. With favorable temperatures arriving now, the first signs of the season are already taking shape.
For producers and maple syrup fans alike, this brief window of late-winter weather is more than just a warmup toward spring, it is the start of one of Indiana’s most time-honored traditions.
Indiana
Heavy rain soaks central Indiana, but drought relief uneven across the state
Central Indiana has seen a very wet start to March, with several rounds of rain and storms moving through the region over the past few days. In fact, the city of Indianapolis has already received more rain in the first four days of the month than it typically gets during the entire month of March.
So far this month, Indianapolis has recorded 3.90 inches of rainfall, which already exceeds the normal March monthly average of 3.79 inches. Much of that rain came during a widespread soaking on Tuesday, when a strong system pushed steady showers and thunderstorms across the state.
Some of the highest totals over the past three days have been recorded across central Indiana. Rain gauges show 5.86 inches in Marion County, 5.02 inches in Morgan County, 4.97 inches in Hancock County, 4.95 inches in Shelby County, 4.57 inches in Johnson County, and 4.26 inches in Hendricks County. These totals represent a significant amount of rainfall in a short period of time and have left many areas with saturated ground and standing water in low spots.
Despite the widespread rainfall, the impact on drought conditions has been somewhat uneven across the state. According to the latest drought monitor, the areas that received the heaviest rain over the past few days are largely the same areas that were already in relatively good shape in terms of moisture levels. Meanwhile, parts of northern Indiana that have been dealing with more persistent dryness have seen much lighter totals.
Cities such as Kokomo, Lafayette, and Muncie have generally picked up less rain compared to areas farther south. Forecast models suggest that pattern may continue over the next several days.
Additional rainfall is expected through Thursday, with another round possible around midday Saturday. Current projections show the best chance for another inch or more of rain focusing once again across the southern half of the state, while northern Indiana may see lower totals.
That means while the recent rain has certainly helped improve soil moisture in many areas, it may not fully address the lingering dryness farther north. For now, the pattern remains active, and Hoosiers should expect more wet weather before the system finally begins to move out later this weekend.
Indiana
Watch Indiana basketball’s Lamar Wilkerson give his mom a Cadillac
Indiana basketball sharpshooter Lamar Wilkerson is known for his generosity.
Upon joining the Hoosiers, he gave a tidy sum of his NIL earnings to his previous program, Sam Houston State.
“I was blessed to be able go from that, from not having a lot, to being here, having a lot more than I even knew what to do with,” Wilkerson said at the time. “I just thought, I can give them this.”
He upped the ante on IU’s Senior Night, giving his mother a Cadillac after the Hoosiers throttled Minnesota.
You could imagine her reaction.
Want more Hoosiers coverage? Sign up for IndyStar’s Hoosiers newsletter. Listen to Mind Your Banners, our IU Athletics-centric podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the latest on IndyStar TV: Hoosiers.
Indiana
Indiana basketball vs. Minnesota score, updates tonight: Start time, where to watch
Indiana basketball coach Darian DeVries breaks down what went wrong in loss to MSU
Indiana basketball coach Darian DeVries shares his thoughts on his team’s struggles against MSU and his message to the locker room.
Indiana (17-12, 8-10 Big Ten) has no room for air as it hosts Minnesota (14-15, 7-11). The Hoosiers have lost four in a row, leaving them on the NCAA Tournament bubble, while the Golden Gophers have won three of their last four. Minnesota beat IU in a conference opener.
We will have score updates and highlights, so remember to refresh.
What time does Indiana basketball play Minnesota tonight, March 4? Start time for Minnesota basketball vs Indiana on Wednesday, March 4, 2026
- The Indiana-Minnesota game is at 6:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana.
Where to watch Indiana vs. Minnesota tonight, March 4? What channel is the Minnesota-Indiana on college basketball game today?
Watch college basketball with a free Fubo trial
Indiana vs. Minnesota predictions tonight, March 4
- Zach Osterman, IndyStar: Indiana 75-69
- “Indiana is on the ropes. Minnesota has nothing to lose. Gophers already beat IU once this year. So picking Minnesota here is going to be trendy. Too trendy. The Ohio State game is tougher to forecast, but the Hoosiers win here.”
- Michael Niziolek, Herald-Times: Indiana 78-70
- “Can Minnesota spoil IU’s Senior Night? The Gophers upended Indiana in Darian DeVries’ Big Ten debut earlier this season and have been a tough out in conference play. They are just 7-11, but six of those losses are by single digits and two of those came in overtime. The Hoosiers need to do a better job of locking down the perimeter while getting a more balanced scoring effort. Indiana should be able to pull this one out and keep its NCAA Tournament chances alive for another night.”
Where to listen to Indiana vs. Minnesota tonight, March 4, 2026
How much are Indiana vs. Minnesota tickets tonight, March 4, 2026?
IU basketball tickets on StubHub
Basketball rankings college: Indiana vs. Minnesota
As of March 2
(all times ET; with date, day of week, location and opponent, time, TV)
- 0, Jasai Miles
- 1, Reed Bailey
- 2, Jason Drake
- 3, Lamar Wilkerson
- 4, Sam Alexis
- 5, Conor Enright
- 6, Tayton Conerway
- 7, Nick Dorn
- 10, Josh Harris
- 11, Trent Sisley
- 12, Tucker DeVries
- 13, Aleksa Ristic
- 15, Andrej Acimovic
Want more Hoosiers coverage? Sign up for IndyStar’s Hoosiers newsletter. Listen to Mind Your Banners, our IU Athletics-centric podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the latest on IndyStar TV: Hoosiers.
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