Indiana
No. 10 Illinois, Indiana await resurgence from key seniors
Indiana coach Mike Woodson sat in front of the TV on Wednesday and watched Northwestern and Illinois match shot for shot for 45 minutes.
Judging by the smile Woodson flashed while describing what he saw, the old shooting guard definitely appreciated seeing two teams playing at such an elite level on offense.
While No. 10 Illinois came out on the wrong end of the 96-91 final in overtime, it didn’t change Woodson’s regard for the Illini as Indiana prepares for a Big Ten matchup on Saturday in Champaign, Ill.
“We’ve got to go in with the mindset that we’ve got to try to play at that same level — because Illinois is playing very, very well right now,” Woodson said. “We’ve got to be ready to commit ourselves for 40 minutes.
“They’re more different than any team we’ve played in college basketball this season. They basically are playing small ball with (Coleman) Hawkins at the 5. That’s what you’re going to get a dose of — small basketball.”
Considering Indiana (12-7, 4-4 Big Ten) relies on the biggest lineup in the Big Ten — presuming 7-footer Kel’el Ware can play after missing the Jan. 19 loss at then-No. 11 Wisconsin with an ankle injury — Saturday’s game promises to be quite a contrast in size and styles.
Surely Indiana learned from studying Illinois’ losses — to Marquette, Tennessee, Purdue, Maryland and Northwestern — that the Illini defense is susceptible to brilliant point guard play. On Wednesday, for example, the Wildcats’ Boo Buie piled up a game-high 29 points with seven assists and either sank or set up every crucial shot.
With that in mind, Woodson would love it if the old Xavier Johnson showed up for the game Saturday. Indiana’s sixth-year point guard, who missed all seven games in December with a left foot injury, is dealing with the worst stretch of his career.
Over his past four games, Johnson has posted a total of 12 points, five assists and nine turnovers over 84 minutes while shooting 3-for-15 from the field, including an 0-for-6 showing from 3-point range. His confidence has shrunk to the point where Woodson brought him off the bench the last three games.
“Since the injuries, he has been up and down,” said Woodson, also referring to the broken right foot that cost him the final three months of last season. “He’s been soul-searching. I’m frustrated. Not in a bad way — meaning for him because this is his last go-round.
“What he’s gone through in the last year and a half has been tough. He’s had a few good days of practice. I’m just going to keep encouraging him and hopefully we’ll get the old ‘X’ back because we’re going to need him as we continue this journey throughout the Big Ten.”
It’s not quite the same thing, but Illinois (14-5, 5-3) is waiting to get the old Terrence Shannon Jr. back. The fifth-year wing, who played at an All-American level in November and December, missed six games while serving an indefinite suspension due to a pending rape charge in Kansas.
Shannon was reinstated to the team Jan. 19 when a federal judge truncated his suspension with a preliminary injunction.
In two games since returning, the powerful and speedy left-hander has posted solid numbers — a total of 28 points, seven assists and three steals. However, he also has committed six turnovers and canned just 1 of 10 3-point attempts as he doesn’t quite yet have his playing legs.
When will that come?
“Time,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. “Time. He was out for a month. Time.”
–Field Level Media
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Indiana
How Purdue Fans Can Watch Isaiah Hill vs. Luke Ertel in Indiana All-Star Game
Two future Boilermakers are taking the floor and will go head-to-head during Indiana All-Star Week. 2026 signee Luke Ertel and 2027 commit Isaiah Hill are battling it out on Wednesday, June 3, as the Indiana All-Stars will play the Indiana Junior All-Stars.
Wednesday will be the third time Ertel and Hill have played against each other this season. During the IHSAA basketball season, Ertel’s Mt. Vernon team took on Hill’s Pike squad twice.
Hill led the Red Devils to an 84-81 overtime victory during the regular season. In the Regional of the Class 4A IHSAA Basketball Tournament, Ertel guided Mt. Vernon to a 57-54 overtime victory. The Marauders went on to win the state championship.
Who will win the third and decisive battle between the future Boilermakers on Wednesday? Here’s the information necessary to watch the game.
How to watch the Indiana All-Star Game
- What — Indiana Junior All-Stars vs. Indiana All-Stars
- When — Wednesday, June 3, 2026
- Where — Mt. Vernon High School in Fortville, Ind.
- Tipoff time — 8 p.m. ET (approx.)
- Ticket price — $15
- Stream — ISC Indiana Sports Network YouTube Channel
Hill participated in Indiana-Kentucky Jr. All-Star Game
Wednesday night’s Junior-Senior All-Star Game will be the second time Hill has competed during Indiana All-Star Week. The Pike star and five-star center also played in Sunday’s Indiana-Kentucky Junior All-Star Game.
Hill put together a solid performance, scoring 15 points, grabbing a team-high seven rebounds and recording three blocks. His efforts helped lead Indiana to a 109-99 victory over Kentucky.
Ertel and the Indiana All-Stars have not yet played during Indiana All-Star Week, with their first game scheduled for Wednesday against the Junior All-Stars. Then, to close out the week, Ertel will participate in the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Series, with games being played in Lexington and Indianapolis.
Ertel, Hill highly rated recruits in respective classes
There’s already plenty of hype surrounding Ertel and Hill, both players who are highly-ranked recruits in their respective classes.
Ertel is the top-ranked player from Indiana in the 2026 recruiting class and is considered a top-50 prospect by 247Sports. He was named Indiana Mr. Basketball, averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game in his senior season at Mt. Vernon.
Hill is a year younger, but became the highest-ranked recruit ever to commit to play at Purdue. The 2027 product was a star at Pike High School during his junior season, averaging 12.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game. He is a five-star prospect and ranked as the No. 10 player in the class, per ESPN.
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Indiana
Indiana man charged with rape after allegedly assaulting 18-year-old woman in barn
GASTON, Ind. (WKRC) – An Indiana man was accused of sexually assaulting a young homeless woman in a barn.
According to WXIN, 34-year-old Dale E. Bosworth was arrested after he allegedly sexually assaulted a homeless 18-year-old woman in a barn after the two connected through social media.
WXIN reported that Bosworth picked up the woman on May 24 while visiting Kokomo, Indiana, and brought her back to his home after seeing a Facebook post in which she said she had no money and nowhere to stay.
Court documents obtained and reviewed by WXIN state that Bosworth and his wife picked up the woman in a truck around 10 p.m. and drove her to their home. The woman stayed the night and was later offered $100 to perform work in a barn in Delaware County.
According to WXIN, Bosworth drove the woman to a friend’s barn in Gaston, Indiana. While the two were alone, Bosworth allegedly asked if she wanted to “fool around.” The woman told law enforcement she did not respond to the question. Bosworth then allegedly began rubbing her back and unzipped his overalls.
WXIN reported that Bosworth is accused of sexually assaulting the woman until he heard a noise near the barn. He later allegedly told his friend that the woman was refusing to work and that he needed to take her back to his home.
During the drive back to Marion, Indiana, the woman used the “Texty” app to contact Grant County 911 and reported that she had been raped, according to WXIN.
Authorities in Grant County then contacted the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies later located and stopped Bosworth’s vehicle, per the report.
While being questioned by investigators, Bosworth reportedly admitted that the woman had stayed at his home. Court documents reviewed by WXIN state that he spent “well over 20 minutes” explaining how he came to be alone with the alleged victim while denying any sexual contact.
When asked whether his DNA would be found on the woman’s body, Bosworth allegedly admitted to certain sexual acts. According to WXIN, he told investigators that the woman “did not say yes or no” when he asked her to undress and engage in sexual intercourse, but claimed she “looked at him” when he asked.
Authorities said Bosworth later admitted to portions of the assault after initially providing false statements and reportedly told investigators that “cops freak him out,” according to the report.
Bosworth was arrested and charged with the following, per WXIN:
According to WXIN, investigators determined that Bosworth knowingly and intentionally caused the woman to submit to sexual conduct, which constitutes rape under Indiana law.
He is being held without bond at the Delaware County Jail, WXIN reported.
Indiana
Jeffrey Kessler Questions NCAA Consistency Using Indiana Coach Betting Case
During closing arguments in Brendan Sorsby’s injunction hearing on Monday, Sorsby’s attorney Jeffrey Kessler pointed to a recent NCAA gambling case involving former Indiana assistant volleyball coach Brett Agne. Kessler argued it demonstrated a stark contrast in how the NCAA has handled gambling-related violations with different cases.
Details in Agne Case
Kessler referenced Agne, who, according to NCAA findings, placed more than 700 sports wagers totaling over $327,000 during a five-month period while employed by Indiana. NCAA investigators determined that 27 of those wagers involved Indiana football and men’s basketball games.
Despite Agne admitting he knowingly engaged in prohibited sports wagering activity after receiving NCAA gambling education, the NCAA’s negotiated resolution stopped short of a lengthy suspension. Instead, the penalties included a two-year show-cause order with a mandatory sports betting education, a requirement that he provide gambling education to his peers, and a suspension of only 10 regular-season matches, roughly 30 percent of Indiana’s volleyball season.
“A two-year show-cause order for Agne, in which any employing member school must require Agne to complete meaningful sports betting education and provide sports betting education to his peers,” the NCAA’s penalty summary stated.
How It Compares/Differs from Sorsby’s Case
Kessler used the case to argue that the NCAA has previously treated gambling violations as opportunities for education and rehabilitation rather than imposing season-long competitive penalties.
The comparison was particularly notable given Brendan Sorsby’s circumstances. The Texas Tech quarterback recently completed a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction and has publicly detailed his recovery efforts since completing the program. Kessler argued that while Agne’s case resulted in educational requirements and a limited suspension despite hundreds of wagers and more than $327,000 in betting activity, Sorsby faces the possibility of losing the rest of his collegiate eligibility.
The comparison became even more notable when examining how the NCAA described Agne’s defense. According to the NCAA report, Agne stated that he used an unregulated computer program that automatically placed wagers based on an algorithm and claimed he was unaware of which games were being bet on, including the Indiana contests. Agne did not bet on his own team as Sorsby did, but Agne also did not acknowledge knowing which bets he was placing — a key distinction from Sorsby.
“Agne stated that he used an unregulated computer program to place bets on games automatically based on an algorithm, and as a result, he was not aware of which games he was betting on, including the Indiana games,” the NCAA’s report stated.
Also on Monday, Kessler emphasized Sorsby’s treatment efforts, revealing during the hearing that a Level-1 gambling treatment specialist diagnosed the Texas Tech quarterback with both a gambling addiction and an anxiety disorder while he was receiving residential care. Kessler argued that Sorsby’s case should be viewed through the lens of treatment and recovery, noting that Sorsby has acknowledged his mistakes rather than attempting to distance himself from them.
Closing
Whether Judge Ken Curry ultimately agrees with Kessler’s comparison remains to be seen, but the Indiana case served as a centerpiece of Kessler’s closing argument on Monday. A decision on Brendan Sorsby’s request for injunctive relief is expected in the coming days, with the ruling potentially determining whether the Texas Tech quarterback will be able to continue his collegiate career.
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