The sports-centric month of October is coming to an end, but that doesn't mean the action surrounding the Indiana athletic department is winding down. The Hoosiers have a busy week ahead in several fall sports, and we have you covered with all that you need to know. Here's a quick rundown of the top stories in the world of Indiana athletics for this week.
Men's basketball season opener right around the corner
Hoops season is almost here! The IU men's basketball team is set to open the new 2026-27 college basketball season this coming Monday, November 2 with a home matchup against Eastern Illinois at Assembly Hall. The anticipation has been building all summer long, and now tip-off is just days away. The Hoosiers brought in plenty of exciting talent through the transfer portal with a class headlined by 6'11" power forward Aiden Sherrell, 7'2" center Samet Yigitoglu, and 6'0" point guard Markus Burton. All three figure to be in the starting lineup on Monday night and play a pivotal role in Indiana's success on the hardwood this season.
After an underwhelming first season in Bloomington, head coach Darian DeVries is looking to lead the Hoosiers back to the NCAA Tournament. With an expanded 76-team field, that may be considered the bare minimum for a program with Indiana’s rich history and expectations.
Indiana WBB wins lone exhibition matchup
The Indiana women's basketball program is also set to open the new season in the next week. The Hoosiers took down Marian by a score of 87-39 in their lone exhibition game on Wednesday night. Kenzie Hare led the way with 18 points, while Addy Nyemchek (14), Zania Socka-nguemen (13), and Maya Makalusky (10) also scored in the double-digits.
Teri Moren's squad is now set for the regular season opener next Tuesday, November 2 against Florida Gulf Coast. After missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017-18 last season, Moren is looking to lead the Hoosiers to a bounce back campaign in 2026-27.
Omar Cooper Jr. continues to shine
Former Hoosier WR Omar Cooper Jr. is making the most of his first opportunities at the NFL level. Cooper was drafted 30th overall by the New York Jets back in April, but dealt with injuries during training camp and landed on IR earlier this season with an anke sprain. He made his return in Week 6 against the Patriots and racked up six catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. He followed that performance up by collecting five catches for 115 yards and a touchdown in Week 7 against the Dolphins.
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With back-to-back sensational performances, Cooper's name is now etched into the history books on multiple levels. In terms of Jets franchise history, he is now the first rookie WR in Jets history to post back-to-back 100-yard games with a touchdown. Furthermore, Cooper is the only NFL WR player over the last 40 years to have multiple games with 100+ receiving yards and a touchdown over the course of his first three career games. Way to go, Omar!
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