The men’s college basketball team at Indiana University Indianapolis, best known as IU Indy, was unable to complete its two-hour road trip back to campus after a tough loss at Northern Kentucky on Saturday. According to a report, its bus “exploded” on the way home.
Everybody is okay but the gear is not. Further details have yet to emerge from the scene.
UPDATE: The school released the following statement:
Message from the IU Indy Athletics Department… pic.twitter.com/ekuZICDXSP
— IU Indy Jaguars (@iuindy_jaguars) February 23, 2025
IU Indy was established in July after its predecessor institution, IUPUI, split into IU Indianapolis and Purdue University in Indianapolis. A school that once combined two different campuses under the same umbrella became two separate schools. Everything else is pretty much the same. Its college basketball team kept the Jaguars moniker and still competes on the Division-I level in the Horizon League.
Although IU Indy has only nine wins this season with two games left to play, a 9-21 record would be much improved from the last five years! The Jaguars have not won nine games since 2019 and finished at 6-26 last season. They are trending in the right direction in 2024-25!
Unfortunately, they could not get the job done against the Norse and took a tough four-point loss after keeping the score close throughout the entire game. Their next opportunity comes on Thursday if the team is able to continue its season after a scary drive home on Sunday.
Northern Kentucky’s campus is located approximately 120 miles from Indianapolis. It is a one hour and 45 minute drive. At some point during that stretch, IU Indy’s bus reportedly caught fire.
According to a post on X from The College Experience podcast, it “exploded.” Everybody on board the bus is okay but their things did not survive.
The IU Indy men’s basketball team bus just “exploded” during their trip back to campus after their game at Northern Kentucky
Thankfully everybody exited the bus in time. Some players and staff members lost their wallets and phones. All the team gear burned up.
— @TCEonSGPN / X
Here is a photo from the side of the road:
— – (@Spicoli_____) February 23, 2025
As of right now, it is unclear how IU Indy is going to proceed. A new bus will pick them up and take them back to campus for starters. The athletic department is currently “brainstorming ways the community can help” but the Jaguars lost most — if not all — of their team gear. Jerseys, clipboards, etc.
Fortunately, every player and staffer on board the bus was able to exit safely. That is the only good news from a terrible situation. Stay tuned for more details on how you can help.