The Indiana Hoosiers launched their NCAA season just days ago with a powerful victory over the Brown Bears, setting a promising tone for the Big Ten conference. That win brought fresh hope to fans still nursing the sting of last year’s narrow Sweet 16 exit against South Carolina. However, just as the Hoosiers seemed to be building momentum, a stunning upset hit in their very next game.

The No. 25 AP-ranked Hoosiers’ recent loss to the Harvard Crimson has left fans frustrated and calling for head coach Teri Moren’s departure. For Hoosier supporters, this defeat stings even more because Harvard, a team that has never advanced beyond the NCAA tournament’s second round, managed to edge Indiana out—though only after an intense overtime battle.

However, Teri Moren who boasts a decade-long tenure leading the Hoosiers since her appointment in 2014, seemed calm and composed. “I don’t think anybody is hitting the panic button quite yet,” she remarked after the game, which ended with Indiana narrowly falling to Harvard, 72-68. The Hoosiers showed signs of struggle from the first quarter, but they fought back to force the game into overtime—only to come up short by four points in the end.

Now, this unexpected loss has hit fans hard, especially after they hoped the Hoosiers would establish a strong position in the Big Ten conference by winning what seemed like winnable games. But Harvard’s shocking victory over Indiana—the only second AP-ranked team to lose to the Crimson in the last 25 years—has left fans seething and venting their frustration online, questioning coach Moren’s leadership and calling for her to be removed from her role.

Frustration mounts among Hoosier fans as shocking loss sparks questions about coach’s future

The Hoosiers faced an Ivy League team in Harvard, one that has never even reached the tournament’s Sweet 16. In fact, their last second-round appearance had come 26 years back in 1998. In stark contrast, Indiana has made it to the Sweet 16 three times in the past three years, even reaching the Elite Eight in 2021, making them a formidable presence in recent tournaments.

So when the Hoosiers fell to Harvard—a team many viewed as a beatable opponent based on past records—disappointed fans turned their frustration toward Coach Moren, questioning her leadership and the team’s direction under her guidance. One fan didn’t hold back in calling out Coach Teri Moren’s decision-making and tactical approach, even going so far as to label her as “not a good coach.”  Taking to X, the fan vented:

“We were duped. Teri Moren is not a good coach. Bro has not learned how to get out a full court press, does not call timeouts and leaves her team out there to struggle, and she has no idea how to draw plays. No more checks for her.“

Moren led side had a rocky start, with Harvard storming ahead on a 10-0 run just minutes into the game. By the end of the first quarter, Indiana was down 21-7, struggling with 11 turnovers and an inability to handle Harvard’s press. Coach Moren’s frustration was clear as her team appeared scattered and disjointed, making costly mistakes on defense and turnovers. It was, by all accounts, one of Indiana’s most challenging quarters in recent memory. Pointing out the same concern, one fan even called it the “worst quarter” under Moren’s decade-long leadership.

“That’s easily the worst quarter of basketball I’ve ever seen a Teri Moren team play. #iuwbb“

The Simon Skojdt Assembly Hall saw Indiana struggle mightily against Harvard’s relentless defense, with the Crimson finishing the game with 14 steals—double that of Indiana—and forcing the Hoosiers into 27 turnovers. The first quarter alone saw 11 turnovers and only two successful field goals from Indiana in the entire 10 minutes. The rough start and disappointing loss left one fan in disbelief, who even suggested that Peegs, the Indiana University basketball forum, should soon start a petition to dismiss Teri Moren.

“Oh man, surely Peegs is putting together a petition to have Teri Moren fired“

However, Teri Moren is no stranger to the Hoosiers, having led the program since Curt Miller’s departure in 2014. Under her guidance, Indiana has achieved historic milestones, including back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances in 2021 and 2022 and its first-ever Elite Eight showing. The 55-year-old coach is also one of only three in Hoosiers history to secure a Big Ten season championship. Due to these achievements and rich history under Moren, one of the users expressed that the team lacked everything they’d come to expect from a Moren-led squad.

“Everything you’d expect from a Teri Moren team was missing“

While many fans were left feeling frustrated and disheartened by the loss, one fan acknowledged the team’s failure but struck an optimistic tone under the Hoosiers’ recent Instagram post.

“Tonight we su-ked!! We’ll get better!“

If Teri Moren’s calm demeanor holds true and her team manages to bounce back from this setback, fans will eagerly await their next opportunity to see them in action. The Hoosiers will face the Butler Bulldogs next Thursday, November 13th, at Hinkle Fieldhouse.