Karoline Striplin sought a quieter recruiting process during the spring transfer window than she had as Alabama’s Miss Basketball in 2021. As a standout at Geneva County High School, she received nearly 30 scholarship offers before choosing Tennessee. This time, Indiana’s women’s basketball team was one of the few programs she engaged with.
“I made a list of things I didn’t want to waver from,” Striplin said at IU’s media day in September. “Indiana checked all those boxes. I didn’t want to draw it out and lead people on. I talked to coach (Teri) Moren a couple of times, and I was in.”
Striplin entered the transfer portal and signed with Indiana less than a week later. The Hoosiers were in need of a post player with her skills.
In three seasons with the Vols, Striplin played 91 games and made 39 starts. Her best season came in 2023-24, where she averaged a career-high 7.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 14.4 minutes per game.
Her decision to transfer was straightforward. Tennessee hired a new coach, Kim Caldwell, whose playing style differed significantly from former coach Kellie Harper. Caldwell’s approach relies on aggressive ball-pressure defense and a high-volume offense featuring many three-point shots.
“The new system will be great, but it’s not a fit for my game,” Striplin said. “I wanted to go outside the conference and step into a bigger role than I had at Tennessee.”
Striplin was already familiar with the Hoosiers, having faced them in competitive matchups over the past two seasons.
“They had a great culture,” she said. “They worked hard, collaborated, and did the little things that don’t show up on the stat sheet.”
She also developed a strong connection with assistant coach Rhet Wierzba, who had recruited her in middle school.
“He was one of the first to recruit me,” Striplin said. “He was always at my Alabama Southern Stars AAU games, waving from the sidelines. He was willing to talk basketball.”
During her official visit, Indiana’s coaching staff shared that they were eagerly monitoring the transfer portal for her name.
“I felt overwhelmed with thankfulness,” Striplin said, smiling. “I didn’t think I deserved that. They made me feel so welcome, and I knew I wanted to be part of this.”
Indiana is excited to have the 6-foot-3 forward as they plan for the future without Mackenzie Holmes. Holmes, a three-time First-Team All-Big Ten selection, graduated as the program’s all-time leading scorer. She averaged 19.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game last season.
While Indiana has yet to finalize its rotations, Striplin will be among the frontcourt players expected to help fill the void left by Holmes.
“I don’t think anyone can step into her shoes,” Striplin said, smiling.
Holmes may still provide support as a graduate manager while recovering from knee surgery. She was drafted by the Seattle Storm with the No. 26 pick in the first round.
Striplin is eager to learn from Holmes, the best post player in IU history.
“I’m looking to learn from her and help move the team forward to reach our goals,” Striplin said. “Having her on the sideline is epic. It’s invaluable for me and everyone on the team.”
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