Indiana basketball starts their regular season in less than 2 weeks! Now feels like a great time to dive into the schedule to highlight some big games, tough stretches, and matchups to watch throughout the season.

Buy Games – Should finish 7-0

Eastern Illinois (Nov. 2)

Indiana opens the season up against the 359th ranked team in Kenpom. This one should be over by halftime.

Bellarmine (Nov. 5)

Bellarmine plays a style of motion offense similar to what the Hoosiers should see out of Arkansas, so this is a good matchup for defensive reps early in the season.

Tennessee Tech (Nov. 12)

Another 200+ rated Kenpom team, this one should be a game where the big men dominate.

Jacksonville (Nov. 24)

Scheduling a buy game here makes perfect sense, especially after playing Arkansas and Kentucky right before this one. If the Hoosiers enter on a losing streak, they will snap it in this game.

Bowling Green (Nov. 27)

Taking on a MAC school the Friday after Thanksgiving likely means a sparse crowd in Assembly Hall, but Indiana should have no problem with Bowling Green.

Western Illinois (Dec. 3)

This matchup is against the third worst team in all of college basketball, and it will be a nice break after the first conference game of the year against Rutgers just a few nights prior.

Fairleigh Dickinson (Dec 22)

I am in favor of this becoming an annual series for FDU’s miraculous moment against Purdue. FDU will hear applause when they are announced in Assembly Hall.

Non-Conference Power Opponents

To feel good about their tournament standing, they need to finish 3-2 in these 5.

Syracuse (Nov. 9)

Indiana takes on a national brand in Syracuse, although the squad they are facing is not as strong as the brand suggests. This is a chance to get a win that looks better and better as the calendar gets closer to March. A neutral site in this one gives Indiana the chance for a Quad 1 or 2 victory, even though it will feel like a home game in Indianapolis.

Arkansas (Nov. 17)

Arkansas is ranked 12th in the preseason AP Poll, and this should be a blockbuster in Madison Square Garden. This will be the first time we get a chance to see how Indiana matches up against one of the more athletic teams in basketball in a huge matchup.

Kentucky (Nov. 20)

Expect poor shooting in this one, as it takes place inside Lucas Oil Stadium. After renewing the rivalry series last year, Indiana gets a chance for revenge against a very talented Kentucky team.

UCF (Dec. 12)

Indiana finally plays a marquee opponent in Bloomington 13 days before Christmas. UCF has been sneaky good for a few seasons, and will probably be a fringe tournament team. This is a great opportunity for a Quad 1 or 2 win on the home floor.

Missouri (Dec. 18)

Missouri is currently one spot behind Indiana in Kenpom. A win here could loom large in March if either team is on the bubble.

Big Ten Home Games

Rutgers (Dec. 1)

Indiana gets a chance to ease into conference play against a team picked to finish in the bottom 3 of the Big Ten.

USC (Jan. 2)

Indiana welcomes the 21th ranked team in the AP Poll to open up the new year. USC is talented, but Indiana should have a major home court advantage in this one.

Maryland (Jan. 12)

In Maryland’s second year under Buzz Williams, they are projected to finish right around the Hoosiers in the conference. Williams’ teams are always known for rebounding, so Indiana will have to bring it on the glass in this one.

Michigan (Jan 16.)

The Hoosiers are lucky this one is at home instead of on the road. The Wolverines are projected to be a better team than Indiana, but the home crowd might be able to swing this one in Indiana’s favor.

Illinois (Jan. 24)

The team picked to win the conference comes to Bloomington in late January. If Indiana can shoot well enough to stay in the game, this one could get interesting at the end.

UCLA (Jan. 30)

The Bruins are sitting at 27th in Kenpom right now, and games involving Mick Cronin are always wars on the glass and in the paint. This game is a big opportunity for a signature win.

Northwestern (Feb. 9)

Northwestern is the first team Indiana will get to see in a home and home situation this season.

Purdue (Feb. 16)

Indiana might be favored at home in this rivalry for the first time in a while when the Boilermakers come to Assembly Hall.

Michigan State (Feb. 23)

Michigan State bullied Indiana last year in the paint. Now that Indiana has more size, this could be a competitive matchup in Bloomington.

Ohio State (Feb. 28)

The Buckeyes and the Hoosiers played on Senior Day two seasons ago in Bloomington as well. This matchup is turning into a competitive rivalry in both football and basketball, as the teams seem to be very evenly matched.

Big Ten Road Games

Iowa (Dec. 7)

Going to Iowa City in December is never fun, but playing against Ben McCollum’s Iowa team is going to be an absolute grind. It is a good thing that this game takes place in December, as Iowa might still be figuring out how to play in the post Bennett Stirtz era.

Oregon (Jan. 6)

Indiana takes on Oregon in Eugene at 10:30 ET on a Wednesday night. Oregon is not a good team, but the travel and tip time do not suggest this will be an easy game.

Washington (Jan. 9)

After facing Oregon, Indiana will take on Washington in Seattle just a few days later. This is a great opportunity to steal a road win in the conference, as Washington is not a tough place to play.

Minnesota (Jan. 20)

After losing to the Gophers last year on the road, Indiana seeks revenge against a well coached team that should be at a significant talent disadvantage.

Northwestern (Jan. 27)

Northwestern basically ended the Hoosiers’ tournament hopes a season ago, and Indiana will have to travel to Evanston to snap a seven game losing streak against the Wildcats.

Penn State (Feb. 2)

State College is not known for their basketball team, but Penn State almost pulled multiple upsets last season on their home floor. This screams trap game after UCLA a few days before this one.

Nebraska (Feb. 6)

Nebraska has turned into a very tough place to play for most teams, so Indiana will have to bring their A game to even have a chance against Fred Hoiberg’s squad.

Maryland (Feb. 13)

After playing at home a month earlier, Indiana must travel to College Park to take on the Terrapins.

Wisconsin (Feb. 19)

Indiana has not won at Wisconsin since January 25th, 1998. Bobby Knight was still coaching the Hoosiers.

Purdue (Mar. 5)

Indiana closes out the regular season in Mackey Arena against Purdue before the Big Ten tournament, which begins on March 9.

After several years of poor scheduling harming Indiana’s ability to reach the NCAA tournament, this schedule is finally an advantage rather than a disadvantage. Neutral site games in multiple arenas against multiple styles of offense is a great way to prepare for the tournament. The Big Ten is always a grind, but Indiana has a favorable draw this year. This season should result in an NCAA tournament birth, and the non-conference slate should help get them there.

Cover photo courtesy of Indiana University Athletics