Indiana men’s basketball’s non-conference slate is firmly in the past. The Hoosiers have a substantial break before returning to Big Ten action in the new year.
It’s a bit weird to judge the slate because
Indiana’s losses, against Louisville and Kentucky, were what was widely expected going into the season. The Cardinals loaded up on talent in the transfer portal and the Wildcats had homecourt advantage. Both make sense. But then you factor in how those losses happened.
Here’s a few words on each game:
vs Alabama A&M
- This went about as expected. Indiana shot the ball well and played energetic defense, opening up with an early lead and running away with it. Tucker DeVries shined with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists.
vs Marquette (in Chicago)
- In the moment, this felt like a prove-it game to see how Indiana would look against higher level competition. With a roster made up mostly of transfer additions from the mid-major ranks, there was some curiosity over how the pieces would look away from home against a coach known for tough defenses. Tucker DeVries and Lamar Wilkerson looked fantastic as the Hoosiers beat down a Golden Eagles squad that now looks like one of the worst teams on the schedule.
vs Milwaukee
- Another blowout where Indiana shot the ball well while playing remarkable defense. Not much here.
vs Incarnate Word
- This is where the cracks began to show. Indiana was never truly in danger here but the shots weren’t falling and Incarnate Word went on a late run that made things uncomfortable in the closing minutes. The Cardinals outscored the Hoosiers 28-19 in the final ten minutes after scoring just 33 points in the first thirty. Shooting variance was on Indiana’s radar going into the season but this made it real. Incarnate Word has gone onto have a respectable performance overall, rising in KenPom’s efficiency metrics in the process.
vs Lindenwood
- Indiana had another off shooting night but was able to keep this one a blowout with strong defense. Not much else to say here.
vs Kansas State
- Another sort of prove it matchup. Indiana beat up on a Kansas State team that entered Assembly Hall with one of the top scoring offenses nationally and held star transfer guard PJ Haggerty to his worst performance of the season up to that point with strong defense from Conor Enright. Kansas State promptly collapsed, falling to Bowling Green and Seton Hall before stringing together three wins to close out its non-conference slate.
vs Bethune Cookman
- Back to blowouts, only this time Indiana cracked 100 points without needing too many from Wilkerson, who went just 1-8 from the 3-point line. Tucker DeVries picked up the slack, shooting 5-10 from distance as the Hoosier defense stifled another mid-major offense.
vs Louisville (in Indianapolis)
- This one looked like a challenge going into the season and it was. Louisville loaded up in the transfer portal and looked like too strong of an opponent. That ultimately proved true, but the Hoosiers didn’t help themselves by digging a massive hole in the first few minutes and never managing to find the run to climb out of it. In hindsight, Indiana may have been able to compete a bit more here if it’d just opened the game better. Maybe not win, but at least a more respectable loss.
at Kentucky
- This one is an opportunity that came and went. Indiana hung tough in the first half and even went into the locker room with a lead before completely collapsing in the second as Kentucky started rolling. This was a Wildcats team underperforming its preseason expectations and the Hoosiers just got outmuscled in the last 20 minutes, getting outscored 40-21. They were in it for a remarkable amount of time despite hitting just 4-24 from the 3-point line.
vs Chicago State
- Indiana was never in danger but this was remarkably underwhelming. In a game the Hoosiers should’ve run away with, they won by just 20 points. The defense was fine, but poor shooting from everyone not named Wilkerson dragged this down. That’s a poor shooting night more than anything, but underwhelming nonetheless.
vs Siena
- Indiana played remarkably well in the first half, especially Wilkerson, before a poor start to the second kept it from really running away with this game. This game made poor second halves a trend after lackluster showings coming out of the locker room against Kentucky and Chicago State before it. That’s something to keep an eye on.
All things considered, this could’ve gone significantly better for Indiana. A Big Ten loss to Minnesota in the middle of this makes it feel worse than it is. Not the worst non-conference showing but, once again, Indiana needs to finish high in the Big Ten standings for a chance to dance.
