Takeaways From Indiana's 2023-24 Basketball Schedule Release

The 2023-24 Indiana men's basketball schedule is now complete after the Big Ten released the full, 20-game slate for all teams on Tuesday. Here are six thoughts on the Hoosiers' schedule.

Jack Ankony | Sep 19, 2023

Takeaways From Indiana's 2023-24 Basketball Schedule Release /

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Indiana Hoosiers

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – We're 40 days from Indiana's first exhibition game, and on Tuesday the Big Ten released the Hoosiers' full 20-game conference slate.

That means the entire 2023-24 Indiana men's basketball schedule is finalized, and there's plenty to discuss.

Here are five takeaways from the schedule.

1. We'll learn a lot from Nov. 19 to Dec. 16

Indiana coach Mike Woodson has been a proponent of building difficult nonconference schedules since becoming head coach before the 2021-22 season, and that's true again this year.

From Nov. 19 to Dec. 16, Indiana plays in the Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York against UConn, followed by Texas or Louisville. After that, Indiana plays Harvard in Indianapolis, Maryland at home, at Michigan, Auburn in Atlanta, and Kansas in Bloomington. For a team with seven outgoing and six incoming scholarship players, this is the first stretch where we'll really get to know the new-look Hoosiers. This stretch includes challenging opponents, and five of the seven games are away from Assembly Hall.

Games against UConn, the defending national champions, and Kansas, a perennial powerhouse, have been the most anticipated for months. But this entire stretch is intriguing. Maryland, with the return of Jahmir Young, Julian Reese and a talented freshman class, should be a Big Ten contender. Texas made the Elite Eight last year. Can Kenny Payne turn things around at Louisville? Harvard went 14-14 last year, but coach Tommy Amaker has seven Ivy League championships in 16 seasons; they're no pushover. Auburn has been a consistent NCAA Tournament team under Bruce Pearl, and any game at Michigan is no cake walk.

2. Favorable start to January

Indiana has two Big Ten games – home versus Maryland and at Michigan – in early December, but those are followed by a number of nonconference matchups. Big Ten play goes into full swing at the start of January, with a four-game stretch that appears favorable for the Hoosiers.

This segment includes games at Nebraska, home against Ohio State, at Rutgers and home against Minnesota. While it's far from guaranteed that Indiana goes undefeated in this stretch, there could certainly be worse ways to start the new year. Nebraska should be improved but has never put a tournament team together under coach Fred Hoiberg. Ohio State is in a weird spot; they went 1-14 in the heart of Big Ten play last year but on paper has talent to be a tournament team. Rutgers lost veterans Caleb McConnell, Paul Mulcahy and Cam Spencer, three of its top five leading scorers. And Minnesota is the odds-on favorite to finish last in the Big Ten, again.

Nebraska, Ohio State, Rutgers and Minnesota aren't the Big Ten's worst four teams, but this is a path where Indiana could build some momentum.

3. Toughest Big Ten stretch?

Right after the portion of the schedule mentioned above, Indiana has perhaps its most difficult stretch of Big Ten play. This includes a home game against Purdue, road trips to Wisconsin and Illinois, then a home game against Iowa. Right now, that looks like the toughest four-game set.

Purdue returns everyone from last year's team that won the Big Ten by three games, and they carry Final Four aspirations despite last season's first-round exit. Indiana hasn't won at Wisconsin since Jan. 25, 1998, before any current Hoosier was born. Let that sink in. The Badgers missed the tournament last year but should improve with everyone back and the addition of St. John's transfer AJ Storr.

After that, Indiana has the difficult task of winning at Illinois, which returns Terrence Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins, two All-Big Ten caliber players, as well as a solid supporting case. Iowa will likely regress this year after losing Kris Murray and others, but Indiana really struggled with Hawkeyes' pace and versatility last year, going 0-2 in the matchups with an ugly home loss.

4. Two week-long breaks during Big Ten play

It's no secret the 20-game Big Ten slate is grueling, but Indiana seems to have a few pockets where it can get much-needed rest.

After attempting to snap its losing streak at Wisconsin on Jan. 19, the Hoosiers are off until Jan. 27, when they travel to Illinois. Some of this time will be dedicated to travel, but that's seven full days without a game.

Indiana has a similar break after a road trip to Purdue on Feb. 10. The Hoosiers don't play again until Feb. 18, when they host Northwestern. Again, that's seven full days without a game, which is crucial about a month before Selection Sunday.

Long layoffs like this are quite rare for Indiana. The Hoosiers had an eight-day break during Big Ten play in 2020-21. But before that, they did not have seven or more days off between Big Ten games in any season since 2006-07. They have two such instances this season.

This begs the question, would a team rather have a more evenly spaced schedule across the whole season? Or can it benefit more from a few longer breaks in the heart of the season? This may end up having no real impact, but it's interesting to consider.

5. Seven Marquee Friday-Sunday home games

The Assembly Hall atmosphere typically seems to kick up a notch for weekend games, and there will be plenty of opportunities for Indiana to lean on its home-court advantage this year.

Such games include Friday, Dec. 1, against Maryland; Saturday, Dec. 16, against Kansas; Saturday, Jan. 6, against Ohio State; Friday, Jan. 12, against Minnesota; Saturday, Feb. 3, against Penn State; Sunday, Feb. 18, against Northwestern; and Sunday, March 10, against Michigan State.

6. March Madness starts early

Indiana will play three Big Ten games in March this season, an intriguing build-up to what Woodson hopes is his third trip to the NCAA Tournament in as many seasons leading the Hoosiers.

This stretch starts with a road game at Maryland on March 3, followed by a second road game against Minnesota on March 6. The Hoosiers will conclude Big Ten play with senior night on March 10 against Michigan State.

While Minnesota is considered the worst Big Ten team heading into the season, Michigan State is lauded as a Final Four contender, and Maryland is primed for a top-five conference finish. These three games could have a March-Madness feel for Indiana.

Big Ten opponents

Home and away: Purdue, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin
Home only: Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern
Away only: Illinois, Michigan, Rutgers

Full Schedule

Hoosier Hysteria

When: Friday, Oct. 20; Time: TBA
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. University of Indianapolis (Exhibition)

When: Sunday, Oct. 29; Time: TBA
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. Marian (Exhibition)

When: Friday, Nov. 3; Time: TBA
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. Florida Gulf Coast

When: Tuesday, Nov. 7; Time: TBA
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. Army

When: Sunday, Nov. 12; Time: TBA
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. Wright State

When: Thursday, Nov. 16; Time: TBA
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA

Empire Classic

Sunday, Nov. 19

Indiana vs. UConn, 1 p.m. ET
Texas vs. Louisville, approximately 3 p.m. ET

Monday, Nov. 20

Third place game, 4:30 p.m. ET
Championship game, approximately 7 p.m. ET

Where: Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y.
TV: Nov. 19 games on ESPN, Nov. 20 games on ESPNU

Indiana vs. Harvard

When: Sunday, Nov. 26; Time: TBA
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. Maryland

When: Friday, Dec. 1; Time: TBD
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana at Michigan

When: Tuesday, Dec. 5; Time: TBD
Where: Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. Auburn

When: Saturday, Dec. 9; Time: 2 p.m. ET
Where: State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. Kansas

When: Saturday, Dec. 16; Time: TBA
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. Morehead State

When: Tuesday, Dec. 19; Time: TBA
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. North Alabama

When: Thursday, Dec. 21; Time: TBA
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. Kennesaw State

When: Friday, Dec. 29; Time: TBA
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana at Nebraska

When: Wednesday, Jan. 3; Time: TBD
Where: Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. Ohio State

When: Saturday, Jan. 6; Time: TBD
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana at Rutgers

When: Tuesday, Jan. 9; Time: TBD
Where: Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway, N.J.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. Minnesota

When: Friday, Jan. 12; Time: TBD
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. Purdue

When: Tuesday, Jan. 16; Time: TBD
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana at Wisconsin

When: Friday, Jan. 19; Time: TBD
Where: Kohl Center in Madison, Wisc.
TV: TBA

Indiana at Illinois

When: Saturday, Jan. 27; Time: TBD
Where: State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. Iowa

When: Tuesday, Jan. 30; Time: TBD
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. Penn State

When: Saturday, Feb. 3; Time: TBD
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana at Ohio State

When: Tuesday, Feb. 6; Time: TBD
Where: Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio
TV: TBA

Indiana at Purdue

When: Saturday, Feb. 10; Time: TBA
Where: Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. Northwestern

When: Sunday, Feb. 18; Time: TBD
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. Nebraska

When: Wednesday, Feb. 21; Time: TBD
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana at Penn State

When: Saturday, Feb. 24; Time: TBD
Where: Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. Wisconsin

When: Tuesday, Feb. 27; Time: TBD
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA

Indiana at Maryland

When: Sunday, March 3; Time: TBD
Where: Xfinity Center in College Park, Md.
TV: TBA

Indiana at Minnesota

When: Wednesday, March 6; Time: TBD
Where: Williams Arena in Minneapolis, Minn.
TV: TBA

Indiana vs. Michigan State

When: Sunday, March 10; Time: TBA
Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.
TV: TBA
Senior night

2024 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament

When: Wednesday, March 13 to Sunday, March 17
Where: Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn.
Time: TBA
TV: TBA