Five takeaways from Indiana’s 2024-25 basketball schedule

Five takeaways from Indiana’s 2024-25 basketball schedule

The schedule overall looks very manageable for a roster with IU’s talent level.

 

The meat of the non-conference schedule is the Battle4Atlantis over Thanksgiving and a home game against South Carolina. Other than that, it’s mainly buy games in which IU should be very solid favorites.

 

That should give a new group a few tests, but a number of opportunities to get experience playing together, to gel, and even for fourth-year coach Mike Woodson to take a look in real games at various lineup combinations if he wishes.Overall, there are plenty of games to develop cohesion and chemistry in games prior to the start of the heart of Big Ten play on Jan. 2 with a home game against Rutgers.

 

The one thing IU does need to do this year: Crush the bad teams it plays. Winning at home by a small margin — as IU did last year against Army for example — does not help a team’s metrics.Battle4Atlantis is big

With South Carolina as the only other power-4 non-conference game on the schedule, the Battle4Atlantis will play a major factor in IU’s non-conference strength of scheduled.

 

That means beating Louisville in the opener of that event is significant. If IU beats the Cardinals, the Hoosiers will be in the winner’s bracket, with, presumably, opportunities to potentially face Gonzaga and Arizona.

 

If IU falls to the loser’s bracket, that brings Davidson and West Virginia into the realm of possible opponents.

 

If IU were to walk out of Atlantis with wins over Louisville, Arizona and Gonzaga, it would be a major achievement. Even if IU goes 2-1 but plays both Gonzaga and Arizona, it’s a positive as far as the metrics are concerned.UCLA at Indiana on Valentine’s day is cool

Two teams with a combined 16 national championships playing in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Valentine’s Day is just cool.

 

The history between UCLA (11 national titles, most in NCAA history) and Indiana (five, tied for fifth most in NCAA history) brings a vibrant tapestry of tradition to the game on Feb. 14.

 

Also, many feel Indiana and UCLA have the most talented rosters in the Big Ten, so the game could have Big Ten title implications.

 

Big games in Assembly Hall are outstanding college basketball environments.