Indiana Basketball: Predicting Rest of Hoosiers’ Non-Conference Schedule

By Kyle Grand | Dec 5, 2014

The 6-1 Indiana Hoosiers are more than halfway through their non-conference schedule. There are six games between now and the start of the Big Ten slate, including some pretty enticing matchups. Here’s how I think the rest of Indiana’s non-conference schedule will go.

*records and stats as of 12/5/14

12/6/14 – Savannah State (3-5)

This should be another standard “small school comes into Assembly Hall and gets crushed” game for Indiana. Savannah State does have a win over Horizon League school Cleveland State, but was embarrassed by Louisville 87-26. I know Louisville is one of the better teams in the country, but 26 points? Come on. The Tigers should pose no real threat to the Hoosiers.

Savannah State 55, Indiana 80

12/9/14 – No. 5 Louisville (6-0) (Madison Square Garden, New York City)

Two historic programs. The mecca of basketball. Nationally televised game. Yeah, this is a big one for Indiana.

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This game is a great opportunity for the Hoosiers to show the nation what they can do, but the Cardinals are the real deal. They might be the best team Indiana faces all season.

Nov 24, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals forward Montrezl Harrell (24) shoots against Savannah State Tigers forward Javaris Jenkins (5) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated Savannah State 87-26. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Louisville’s Montrezl Harrell presents a huge (literally) matchup problem for the Hoosiers. As we’ve seen so far, Indiana has a tough time against legit bigs and Harrell is as good as they come. He’s averaging nearly a double-double per game (16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds). Can Hanner Mosquera-Perea and Emmitt Holt contain him? Most likely not. If the Hoosiers get hot from three they may have a chance, but I don’t see it.

Indiana 63, Louisville 75

12/13/14 – Grand Canyon (3-4)

This is another gimme for the Hoosiers. As long as the Hoosiers don’t let Royce Woolridge (13.0 PPG) and the son of head coach and ex-NBA player Dan Majerle, Ryan, (11.1 PPG) go off, they should be fine.

Grand Canyon 59, Indiana 77

12/20/14 – No. 23 Butler (6-1) (Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis)

The last time these two teams met, it was in the same showcase in Indianapolis, the Hoosiers were ranked No. 1, and the Bulldogs knocked them off. This time, it’s Butler who’s ranked and riding high after a defeat of highly-touted North Carolina. Let the battle to be named the state’s best begin.

Everyone knows Indiana can light it up from three, but Butler has its own three-point shooting ace in Kellen Dunham. Dunham (16.4 PPG) makes 45% of his three-point attempts and is the team’s leading scorer.

With Roosevelt Jones back after missing all of last year, the Bulldogs are dangerous and hungry to get back to the NCAA tournament. A win against the Hoosiers would definitely help their cause.

This will by no means be an easy opponent for Indiana. Outside of Dunham and Jones, the Bulldogs are deep, experienced and crash the offensive glass, averaging almost 12 offensive rebounds per game. Grabbing boards has been a problem for Indiana, even against its weaker opponents, and if the the Hoosiers give Butler extra possessions, they will be in trouble.

Still, I think Yogi Ferrell shows up in his hometown, and the Bulldogs won’t have an answer for James Blackmon Jr. I like the Hoosiers to win, barely.

Butler 72, Indiana 74

12/22/14 – New Orleans(1-3)

See Savannah State and Grand Canyon.

New Orleans 50, Indiana 82

12/27/14 – Georgetown (4-2) (Madison Square Garden, New York City)

Indiana returns to NYC to face Georgetown in its final tune-up before Big Ten play. Like the Butler game, a win here for the Hoosiers would look very good to the NCAA tournament selection committee. A positive result against Georgetown would give the Hoosiers victories over four quality programs in SMU, Pittsburgh, Butler (hopefully) and the Hoyas.

By the time this game is played, Georgetown will be battle-tested. They’ve already knocked off Florida, barely lost to Wisconsin and Butler and will have played Kansas and Charlotte. They will feel more at home in Madison Square than the Hoosiers, as well.

Nov 20, 2014; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers guard Nick Zeisloft (2) reacts after hitting a three point shot during the second half against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Assembly Hall. Indiana defeated Southern Methodist 74-68. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

The keys to this game will be three-point shooting and rebounding. The Hoyas defend the three very well. Opposing teams are only making 29.7% of their attempts from beyond the arc.

Georgetown outrebounds its opponents by almost six per game. I know I sound like a broken record, but this is an area where the Hoosiers have and will most likely continue to struggle.

But, I still see a Hoosiers victory. Yes, Georgetown has shown it can shut down opposing shooters, but it has not seen a team that can make it rain like Indiana can. As the Hoosiers demonstrated against Pittsburgh, as long as they can get in the lane and kick it back out to the wing, they can make teams pay. I see something similar happening in this contest.

Indiana 71, Georgetown 62

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