Indiana Basketball vs Northwestern: Game Info, preview, and prediction

After losing four in a row, Indiana Basketball desperately needs a win to turn around their season and remain in the discussion for the NCAA Tournament.

In what is a rematch of the Big Ten opener for both teams, the Hoosiers head to Evanston as they look to turn their season around after losing four games in a row.

For Northwestern, the Wildcats have struggled all season long, and head into this matchup with an 11-7 (2-5) record, with no quality wins on their resume.

The Hoosiers, who took game one 68-66 in Bloomington, were led by Romeo Langford’s 20 points and Juwan Morgan’s 17 point and 12 rebound performance as both shot 8-of-13 from the field.

Dererk Pardon was a force in the paint all game long, scoring a game high 24 points and adding 10 rebounds. Vic Law also chipped in 16 points and nine rebounds.

Heading into the second matchup, it will once again be headlined by the names above.

It is no secret that the Hoosiers have struggled all year long on the backboards, but there may be some relief against Northwestern on Tuesday.

Ranked just 240th in the NCAA in offensive rebounds per game with slightly over nine, the Wildcats have relied on the duo of Vic Law and Dererk Pardon all season long combing for almost 50 percent of their rebounds.

One Wildcat who has stepped up is grad transfer, Ryan Taylor.

Taking a couple games to get adjusted to Big Ten play, averaging just nine points and shooting 32.1 percent in their first three conference games, Taylor has averaged 13 points and 43.7 percent from the field over their last four Big Ten games. Having just nine points in the first matchup with the Hoosiers, look for Taylor to have more of a scoring impact this time around.

Keys to the Game

Not only did both teams combine for just 28.3 percent from behind the arc in the first matchup, but neither team shoots over 34 percent as a team on the season.

Northwestern, who has attempted about 100 more threes than Indiana on the season at 404, makes just over one more three a game than the Hoosiers though.

Because Indiana lacks the confidence to take threes, if the Wildcats find themselves in a rhythm from deep, they may be able to run away with this one.

For the Hoosiers, a team that only shoots 64 percent from the free throw line, they need to keep Northwestern away from the free throw line, which is the strength of their offense.

The Hoosiers, who have done well for the most part all season long at not fouling, ranked 90th in the NCAA in fouls, only allowed the Wildcats to get to the line 10 times in their first matchup.

Northwestern ranks third in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (73.4), while they rank 258th in the NCAA in field goal percentage, and 241st in three-point percentage, so their ability to get to the line and convert easy points will be crucial.

What you need to know

What? Indiana 12-6 (3-4) vs Northwestern 11-7 (2-5)
When? Tuesday, January 22 – 9:00 pm EST
Where? Welsh-Ryan Arena – Evanston, Illinois
TV? BTN
Radio? Indiana Radio Network
All-Time series? Indiana leads series, 91-26
Prediction? Indiana 67, Northwestern 63