Hoosier State of Mind
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Indiana Basketball: Ranking Hoosiers’ toughest games in December

By Trevor Gersmehl

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: Aleem Ford #2 helps Nate Reuvers #35 of the Wisconsin Badgers up after a foul in the first half of their game against the New Mexico Lobos at Barclays Center on November 26, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: Aleem Ford #2 helps Nate Reuvers #35 of the Wisconsin Badgers up after a foul in the first half of their game against the New Mexico Lobos at Barclays Center on November 26, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 06: Head coach Mike Brey of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts during the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Dean Smith Center on November 06, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 76-65. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 06: Head coach Mike Brey of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts during the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Dean Smith Center on November 06, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 76-65. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Indiana partakes in the Crossroads Classic once again after winning against Butler last year in dramatic fashion.

This year, they’ll take on Notre Dame, who stands at 6-1. Their one loss came to North Carolina on opening night, and the Fighting Irish have yet to play a lot of great competition aside from UNC.

Senior John Mooney currently leads Notre Dame in points and rebounds (14.3 & 13.0), and they play complimentary basketball. The Fighting Irish have won games with their sound passing, rebounding, and ball security like they normally do. They match up pretty evenly with Indiana on paper, and the Crossroads Classic setting should make for a fun game.

This game is important because, once again, the environment.

The Crossroads Classic is a great showcase of Indiana’s best teams and the crowd is always packed at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana beat Notre Dame in dramatic fashion two seasons ago, and there may be some bad blood in the building in the sequel to this matchup.

Again, this is a matchup like UConn that Indiana needs to win to help its non-conference slate. While UConn is expected to be a major bubble team, even one that misses the NCAA Tournament, Notre Dame, by many, is expected to be playing come March so this would be a nice win to add to a tournament resume for the Hoosiers.

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