Indiana Basketball: 3 non-conference series Hoosiers should schedule

While schedules are made in advance, the Indiana basketball program should look into scheduling these three programs in the future.

More and more you see notable programs scheduling quality non-conference opponents to bolster their tournament resumes. While some are hesitant, the Indiana basketball program shouldn’t be one of them.

Yes, the Big Ten has asserted itself as one of the best, if not the best, conferences in the country and that puts less emphasis on winning quality non-conference games. Despite that, just imagine if Indiana were to win one or two more quality non-conference games.

Not only would this help the Hoosiers’ tournament case each and every year, but it would put less stress on them down the stretch in conference play. Sitting around .500, even a little less, in Big Ten play each of the past three seasons, if Indiana were to have another few quality out of conference wins, their resume would already be much better.

Gonzaga and North Carolina are two programs that are always scheduling difficult games before conference play and while they each have their different reasons, it always makes them stronger come tournament time.

While Indiana doesn’t need  to schedule many, with the Gavitt Games, ACC/Big 10 Challenge and at least one additional notable game each year, you can never have too many quality opponents on the schedule.

The Hoosiers non-conference slate this past year was one of the worst in college basketball and just because you are winning games, doesn’t mean those wins have a huge impact on the overall tournament resume.

With that, here are three non-conference opponents that the Indiana program should schedule a series with.