Indiana basketball: Final game-by-game predictions for Hoosiers
December 2022
December 3 – Indiana Hoosiers @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The first Big Ten game of the season comes just three days after the biggest game of the season for Indiana, and it’s a true road test against Rutgers. Although Rutgers lost their two top scorers from last season (Ron Harper Jr. and Geo Baker), Cliff Omoruyi and Caleb McConnell are ready to take on the load as the leaders of the Scarlet Knights.
Although the Hoosiers fell short at home last season against Rutgers, the team shows some true grit in their first conference win of the season, thanks to an impressive showing by true freshman guard, Jalen Hood-Schifino, who registers 20+ points and 5+ assists. 8-0 and 1-0 in conference play.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 74 – RUTGERS 67
December 7 – Indiana Hoosiers vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
After their first Big Ten win of the season, the Hoosiers travel back to Bloomington to take on a Cornhuskers squad that looks a lot different than a year ago. The two double-digit scorers for Nebraska (Bryce McGowens and Alonzo Verge Jr.) are gone this season and Fred Hoiberg is relying on the transfer portal to make up for those losses.
Despite new additions Juwan Gary (Alabama) and Emmanuel Bandoumel (SMU), Indiana takes care of business at home and beats the Cornhuskers by double digits, thanks to strong performances from Race Thompson and Trayce Jackson-Davis, who both nearly post double-doubles in the game. Hoosiers continue to run with a 9-0 record and start 2-0 in the Big Ten.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 79 – NEBRASKA 63
December 10 – Indiana Hoosiers vs. Arizona Wildcats *
The Hoosiers face their next biggest challenge of the season in a neutral site game against likely-ranked, Arizona in Las Vegas, NV. Tommy Lloyd and the Wildcats lost two of their best players, Bennedict Mathurin and Christian Koloko, to the NBA, but still have their second-leading scorer, Azuolas Tubelis leading the charge.
Luckily for Indiana, this Wildcats team won’t be as good as they were a season ago, which gives the Hoosiers a huge chance to earn another big win over a ranked opponent before traveling to Lawrence to take on the defending National Champs, Kansas. Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino both have solid games, while Race Thompson shuts down Tubelis and limits him to less than 10 points. Indiana wins 10 straight games to start the season.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 72 – ARIZONA 68
DECEMBER 17 – Indiana Hoosiers @ Kansas Jayhawks
The first blunder of the season. As much as I wish it wouldn’t happen, it will. Both teams will likely be ranked in the top 10 once this matchup occurs, but Kansas shows their toughness and grit with their new-look team and handles the Hoosiers pretty easily, despite a dominant showing from Trayce Jackson-Davis, who goes for 30+ points and 10+ rebounds.
IU loses their first game of the season, now 10-1 before taking on some easier opponents before conference play really begins.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 69 – KANSAS 77
December 20 – Indiana Hoosiers vs. Elon Phoenix
Coming off of their first loss of the season, Indiana gets back on track against an Elon squad that finished last season 10-22 and lost their only game against a ranked opponent last season (No. 2 Duke), 87-56.
It will be a similar outcome for the Hoosiers as they get back on track and blow out the Phoenix by 20+ points in Assembly Hall. IU moves to 11-1 and plays one more game before the New Year.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 84 – ELON 61
December 23 – Indiana Hoosiers vs. Kennesaw State Owls
Here’s another one of those interesting games in my opinion. The Hoosiers are coming off a dominant home win against Elon and are looking ahead to the Big Ten season ramping up in 2023. Two days before the holiday break and they take on a Kennesaw State program that went 13-18 last season, but this team played three power conference teams (Iowa State, Creighton, and Nebraska) very tough last season. In those three games, the Owls lost by 15 or fewer points in each of them and lost by just seven to an impressive Creighton team.
Luckily for the Hoosiers, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino show up in a big way and lead this Indiana offense to a win at home before the holiday break. Hood-Schifino tallies up 15+ points and 7+ assists, while TJD nabs another double-double to finish off 2022.