Indiana basketball: Final game-by-game predictions for Hoosiers
January 2023
January 5 – Indiana Hoosiers @ Iowa Hawkeyes
The new year is here and the Hoosiers re-open Big Ten play against the team that took them down in the Big Ten semifinals in 2022, Iowa. This team definitely looks a bit different, even with the identical twin brother of Keegan Murray (Kris) leading the way for the Hawkeyes, they don’t have their veteran shooter, Jordan Bohannon patrolling the three-point line this season.
Trayce Jackson-Davis and the Hoosiers get their revenge on Fran McCaffery and the Hawkeyes with a road win in Iowa City. Jackson-Davis goes for 20+ points and Hood-Schifino provides a lift with 10+ assists in the game. Indiana is now 13-1 overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 83 – IOWA 80
January 8 – Indiana Hoosiers vs. Northwestern Wildcats
This Northwestern team scares me this season, even though they’ll likely finish at the bottom of the Big Ten with Nebraska. The biggest loss this season for the Wildcats is Pete Nance transferring to North Carolina. Northwestern still has Boo Buie and Chase Audige leading the charge, two guys that can score the ball at will.
Although Northwestern has won three of the last five matchups between the two teams, the Hoosiers stay strong at home with a relatively stress-less win against the Wildcats. Jackson-Davis has an off-night, but Tamar Bates and Trey Galloway both score 10+ points off the bench to give the Hoosiers a lift. IU is 14-1 overall and 4-0 in conference play.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 79 – NORTHWESTERN 70
January 11 – Indiana Hoosiers @ Penn State Nittany Lions
I could see this game going either way, unfortunately. This Penn State team this season is much better than last season, where they finished 14-17 overall and 7-13 in the Big Ten, yet beat Indiana at home 61-58. Jalen Pickett is up for an All-Big Ten first-team season this year and with the addition of Camren Wynter (Drexel transfer) and the team staying consistent with Seth Lundy and Myles Dread, this is a dangerous game.
I have the Hoosiers pulling this game out on the road, mostly off the back of Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson, but defensively Xavier Johnson and Miller Kopp step up to slow down Pickett on the offensive side of the ball. Hoosiers are now 15-1 and 5-0 in the Big Ten.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 76 – PENN ST 72
January 14 – Indiana Hoosiers vs. Wisconsin Badgers
This is almost like the revenge tour for Trayce Jackson-Davis and the Indiana Hoosiers. A year ago in Madison, Indiana led the Badgers for most of the game, yet fell to them 64-59, mostly because of Johnny Davis (23 points). I can happily say that Davis is gone (NBA) and Brad Davison is finally not in a Badgers uniform.
Facing Steven Crowl again, Jackson-Davis does his job with 20+ points and 10+ rebounds, along with protecting the rim and racking up four blocks in this game. It stays a close game because of the play of Chucky Hepburn, but the Hoosiers have too much firepower to be slowed down by Wisconsin. Can you believe that Indiana is 16-1 and 6-0 in conference play and we are halfway through January? Might be too good to be true.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 68 – WISCONSIN 63
January 19 – Indiana Hoosiers @ Illinois Fighting Illini
This will be a hard-fought, tough road game for Indiana. Traveling to Champaign after a road win against a sneaky Penn State team and a home win against the always tough-to-beat Wisconsin Badgers, the Hoosiers have a tough schedule here.
Illinois looks different this season. No Kofi Cockburn (finally); no Trent Frazier (finally); and no Alfonso Plummer (phew). But, freshman Skyy Clark will have something to prove against Jalen Hood-Schifino, and the transfers, Terrance Shannon Jr. and Matthew Mayer score in bunches. Despite a 20-point performance by Hood-Schifino on the road, the Illini take down the Hoosiers at home. IU now finds themselves 16-2 and loses their first Big Ten game of the season.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 65 – ILLINOIS 72
January 22 – Indiana Hoosiers vs. Michigan State Spartans
This is a much-needed bounce-back game for Indiana after a tough road loss to Illinois. Going back to Bloomington to take on Tom Izzo and Michigan State is no easy task, but the Spartans aren’t as talented as most people think to believe this season. Indiana fell to the Spartans 76-61 last season and have now lost three straight games to Michigan State.
Trayce Jackson-Davis posts another double-double in this win and Xavier Johnson explodes for 25+ points against AJ Hoggard. Hoosiers move to 17-2 and 7-1 in the Big Ten as we approach February.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 70 – MICHIGAN ST 62
January 25 – Indiana Hoosiers @ Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Hoosiers are heading into the end of January with one of the best records in the country and now face the Golden Gophers after beating them last season in Minneapolis, 84-79. Indiana has won five straight games against the Gophers, which is their longest winning streak in the regular season series since 1989.
Jalen Hood-Schifino shows out in Minneapolis and goes for a career-high scoring night and makes plays all over the floor for the Hoosiers. Indiana handles the Gophers pretty easily on the road and gets to 18-2 and 8-1 in conference play.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 74 – MINNESOTA 60
January 28 – Indiana Hoosiers @ Ohio State Buckeyes
This is another game that could go either way. It might be the hometown Hoosier in me that thinks Indiana pulls this out in Columbus. This Ohio State team looks different this season without E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham, who both got drafted in 2022. Zed Key will still be a dominant force in the post, but look out for Sean McNeil and new players to make an impact for the Buckeyes.
Although history is not in their favor, losing seven of the last nine matchups, the Hoosiers find a way to pull out a tough road win. Trayce Jackson-Davis proves himself as one of the best players in the nation with 30+ points on the road, but the shooting performance of Tamar Bates is the real show that IU fans care about most. IU is now 19-2 and 9-1 in the Big Ten.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 69 – OHIO ST 68
January 31- Indiana Hoosiers @ Maryland Terrapins
Maryland is going to be very tough to beat this season. Donta Scott is still around, but the addition of Jahmir Young (Charlotte transfer) is going to be a big deal for the Terrapins this season. The Hoosiers have won three-straight games against Maryland, which is their longest winning streak ever against the Terrapins.
Indiana drops another road Big Ten game before February. The Hoosiers lose their second Big Ten game of the season to this new-look Maryland team but hope to turn things around in February. IU is now 19-3 and 9-2 in conference play.