Indiana basketball: Final game-by-game predictions for Hoosiers
February 2023
February 4 – Indiana Hoosiers vs. Purdue Boilermakers
Does anyone remember the last time Purdue came to Bloomington? The Boilermakers were ranked No. 4 in the country and riding Jaden Ivey as their go-to guy. A man nicknamed, “Big Shot Rob” ended the hopes for Purdue and won the game for Indiana, 68-65. That was Indiana’s first win over the Boilermakers since 2016 and hoping to establish a home-winning streak against them as the years continue.
Trayce Jackson-Davis still can’t figure out how to score consistently against Zach Edey, but Jalen Hood-Schifino and Xavier Johnson step up to the plate and both record 5+ assists, while Hood-Schifino leads them in scoring with 20+ points. IU dominates in Assembly Hall and starts off February with a win. Now 20-3 overall and 10-2 in the Big Ten.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 80 – PURDUE 67
February 7 – Indiana Hoosiers vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Hoosiers face off against a tough Rutgers squad that no longer has Geo Baker or Ron Harper Jr. on February 7. Indiana has lost five straight games to the Scarlet Knights and has not won a game since March 10, 2019. Though Caleb McConnell and Cliff Omoruyi are leading Rutgers, this team won’t have the firepower they’ve had in recent seasons.
Trayce Jackson-Davis and Cliff Omoruyi have a defensive showdown, while Jalen Hood-Schifino carries the offensive load with 15+ points and 6+ assists in the home win. The Hoosiers are now 21-3 overall and 11-2 in conference play with just seven games remaining in the regular season.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 78 – RUTGERS 71
February 11 – Indiana Hoosiers @ Michigan Wolverines
Here’s where the tide turns for Indiana before postseason play begins. Traveling to Ann Arbor against a Michigan team that will likely be ranked in the top 15, the Hoosiers have a tough road to win the regular season Big Ten title. In last season’s Big Ten tournament, Indiana snapped their nine-game losing streak to the Wolverines with a 74-69 win. IU has not won a regular season game against Michigan since February 2, 2016.
That streak will continue after this game as well. Hunter Dickinson outplays Trayce Jackson-Davis at home, and despite the strong showing from Race Thompson, IU cannot get close enough to pull out a tough road win. Indiana now stands at 21-4 overall and 11-3 in the Big Ten.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 64 – MICHIGAN 70
February 15- Indiana Hoosiers @ Northwestern Wildcats
Luckily for the Hoosiers, they travel to Northwestern after a tough road loss and hope to take down the Wildcats in Evanston after struggling mightily last season, losing 59-51. Indiana has lost four of the last five road games against Northwestern and has scored 70+ points just once since 2012.
Things change this time around. Trayce Jackson-Davis cannot be stopped by Ryan Young and the Wildcats, as he goes for 25+ points and 15+ rebounds in the road win. As IU is nearing the end of the regular season, they hold a record of 22-4 overall and 12-3 in conference play. How will this play out?
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 69 – NORTHWESTERN 60
February 18 – Indiana Hoosiers vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
Earlier this season, the Fighting Illini handled the Hoosiers in Champaign, winning 72-65 on January 19th. Brad Underwood has figured out a way to stop Jackson-Davis and not allow others to beat him in games.
It seems like this season, even without Kofi Cockburn in the game, Indiana cannot find a way to beat Illinois. The play of Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins is enough to take down the Hoosiers at home and pull down Indiana’s record to 22-5 overall and 12-4 in the Big Ten as we approach the end of the season.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 69 – ILLINOIS 73
February 21 – Indiana Hoosiers @ Michigan State Spartans
A bad stretch of losses for Indiana in January/February. Does that sound familiar Hoosier Nation? It seems as though this will ring true yet again this season. Even with a 22-5 overall record, the Hoosiers struggle to find their footing in the tough Big Ten and have a gauntlet to run through every season.
This time, the Hoosiers travel to East Lansing and cannot squeak by with a road victory over Tom Izzo and the Spartans because of the strong play from Malik Hall and AJ Hoggard. Despite Jackson-Davis’ 25-point performance, Indiana falls to 22-6 overall and 12-5 in the Big Ten after this loss.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 66 – MICHIGAN ST 67
February 25 – Indiana Hoosiers @ Purdue Boilermakers
Following their first two-game losing streak of the season, the Hoosiers travel to West Lafayette to take on Zach Edey and the Boilermakers after dominating them earlier in February at Assembly Hall, 80-67. Purdue has not lost to Indiana at home since January 30, 2013, winning seven straight home games against the Hoosiers.
That streak continues in this game, as Purdue takes down Indiana pretty handily, limiting Trayce Jackson-Davis to less than 10 points, and only one Hoosier (Jalen Hood-Schifino) scores in double figures. The Hoosiers fall again to 22-7 overall and 12-6 in the Big Ten after beginning the season 16-1 overall and 6-0 in Big Ten play. After this loss, Indiana lost their chance at winning the Big Ten regular-season title.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 68 – PURDUE 77
February 28 – Indiana Hoosiers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
Here’s how the Hoosiers get back on track. After losing three straight games for the first time this season, Indiana returns back to Bloomington to take on Iowa in their second-to-last regular season game of the season. Earlier in the year, the Hoosiers went to Iowa City and beat the Hawkeyes, and look to replicate that again at home.
Behind the powerful performance of Trayce Jackson-Davis, who scores 20+ points and grabs 15+ rebounds, the Hoosiers end their losing streak and improve to 23-7 overall and 13-6 in the Big Ten.
FINAL RESULT: INDIANA 81 – IOWA 73
March 5 – Indiana Hoosiers vs. Michigan Wolverines
The final game. Wish it meant more, like battling for a Big Ten regular season title, but it doesn’t for Indiana. Michigan is leading the Big Ten and has one more chance to seal their fate as the Big Ten regular season champs with a win over Indiana in Bloomington. Luckily, the Hoosiers have Mike Woodson at the helm and don’t go down without a fight.
Trayce Jackson-Davis bests Hunter Dickinson in this game and the Hoosiers finish the 2022-23 season on a high note with a big home win over the Wolverines. Jackson-Davis goes for 30+ points and Hood-Schifino tallies a career-high 12 assists. After a rough February and March, Indiana has put itself in a good position going into postseason play.