Indiana basketball is heading into Saturday’s primetime matchup with No. 8 Kansas after an 89-75 loss to No. 10 Arizona in Las Vegas a week ago.
The Hoosiers travel to Allen Fieldhouse to take on the Jayhawks for the first time since December 22, 1993. Then-ranked No. 12 Indiana basketball led by 36 points from Damon Bailey in the 86-83 overtime loss at No. 6 Kansas.
Five of the last six matchups between Indiana and Kansas have been single-digit affairs and at least one of the teams in five straight games has reached at least 80 points. The last matchup dates back to November 11, 2016, when the Hoosiers took down No. 3 Kansas, 103-99, in overtime.
Here are my three bold predictions for No. 14 Indiana traveling to Kansas after a week off on Saturday:
Three predictions for No. 14 Indiana basketball vs. No. 8 Kansas:
#3. Jalen Hood-Schifino is finally healthy enough to suit up and makes an immediate impact with 10 first-half points
According to Mike Woodson on his pre-Kansas zoom availability, Jalen Hood-Schifino is “gonna let him bang a little bit and see where he is tomorrow” for practice on Thursday.
If all of Hoosier Nation has been paying attention to Hood-Schifino’s health, this is a huge sign and that could mean he’s trending in the right direction to be able to play on Saturday against Kansas, man, the Hoosiers need him.
In his three-game absence due to a back injury, Indiana basketball is 1-2 (.333), averaging just 68.0 points, 16.3 assists, and 13.0 turnovers. In the seven games with Hood-Schifino active, the Hoosiers averaged 87.1 points, 18.3 assists, and 10.9 turnovers. Might seem like a slight difference, but that’s an assist-to-turnover ratio difference of 1.25 to 1.68, which is very dramatic.
Hood-Schifino’s calm demeanor and playmaking abilities will make a huge difference early for Indiana in this game, scoring at least 10 points in the first half to go along with 4+ assists. Hopefully, he’s healthy enough to go!