Darian DeVries and the Indiana Hoosiers need as much preparation time as possible for the new college basketball season. With Trent Sisley being the lone returning player from last year's team, Indiana's roster is made up of nearly all new faces. With that significant amount of roster turnover, building team chemistry and cohesion is of the utmost importance over the next few months.
In addition to the regular practices and workouts, Indiana's preseason schedule on the hardwood is shaping up to give the Hoosiers plenty of opportunities to iron out the kinks. On Friday, another exhibition game was added to IU's preseason slate, and it presents an intriguing matchup.
Indiana to play Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse in exhibition game this October
Indiana has agreed to a home-and-home exhibition series with the Butler Bulldogs. The Hoosiers and Bulldogs will square up against one another on October 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse this fall, with Butler returning the favor with a trip to Assembly Hall next fall.
The matchup presents an intriguing in-state matchup that we don't see very often nowadays. Indiana and Butler have met 55 times in their respective histories, with IU owning a 40-15 advantage in the series. However, the two schools have not met since 2020. In that matchup, the Hoosiers prevailed by a score of 68-60 at the then-named Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
October's matchup is also a historic one, as it will take the Hoosiers to Hinkle Fieldhouse for the first time since 1994. Indiana is 17-9 all-time against Butler at Hinkle.
🔒Home-and-home exhibition series with the Bulldogs is set.
— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) July 24, 2026
The matchup will return to SSAH in 2027. pic.twitter.com/Yr5suYWzfE
Butler is entering a new era under new head coach Ronald Nored. The Bulldogs have been a token of mediocrity over the last decade, as they haven't appeared in the NCAA Tournament since 2018. Nored has a lot of work to do to get the Butler program back where it wants to be.
An updated look at Indiana Basketball's 2026-27 schedule and the biggest matchups
Like the Hoosiers, the Bulldogs also have a nearly entirely new roster in 2026. A total of five transfers enter the fold, and five freshman are now in Indianapolis. Jalen Jackson is Butler's most notable returner, as he averaged 9.5 points per game but played in just 6 contests last season.
Indiana's preseason schedule offers ample opportunities for preparation
The matchup against Butler will be the first of three exhibition games in October for the Hoosiers. After battling the Bulldogs, Indiana will also face North Carolina and Evansville in the preseason slate.
Here is an updated look at Indiana's 2026 exhibition games:
- July 20-August 1:Â FISU America Games (Lima, Peru)
- October 11: at Butler
- October 18:Â vs. North Carolina (Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis)
- October 25:Â vs. Evansville (Ford Center in Evansville)
The Hoosiers are currently in Peru representing Team USA and competing in the FISU America Games. They have already played multiple exhibition games in the tournament, including one against Canada's Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf at Assembly Hall on July 15.
Thus, some chemistry could already be coming together. But it's imperative that DeVries and his staff continue to get the Hoosiers to gel as much as possible before the new season tips off. Adding an exhibition game against Butler helps in that effort.
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