Heading into his second season at the helm of the Indiana basketball program, Darian DeVries is in need of big improvements. DeVries led IU to an 18-14 overall record with a 9-11 mark in Big Ten play this past season, which ultimately wasn't good enough to make the NCAA Tournament. Needless to say, Hoosier fans expect more.
DeVries has re-vamped Indiana's roster through the transfer portal, and expectations are rising. As the 2026-27 schedule continues coming together, a possible new addition to the non-conference slate creates a very intriguing litmus test for DeVries and company.
Indiana and Missouri reportedly closing in on scheduling non-conference matchup
On Wednesday, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reported that Indiana and Missouri are nearing an agreement to meet this winter. According to Rothsein, the game would be played on December 18 at Assembly Hall in Bloomington. Rothstein added that no return game to Columbia is part of the agreement at this time.
NEWS: Indiana and Missouri are finalizing an agreement to meet on December 18th in Bloomington, according to multiple sources.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 8, 2026
There will be no return game to Columbia as part of the agreement.https://t.co/MxMxWslXOW
Rothstein adds that while an official release has yet to come, one can be expected to be revealed in the coming days. It would be the first confirmed home game of Indiana's non-conference schedule.
Once the matchup is finalized, Indiana's non-conference slate would include the following matchups:
- October 18: vs. North Carolina (Exhibition at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis)
- October 25: vs. Evansville (Exhibition at Ford Center in Evansville)
- November 9: vs. Syracuse (Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis)
- November 20: vs. Kentucky (Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis)
- December 18: vs. Missouri
Matchup against Missouri presents a great litmus test for Indiana
Missouri posted an overall record of 20-13 to go along with an SEC record of 10-8 last season. They made the NCAA Tournament as a No. 10 seed and fell to No. 7 Miami (FL) in the Round of 64 by a score of 80-66.
Indiana commit Chase Branham isn't done climbing up the national recruiting rankings
Head coach Dennis Gates is set to enter his fifth season in Columbia, and he owns an overall record of 75-59 (.560) and while he's led the Tigers to three NCAA Tournaments, he has just one tournament win. Under Gates' leadership, the Tigers have been a middling program in the SEC, as he owns a record of 31-41 (.431) against SEC competition.
Like Indiana, Missouri's roster will feature plenty of new faces in 2026-27. The Tigers have six newcomers via the transfer portal, and their group of transfers make up the No. 51 portal class in the country according to On3. In comparison, Indiana's group of seven transfers is ranked as the No. 6 class in the country in those same rankings. Unlike last season, the Hoosiers' incoming portal class brings in plenty of high-major experience, which DeVries is hoping leads to a different result this time around.
Given Missouri's middling success over the last few seasons, this matchup presents a great opportunity for DeVries and the Hoosiers. It is certainly a winnable game, and finding the win column against a tournament team from a year ago would be a feel-good win for DeVries and company.
Add us as a preferred source on Google