Hoosiers head to Garden for Jimmy V Classic

When the basketball team opens the Big Ten season Dec. 31 against Michigan, IU will be ready.

A three-game stretch sandwiched in less than two weeks against Maryland, Pittsburgh and Kentucky gives the Hoosiers an opportunity to prepare before facing conference opponents.

“The Big Ten is sort of going to be like the three-game streak we have now,” freshman forward Christian Watford said. “The Big Ten is full of great teams.”

Four Big Ten teams are in the top-25 right now, and playing against the Panthers today – who are receiving votes in the poll – can only help the young team as they enter the new year.

Playing Pittsburgh in Madison Square Garden in New York City will also be a learning experience for the players.

“It’s going to be very competitive in the next couple of weeks,” Hulls said.

Junior guard Jeremiah Rivers has played in the Garden before and said the hostile environment will be another test for the Hoosiers before they take on Big Ten rivals.

“It’s a different kind of fans out there than around here, not always the nicest when they don’t like you,” Rivers said.

Last Tuesday’s game in the Big Ten/Atlantic Coast Conference Challenge against Maryland gave IU its first taste of the national spotlight. The game was broadcast on ESPN2, and today’s matchup will be on ESPN.

The 11-day difference among the three games also gives IU coach Tom Crean at least three or more days to practice with the team.

Crean and the players said they prefer a longer turnaround before a big game. The week-long difference between Maryland and Pittsburgh is the longest break in between games the team has had since the regular season started.

“I would say having a longer time to prepare is better so we can get exactly what we want out of it and know going in what we need to execute, what we don’t want to do and all that kind of stuff,” Hulls said.

Because of finals week, the team will have another week in between Kentucky and North Carolina Central. That will be the longest turnaround IU gets before the Big Ten season begins.

More time between games should give the team a chance to work on some of the weaknesses they showed against Maryland.

Hulls said execution was the team’s biggest weakness against the Terps last week.
“It’s a lot of physicality, but mentally we’ve got to be more prepared,” he said.

Crean, who had experience coaching against the Panthers while at Marquette, said Pittsburgh is the most physical team in the Big East. But at least one of his players thinks the Hoosiers can put up a good fight.

“We may not be the most talented team,” Watford said. “But we are tough.”