IU ranked No. 1 in first Coaches Poll

For the first time since 1993, IU is No. 1 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

This is the fourth time in IU history that the team has been ranked No. 1.

In the poll released Wednesday, the Hoosiers claim the top spot and 21 of 31 first-place votes. Louisville and Kentucky are ranked No. 2 and 3, respectively, and each garnered five first-place votes.

IU is one of five Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25, the most of any conference. Three are in the top five, with Ohio State at No. 4 and Michigan at No. 5. Rounding out the contingent are Michigan State at No. 14 and Wisconsin at No. 21.North Carolina, which IU will face Nov. 27 as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, is No. 12.

In the Legends Classic Finals on Nov. 20, IU could take on No. 13 UCLA, depending on the outcome of the Hoosiers’ matchup with Georgia the day before and the Bruins’ tilt with Georgetown.

IU’s No. 1 ranking is the highest in the Tom Crean era and the first No. 1 ranking for a team coached by Crean.

IU opens its season Nov. 9 against Bryant, though there is an exhibition game with Indiana Wesleyan Nov. 1. Hoosier Hysteria starts at 7 p.m. this Saturday in
Assembly Hall.

— Max McCombs