Column: Previewing top men's basketball games

When IU released the full 2013-14 men’s basketball schedule, the prevailing thought was just how weak and unimpressive the Hoosiers’ non-conference slate is.

It’s truly a travesty that the highest quality non-conference home game for students and fans to take in is against Evansville Nov. 26. That’s correct, Evansville.

I fully understand the difficulties encountered in attempting to piece together non-conference games against quality opponents, but the brain trust of IU basketball botched this season’s non-conference gamut.

Luckily for the Hoosiers, they play in the best college basketball conference in the country, which will aid in bolstering their NCAA Tournament résumé.
Looking at the full scope of the schedule, a handful of games both in and out of
conference do exist that should pique the collective interest of the Hoosier fan base.

vs. Syracuse, Dec. 3

The Hoosiers will travel north to the Carrier Dome the first week of December to take on a likely pre-season Top 10 Syracuse team in the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge
matchup.

Although the game would be of the marquee variety during any given season, this contest has an added level of intrigue because of the Orange having knocked IU Coach Tom Crean’s Hoosiers out of last season’s NCAA Tournament in the Sweet 16.

Equipped with the knowledge that the Hoosiers struggle in slow-tempo, low-possession games, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim slowed the pace and suffocated the Hoosier offense with his vaunted 2-3 zone defense, resulting in a 61-50 victory.

Have Crean and Co. cracked the code that is the Syracuse 2-3 zone?

vs. Wisconsin, Jan. 14 (home) and Feb. 25 (away)

The Badgers have arguably become the one persistent thorn in IU’s side. More so, they’ve haunted Crean during his tenure in Bloomington. The Hoosiers have lost 12
straight games to the Badgers.

The common theme among those 12 losses has been Wisconsin Coach Bo Ryan’s desire and philosophy of playing a monotonous, low-possession, half-court style. That approach has been IU’s kryptonite, as other opponents (see Syracuse) have adopted
that plan of attack when playing IU.

Additionally, the Badgers eliminated the Hoosiers from the Big Ten Tournament the past two seasons.

Will 2013-14 be the season that Crean finally gets the monkey that is Wisconsin off his back? That’s one of a handful of burning questions facing Crean and Co. this
season.

vs. Notre Dame, Dec. 14 (Bankers Life Fieldhouse)

One of the more interesting non-conference events in the country is the Crossroads Classic, which annually brings together four programs within the state of Indiana: IU, Purdue, Butler and Notre Dame.

IU gets Notre Dame for the second time in the past three seasons, with the Hoosiers having defeated the Irish, 69-58 in their previous matchup in Indianapolis.

Crean is a proponent of the event, as it presents him and his program an opportunity to assert their dominance within the state. But Notre Dame isn’t an
inferior opponent. The Irish are a likely pre-season Top 25 team and contender in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Along with the game against Syracuse, this contest could be a post-season résumé
booster should the Hoosiers earn a victory.

vs. Ohio State, March 2

The Buckeyes entered Assembly Hall last season and spoiled IU’s Senior Day, upsetting the Hoosiers 67-58.

While this season’s contest doesn’t fall on Senior Day, it’s the lone matchup against Ohio State during the course of Big Ten Conference play.

The contest also will be played at Assembly Hall, where the Hoosiers are 1-4 against the Buckeyes during Crean’s tenure in Bloomington.

He and the players won’t buy into any sort of “revenge” factor, but the sour taste from last season’s spoiled Senior Day has likely stuck with the members of last season’s squad.

­Follow columnist Connor Killoren on Twitter @IDS_CGKilloren.