IU now knows who it will play and when during its Big Ten Conference slate.
The Hoosiers start the 18-game schedule against Nebraska on Dec. 28 and play their first three games at home. The benefit of starting conference play in Assembly Hall, however, is slightly offset by the fact that IU closes out the fall semester Dec. 16 and doesn’t start school again until Jan. 9.
This means IU’s home-court advantage will likely feature less of a student presence in the stands for the opening three games. IU did not lose a home game last season, giving it a 9-0 record against Big Ten opponents and an 8-0 record against non-conference opponents.
The Hoosiers will look to repeat as Big Ten regular-season champions this season after finishing 15-3 in conference play last year and capturing the 22nd conference title, and 13th outright, in school history.
The final stretch of the schedule won’t make it easy on the Hoosiers. IU finishes with four of five games on the road. Three of those road games taking them to Iowa, Purdue and Ohio State. IU will be the first Big Ten team since Northwestern in 2009 to finish its conference slate that way.
Once conference play concludes, each of the 14 Big Ten teams will travel to Washington, D.C., for the conference tournament. It will be the first time the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament will take place there.
Jordan Guskey
