The IU women's basketball conference schedule for the 2018-2019 season was announced Thursday via the team's Twitter account.
The teams IU will play at home only are Minnesota, Maryland, Penn State and Iowa. The Hoosiers went 1-3 against those teams this past season, beating only Minnesota.
On the road, IU will travel to Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio State and Wisconsin. IU played Ohio State twice last season and lost both times, but defeated the other three all at home.
Lastly, the teams the Hoosiers will see twice include Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Rutgers and Purdue. IU played Michigan State and Purdue twice this past season, splitting the games against the Spartans and sweeping the Boilermakers. Michigan is the only team IU did not beat on the home/away list.
Altogether, IU went 9-7 in the conference and finished seventh overall. The top six Big Ten teams all made the NCAA Tournament, leaving IU as an automatic bid for the WNIT. The Hoosiers made the most of their bid as they won all six games to become WNIT Champions for the first time in program history.
IU's success in the Big Ten, as well as in the postseason, was due in part to seniors Tyra Buss and Amanda Cahill. Without Buss and Cahill next year, new leadership will be needed. But with decorated recruits coming in and transfers becoming eligible, the team won't be as tarnished as it may seem after two stars leave.
The nonconference schedule has yet to be announced for IU. This past season, IU Coach Teri Moren made the team's nonconference schedule tougher to better prepare them for the Big Ten and help their NCAA resume. IU went 7-6 in those games.
Dylan Wallace
