Indiana men’s basketball’s first taste of conference play ended on a sour note. After defeating Minnesota in their Big Ten opener Dec. 9, the Hoosiers dropped their first road test of the season to Nebraska by 17 points Dec. 13.
With more than a week of rest, Indiana returns home to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall to host the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga at noon Saturday.
The Hoosiers will look to find answers for a defense that was met with plenty of questions after allowing the Cornhuskers to shoot 61.2% from the field. Against the Mocs, that likely means locking down the perimeter.
Under the direction of third-year head coach Dan Earl, Chattanooga’s three leading scorers are guards averaging double-digit points. Despite shooting just 31.3% from beyond the arc, the Mocs attempt 29.2 3-pointers per game, a recipe which has yielded an 8-4 record to start the season.
Senior guard Trey Bonham, the Southern Conference preseason Player of the Year, averages a team-high 13.8 points per game. Bonham, who arrived at Chattanooga after stints at the Virginia Military Institute and University of Florida, made the All-Southern Conference First Team in 2023-24.
His return to the Mocs was largely the reason they placed second in the conference’s preseason poll. Chattanooga lost its first three matchups, one of which to Big Ten newcomer USC in blowout fashion, but has won eight of its last nine.
Indiana enters the game having won all three games in the series history, and, according to ESPN’s matchup predictor, has a 94% chance to extend that number to four.
Head coach Mike Woodson’s team will be aiming to get off to a quick start offensively after stumbling down the stretch against Nebraska. The Hoosiers trailed the Cornhuskers 68-67 with under seven minutes to go but closed the game shooting 1 for 17 from the field.
Redshirt sophomore guard Myles Rice’s offensive performance was a bright spot for Indiana’s scoring last time out. He tallied a team-high 20 points on an 8 for 13 clip, but his individual success couldn’t overcome the Hoosiers’ inconsistencies as a unit.
Sophomore forward Mackenzie Mgbako was held in check with a season-low 2 points, while sophomore guard Kanaan Carlyle and freshman forward Bryson Tucker shot a combined 1 for 16 from the field.
Indiana will aim for a more cohesive showing at noon Saturday against Chattanooga. Wayne Randazzo and Stephen Bardo will have the call on the Big Ten Network.
Follow reporters Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) and Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa) and columnist Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer (@mateo_frohwer) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
