Indiana University Basketball Schedule Breakdown (Home games underlined)

November 11, 2011 7:00 P.M. Stony Brook

The Hoosiers open their season up against Stony Brook, middle-tiered Big South program.  Two years ago, this team may have presented a challenge for the Hoosiers; however they should not this season.  It will be opening night at Assembly Hall on a Friday, and the crowd should be raucous.  Expect the Hoosiers to run away with this one.

Projected Record: 1-0

November 13, 2011 5:00 P.M. Chattanooga (Hoosier Invitational)

Chattanooga is a program out of the Southern Conference.  They were a 16-16 team last season, going 6-10 away from home.  This is another team the Hoosiers should have no trouble handling, but it will not be a cakewalk for them.  Expect to see a close game to start, but the Hoosiers depth should wear down Chattanooga on the way to a 10-15 point win for Indiana.

Projected Record: 2-0

November 16, 2011 TBA AT Evansville

This is a game all of Hoosier Nation should have circled on their calendars as a scary match-up.  The Purple Aces are coming off of a 2^nd-round CBI exit and a 16-16 season.  Many may remember the match-up against the Purple Aces last season, as they played Indiana competitively for around 30 minutes.  This season, this will be the first road test for the Hoosiers, and it will be Evansville’s 2^nd game in their new arena.  This is a game IU should win, but they should expect Evansville to play inspired in front of their home crowd, as they went 12-3 last season on their home court.

Projected Record: 3-0

November 19, 2011 8:00 P.M. Savannah State (Hoosier Invitational)

Savannah State is another team the Hoosiers got the best of last season in a 79-57 win.  Indiana should be able to have similar results this season, as Savannah State is a team that should not be able to compete with IU’s talent.  This may be a game where a lot of guys who will not see much time in the season get to play a lot, as the Hoosiers should have this one put away early.

Projected Record: 4-0

November 21, 2011 6:30 P.M. Gardner-Webb (Hoosier Invitational)

Gardner-Webb is a team that has had success in the past; however, last season was not one of those years.  Gardner-Webb was 11-21 last season, and just 3-16 away from home.  This should be another game that IU has put away early, but they should not take this game lightly, or Gardner-Webb may be able to stay in it.

Projected Record: 5-0

November 27 2011 7:00 PM Butler (Hoosier Invitational)

It will be a big weekend in Bloomington, as IU plays host to Purdue on the 26^th for the Oaken Bucket.  However, this game against Butler on the 27^th is probably what fans are looking forward to most.  Butler has been the NCAA Tournament runner-up the last two seasons.  Aside from that, Butler is just an hour up the road from the Hoosiers, and many believe they currently own the Indiana college basketball scene.  That should be plenty for Tom Crean to get IU inspired for this game.  Expect an exciting, hard-fought battle between the in-state teams.  This could be a signature win Tom Crean has been looking for, and the Hoosiers will pull it out with help from the home crowd.

Projected Record: 6-0

November 30, 2011 7:15 P.M.  AT North Carolina State (ACC-Big Ten Challenge)

This game will probably be one of the least-exciting match-ups on a national scale in the entire ACC-Big Ten Challenge.  Both teams were at the bottom of their conferences last season, as IU was 11^th and NC State was 10^th.  Last year in the challenge, NC State was beat by Wisconsin by 41, but expect a different result this year.  Until Tom Crean proves he can win a quality game on the road, this one will be chalked up as a loss for Indiana in a close game that comes down to the wire.

Projected Record: 6-1

December 4, 2011 4:30 P.M. Stetson

Stetson is a team coming off of a very bad season, as their record was 8-23, and just 3-12 on the road.  This is another game that Indiana should have no problem running away with.  The strength, speed, and depth of the Hoosiers should prove to be overwhelming for the Hatters of Stetson, and the margin of victory should be comfortable for IU.

Projected Record: 7-1

December 10, 2011 5:15 P.M. Kentucky

The game against Kentucky is a game even Tom Crean has publically mentioned on his Twitter feed.  Quite possibly being Indiana’s 2^nd-biggest rival, this game should have Assembly Hall rocking.  The Calipari-coached Wildcats play an up-tempo game that Indiana should be accustomed to playing against.  The game is going to come down to who has enough strength and stamina to knock down shots when it gets to crunch time, and IU will lose a heartbreaker to Kentucky.

Projected Record: 7-2

December 17, 2011 4:30 PM AT Conseco Fieldhouse  Notre Dame (Close the Gap Crossroads Classic)

Rounding out Indiana’s schedule of non-conference, in-state foes will be the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.  Notre Dame is coming into this season ranked in the top-25, even after losing their leader in Ben Hansborough.  Notre Dame has been a solid force in the Big East for many seasons, and this season should be no different.  As mentioned earlier,  Tom Crean’s Indiana teams have had a hard time winning games away from Assembly Hall, and this time will be no different as the Hoosiers lose back-to-back games against Kentucky and Notre Dame.

Projected Record: 7-3

December 19, 2011 6:30 P.M. Howard

Howard is one of the  worst teams Indiana faces the entire season, going just 6-24 last season and not winning a game away from home.  It will probably also be one of the least-attended games at Assembly Hall the entire season, as the opponent is weak, and students will be home for winter break.  However, that should not deter IU from blowing out Howard in one of their final non-conference games of the season.

Projected Record: 8-3

December 22, 2011 6:00 P.M. UMBC

The UMBC game should be a lot like the Howard game.  UMBC was 5-25 last season, and only won one game outside of their conference.  In terms of attendance, the UMBC game will also probably not be heavily attended, as students will still be on winter break.  With UMBC being so poor, there should be no way IU wins by less than 20 points.

Projected Record: 9-3

December 28, 2011 7:30 P.M. AT Michigan State

Michigan State is just two years removed from a Final Four appearance, but last year is one of their worst years in recent memory.  Most IU fans remember the game in in East Lansing last season that came right down to the wire, but the Hoosiers lost it in crunch time.  Expect a similar game this season, as Indiana loses another close one on the road.

Projected Record: 9-4

December 31, 2011 6:00 P.M. Ohio State

For the second straight season, IU will play Ohio State on New Years Eve.  The timing of the game is not beneficial to the Hoosiers, as the students will still not be in town.  Ohio State will be one of the top teams in the nation for the 2011-12 season, and they should win the game AT Indiana pretty easily.

Projected Record: 9-5

January 5, 2011 TBA Michigan

The last two seasons, the Hoosiers have gotten the best of the Wolverines at Assembly Hall, but this season could be different.   Michigan will be one of the top teams in the Big Ten, behind Guard Tim Hardaway, Jr.  Without the help of the students once again, Assembly Hall will not be in full force like the rest of the Big Ten season.  For that reason, Michigan will squeak away in a close one.

Projected Record: 9-6

January 8, 2011 12:00 P.M. AT Penn State

The Nittany Lions of Penn State have gotten the best of Indiana recently, but the loss of Talor Battle will be detrimental to their success.  IU should finally be able to win a road Big Ten game, as their talent should be able to outweigh Penn State.

Projected Record: 10-6

January 12, 2012 8:00 PM Minnesota

One of the biggest wins in the Tom Crean era at Indiana was against the Golden Gophers last season.  After the loss to Indiana, Minnesota never seemed to regain their confidence.  For one of the few times in recent memory, IU should be able to have more talent than a Big Ten opponent, and they should be able to come away with a win against Minnesota at Assembly Hall.

Projected Record: 11-6

January 15, 2012 TBA AT Ohio State

Much like the game at Assembly Hall on New Years Eve, Ohio State should be able to run away with this easily.  Ohio State will be playing in front of their home crowd with one of the best teams in the nation.  It would be huge for the Hoosiers to come away with a win here, but do not expect that to happen.

Projected Record: 11-7

January 18, 2012 7:00 P.M. AT Nebraska

Nebraska has been a middle-tiered Big 12 team lately; however, this will be the first time these two teams face off in Big Ten conference play.  The Cornhuskers are coming off of an NIT appearance last season, but they are losing their top scorer.  This is another team Indiana should have more talent than, and it should be another conference road-win for the Hoosiers.

Projected Record: 12-7

January 22, 2012 12:00 P.M. Penn State

This will be the second meeting between these two teams in two weeks, and Indiana should be able to sweep the series as this game will be at home.  This should be one of the larger margins of victory for IU in conference play, and it should help them gain some momentum for their next contest at Wisconsin.

Projected Record: 13-7

January 26, 2012 9:00 P.M. AT Wisconsin

Jordan Taylor will be up for Big Ten Player of the Year, and will be leading the charge for Wisconsin this season.  Wisconsin rarely loses at home, as they proved last season beating then #1 Ohio State.  Once again, Indiana has historically struggled under Tom Crean on the road.  Wisconsin will prove to be too much for Indiana as they drop another one on the road.

Projected Record: 13-8

January 29, 2012 6:00 P.M. Iowa

Along with Indiana, Iowa proved to be one of the worst teams in the Big Ten last season.  However, the Hawkeyes were able to beat the Hoosiers in both match-ups last season.  This year, Indiana should expect to beat Iowa at home in a close game.

Projected Record: 14-8

February 1, 2012 6:30 P.M. AT Michigan

As mentioned previously, Michigan is projected as one of the top teams in the Big Ten.  The Hoosiers will go up to Ann Arbor hoping for a win, but unfortunately they will lose another road game in the conference.

Projected Record: 14-9

February 4, 2012 7:00 P.M. AT Purdue

The Boilermakers are losing their two top scorers from last season, JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore.  However, Robbie Hummel will be back on the active roster this season, helping the likes of Kelsey Barlow, John Hart, and company.  The game at Purdue should prove to be a great one that restores the in-state rivalry, but expect Purdue to come out on top at home.

Projected Record: 14-10

February 9, 2012 8:00 P.M. Illinois

The biggest win in the Tom Crean era for the Hoosiers was the win against Illinois at home last season.  At the time, the Illini were ranked in the Top-25, and not many Indiana fans came into the game with expectations of an IU win.  The Hoosiers proved the fan base wrong, winning a thrilling game in the final seconds.  There was a buzz on campus after the win, and Tom Crean even thanked the fans in the South Lobby of Assembly Hall after the win.  This season, the win will not be as huge for the program, but expect the Hoosiers to come away victorious at home.

Projected Record: 15-10

February 15, 2012 6:30 P.M. Northwestern

Northwestern is another team the Hoosiers struggled with last season, even at home.  With the momentum from the Illinois game carrying over, along with being another home game for the Hoosiers, expect IU to come away victorious against the Wildcats.

Projected Record: 16-10

February 18, 2012 TBA AT Iowa

Although Indiana should be a much more talented team than the Hawkeyes, their road woes may prevail once again, as the Hoosiers drop a late-season game against a team they should beat.

Projected Record 16-11

February 22, 2012 7:00 P.M. North Carolina Central

This game against North Carolina Central proves to be an odd game for the Hoosiers.  It is not very often teams play weak, out-of-conference games in the middle of the conference season.  IU played North Carolina Central last season, as they prevailed in a 16 point victory.  This season should be no different, as Indiana may be able to boost their confidence as their conference season winds down.

Projected Record: 17-11

February 25, 2012 TBA AT Minnesota

After a big win against the Golden Gophers at home earlier in the season, Indiana may come into this game too confident.  The theme of the season may be conference road losses again, and this game will result in the majority of IU’s other road games.  IU will lose another road heartbreaker, which could prove to be detrimental at this point in the season.

Projected Record: 17-12

February 28, 2012 7:00 P.M. Michigan State

This could be a huge game for the Hoosiers, as the selection committee may be watching their every move at this point.  The Spartans may also be on the bubble, as they will be in an adjustment season after losing Kalin Lucas.  Unfortunately for Indiana, the Spartans may prove to be too much for IU.

Projected Record: 17-13

March 4, 2012 6:00 P.M. Purdue

The final game of the regular season will have Assembly Hall rocking as in-state rival Purdue comes to town.  This could be the defining game in Tom Crean’s career, as it could make or break Indiana as an NCAA Tournament team.  Behind the backing of the crowd, and the inspired play from the Hoosiers, Indiana will win one of their biggest games in recent memory.

Projected Record: 18-13

Season:

Indiana will have another season of ups and downs, but their talent should prove to be better than any team Tom Crean has coached in Bloomington.  The road woes will still be an issue for IU, but they should be able to win a couple of games they are not expected to win.  With a projected record of 18-13 in the regular season, the Hoosiers will be right on the cusp of making the NCAA Tournament.  With at least one win, possibly two in the Big Ten Tournament, the Hoosiers may be able to solidify themselves as an NCAA Tournament team for the first time since Eric Gordon and D.J. White were wearing the Cream and Crimson.