I was thinking the same thing earlier. When I was in school we had home & home with ND every year. There are other non-indiana schools close by that we consider too: DePaul, Cincy, Xavier…Louisville would probably be best. If we continue pillaging the DMV area, Georgetown may be a good choice moving forward.

I think a home-home series game against Notre Dame wouldn’t hurt. Being a Big East vs B10 matchup would bring attention, and would certainly provide the market share to warrant televising nationally. It also helps that they’re an ok team in their conference. They usually make the tourney and would probably be better prep than some of these smaller schools we play. Both teams were pretty rusty last year when they played, but I feel like it would normally be a much livelier affair.

I also hope they win more B10 road games, but that seems like a subtle jab at Coach Crean. Maybe I’m reading your comment the wrong way? Obviously the IU program was decimated due to Denim Shirt and ever since we’ve struggled to win, especially on the road. But as we all saw with our eyes last year, Crean and the team proved they can win big games on the road – NCAA tourney is a great example. With more talent comes more wins, and that should include more wins on the road in B10.

Would be much happier if they were on probation and ineligible.

I agree UK is the strongest of those schedules, but they also counter that with the SEC which isn’t nearly as strong at the B1G.

In the future I’d bet there’s at least one top-notch non-conference opponent. I think they were still holding out hope the Kentucky thing would be resolved and didn’t find a suitable replacement, but there will be one. Louisville? Kansas? Someone else?

Lets not forget IU lost the KY game, which would have given them KY, UCLA, and UNC…three blue bloods. Tough to replace the KY game this year, expect it to change next year.

Yes, but it was a team that was undefeated in non-conference.

Michigan State had 7 losses heading into the tournament last year and got a number 1 seed. So there is precedent as recently as last season. Also, “if you’ve paid attention,” there are no tourney games in Columbus, OH this season. That was last year. The closest first wknd sites to Bloomington this year are Lexington and Dayton. You are right, however, about Indianapolis hosting the MW Regional. And you are probably the only person who will call this schedule “brilliant.”

Well said Sconsin. Unfortunately I think we should get used to this. We return all 5 starters and welcome a top recruiting class…and yet the schedule features 11 teams that had triple-digit RPIs last season. If there’s that little beef this year, I wouldn’t hold my breath that CTC will think we need a challenging non-conf schedule in 2015.

Me, too, DarkSouth. Man, would that be a fun game to watch!

I disagree. IU has visited Ball State and Indiana State twice each in the last 10 years. All 4 games were on TV…why in the world would these games not be televised? IU hasn’t been to Hinkle since Damon Bailey was a senior, and seeing how much better they are than the other in-state schools, they would be the least likely to receive an IU visit.

I think there is a mind set of wanting to play some good teams in non-conference in order to challenge your team early. Two very good examples of how this works is MSU basketball and IU soccer. Izzo and Yeagley have used early tough games to get their teams ready for conference games and the post-season. I think Crean will get the schedule in a somewhat similar fashion in time. I am not talking a brutal schedule that puts you at 7-5 going into conference, but 2-4 solid teams with at least one on the road. IMO, the road win at NCST last year set the table for our entire season.

IU has two big marquee game (UNC and Butler) and another likely (UCLA). Butler should be much better this year, SI put that one as the 6th best preseason game in the country on their most recent list.

I think ours is as good as any of the others. As you point out C&C, It’s the national trend of ending home-and-away contracts that’s the bigger issue.

Would be much happier if the ‘Cats were the first 1 seed to lose to 16