Indiana Basketball: Breaking down 2023-24 non-conference schedule

Indiana Basketball could be in for a tough 2023-24 season. There’s still plenty of talent in Bloomington and the Hoosiers are never irrelevant, but some key players are gone from a year ago, including one of the greatest players in recent program memory.

This season, the team will have 11 chances to test its muster in non-conference play before entering into the loaded Big Ten meat of its schedule. If the Hoosiers are going to make the NCAA Tournament, performing well during the non-conference slate will be vital.

The team will start with a couple of exhibitions at Assembly Hall before welcoming one of the great Cinderella programs to Indiana. More on that later.

Let’s have a look at the non-conference schedule for one of the Big Ten’s most intriguing teams in 2023-24, the Indiana Hoosiers.

Indiana is staring down a future without Trayce Jackson-Davis. Before being drafted much later than expected by the Golden State Warriors, the big man was a constant for the Hoosiers, culminating in a consensus first-team All-American honor this past season. He’s been the heart and soul of the program for years, as evidenced by the delirium he inspired upon returning last season.

Jackson-Davis is the biggest loss, but far from the only. Other significant departures: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Miller Kopp, and Race Thompson come to mind.

Reinforcements are on the way, though. Kel’el Ware is coming in from the transfer portal, while Mackenzie Mgbako is one of the top recruits in the country. Xavier Johnson, Malik Reneau, and Trey Galloway return.

Let’s take a look at Indiana’s non-conference schedule, starting with the traditional regular season contests.