With this year’s non-conference slate of games considerably more daunting than in years past, IU will see some of the country’s preeminent players in its first 13 games.
Here’s a ranking of the top individual opponents IU will look to slow in its upcoming non-conference schedule.
1. Montrezl Harrell — ?Louisville junior forward
IU vs. Louisville, Dec. 9 (Madison Square Garden, New York City)
2013-14: 14.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.3 blocks per game, 60.9 percent
After a first team All-American Conference season in 2013-14, Harrell had NBA scouts calling his name but opted to return to Louisville for another season.
He made a name for himself with his defensive prowess in the paint but will be forced to carry more of the Cardinals’ offensive burden in what should be his final collegiate season.
2. D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera — Georgetown junior guard
I U vs. Georgetown, Dec. 27 (Madison Square Garden, New York City)
2013-14: 17.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists per game
An Indianapolis native, Smith-Rivera drew heavy interest from IU Coach Tom Crean before committing to Xavier and then switching to Georgetown.
As a first team All-Big East selection and the conference’s top returning scorer, Smith-Rivera is poised for a potential All-American campaign this season.
3. Cameron Wright — Pittsburgh senior guard
IU vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 2, Assembly Hall
2013-14: 10.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists per game
Wright will lead his Pittsburgh squad into Assembly Hall for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge in IU’s marquee non-conference home game.
A physical, athletic guard who plays larger than his 6-foot-5 frame might suggest, Wright’s defensive versatility lands him on this list. Until he improves his woeful shooting — 23 percent from behind the line — Wright’s offensive game will lag behind him.
4. Tyler Harvey — Eastern Washington junior guard
IU vs. Eastern Washington, Nov. 24, Assembly Hall
2013-14: 21.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists per game, 43 percent 3FG
A classic case of the best player on a bad team, Harvey poured in a Big Sky Conference-high 21.8 points per game for a 15-16 Eagles squad.
A sharpshooter from both long range and the free throw line — 43 percent and 90 percent, respectively — Harvey is the type of scorer who gave IU fits last season.
5. Terry Rozier — Louisville sophomore guard
IU vs. Louisville, Dec. 9 (Madison Square Garden, New York City)
2013-14: 7.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists per game
A top-100 recruit last season, Rozier spent last season blocked on the Cardinals’ depth chart by All-American Russ Smith.
With Smith gone to the NBA, Rozier becomes the primary scoring option in Louisville’s backcourt. Putting him this high could be a stretch, but the scoring ability is there.
Rozier scored 29 points per game in his senior season in high school.
6. Kellen Dunham — Butler junior guard
IU vs. Butler, Dec. 20 (Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis)
2013-14: 16.4 points, 4.0 rebounds per game, 36% 3FG
A volume shooter, Dunham attempted nearly a quarter of Butler’s field goals last season. While the volume of shots allowed Dunham to finish as the Big East’s No. 7 scorer, it came with a cost.
Dunham shot just 39 percent from the field in 2013-14, though he did connect on 36 percent of his 3-pointers.
7. Isaac Copeland — Georgetown freshman forward
IU vs. Georgetown, Dec. 27 (Madison Square Garden, New York City)
The subject of an intense recruiting battle, Copeland committed to Georgetown after his junior season of high school.
Copeland, No. 16 recruit in the country according to ESPN, and his 6-foot-9 frame should cause problems for a depleted IU frontcourt.
8. Nic Moore — SMU junior guard
IU vs. SMU, Nov. 20, Assembly Hall
2013-14: 13.6 points, 4.9 assists, 2.3 rebounds per game, 44% 3FG
Moore’s would-be teammate Emmanuel Mudiay was originally the lone Mustang on this list, but his decision to play professionally in China rather than spend a season in college leaves Moore as SMU’s top option.
At 5-foot-9, Moore was deemed too small for major-conference basketball but has shined anyway.
Without Mudiay, SMU figures to be worse than projected, but the opportunity is there for Moore to make the Mustangs his team.
9. Shaqquan Aaron — ?Louisville freshman ?forward
IU vs. Louisville, Dec. 9 (Madison Square Garden, New York City)
Another highly touted freshman lands on this list, though it remains to be seen how Aaron figures into Louisville Coach Rick Pitino’s plans for this season.
Should he crack the starting lineup, Aaron’s skill set will make him a dangerous asset to a loaded Louisville squad. At 6-foot-7, 175 pounds, Aaron is an athletic wing in the mold of IU’s Troy Williams.
10. Nimrod Hilliard — ?Lamar senior guard
IU vs. Lamar, Nov. 22, Assembly Hall
2013-14: 14.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists per game
Now at his third school during his college career, Hilliard quickly became Lamar’s best player in his first season with the team.
He returns as the Cardinals’ leader in points, assists, steals and made 3-pointers.
Like Harvey, some of Hilliard’s numbers can be attributed to the team around him and the competition of the Southland Conference, but the Lamar offense runs through him.
