You've heard the argument before.
The IU men's basketball team is playing too easy of a schedule at home, and it's hard - if not near impossible - to gauge where the team stands until it plays stiffer competition.
That contention will only grow louder when the Hoosiers take on Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Friday to kick off the IBN Las Vegas Classic in Assembly Hall.
SIUE (2-9) is currently ranked No. 340 out of 345 possible teams by Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings, averaging an abysmal 64.2 points per game while allowing an equally bad 81.5 points per game.
The Cougars' two victories came against MacMurray (88-73 at home) and Kennesaw State in their last meeting (77-76 in double overtime), but the best measuring stick comes from one of their losses.
SIUE lost to Big Ten cellar dweller Iowa by 61 points on Nov. 26, and the Hawkeyes' 111 points is the most at Iowa since 1998 and the most scored by a Big Ten team this season. The Cougars shot just 34 percent from the field and allowed the Hawkeyes to shoot 58.7 percent. Six Iowa players scored in double figures, while SIUE committed 29 turnovers.
Iowa is also currently last in the conference and has lost to South Dakota State and Long Beach State. And though they beat the Hoosiers twice last season, the general consensus is the Hawkeyes are the lowest team in the Big Ten this season.
Friday's matchup certainly won't prepare IU for the Big Ten season (or Wednesday's game against Northern Iowa, for that matter). But after the tough loss at Kentucky, a coasting win would be the perfect remedy to get back on track.
Defeating SIUE is necessary and almost assured, but, once again, it won't tell us where this team stands.
Unless, of course, IU starts its first losing streak.
