12/31 Ohio State at Indiana 6 p.m. ESPN2
1/5 Michigan at Indiana 9 p.m. ESPN2
1/15 Indiana at Ohio State 4:30/1:30 p.m. CBS
1/26 Indiana at Wisconsin 9 p.m. ESPN/2
2/19 Indiana at Iowa 1 p.m. CBS wildcard
2/25/26 Indiana at Minnesota 4/1 p.m. CBS/ESPN wildcard
2/28 Michigan State at Indiana 7 p.m. ESPN
As you can see, IU will play five conference games on CBS/ESPN, with two being wildcard possibilities. To me, one of the most glaring disappointments is two of these three home games will not be played while class is in session. Students will be on winter break from December 16 to January 10, a span including the first two games of the schedule above. It's always nice to turn on the television and see Assembly Hall rocking on a national stage. That will certainly be the case on February 28 when Tom Izzo comes to Bloomington, but don't adjust your television sets when you have a hard time hearing the crowd against OSU and Michigan.
As for the rest of the Hoosiers ESPN/CBS conference schedule, it doesn't get any easier. William Buford and Jared Sullinger will have their way in Columbus, while despite losing much of their talent, the Badgers seem to always give IU fits in the Kohl Center. In the Crean era, fans have always looked at Iowa games as "should-win" contests, but last season Matt Gaitens and Co. dominated IU in Iowa City, 91-77. Expect better results this year when the Hooisers travel to Carver-Hawkeye Arena and The Barn.
