Opponent: Western Carolina

Date: Saturday, December 15, 2007 | 8:06 EST

Arena: Assembly Hall (17,357) – Bloomington, Indiana

Line: Indiana by 26

All-time series: First meeting

TV: Big Ten Network (Mark Neely and John Laskowski)

Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Todd Leary and Joe Smith)

Probable Starters:

• Western Carolina (2-5): Brandon Giles, Michael Porrini, Arnold Gore, Blake Gallagher, Jake Robinson
• Indiana (8-1): Jordan Crawford, Jamarcus Ellis, Lance Stemler, Mike White, D.J. White

Game Notes (Adobe Reader required to view):

• Western Carolina
• Indiana

As always, your predictions and comments are welcome in the game thread.

Note: There may not be a recap after tonight’s game as I will be in attendance. Apologies in advance.

The Western Carolina Catamounts travel to Assembly Hall Saturday night and if you’re looking for the Hoosiers to get a test, look the other way.

Western Carolina is 2-5 and has a RPI of 315. Of their five losses, two are downright awful: UNC Asheville at home and at Elon. (Note: Western Carolina is 3-5 if you count a win over non-DI Methodist.)

Sophomore forward Nick Aldridge was the leading scorer for the Catamounts in their first four games, but he’s no longer on the team. Aldridge averaged over 18 ppg a season ago.

Western Carolina coach Larry Hunter offered the following remarks regarding Aldridge in a statement released on November 28:

“Nick Aldridge has made a decision to no longer be a part of our basketball program. Nick had some issues that we felt were detrimental to the development of our team and we have for some time been trying to help him work through those issues. He has chosen not to work with us any longer. Bottom line, he quit our team. We are moving forward as a team and program.”

With Aldridge out of the picture, the scoring load has shifted to the trio of freshman guard Michael Porrini (13.1 ppg), sophomore guard Brandon Giles (12.3 ppg) and sophomore forward Jake Robinson (9.3 ppg).

The Catamounts finished last season 11-20 and were picked to finish third in the North division of the Southern Conference.

To learn more about Western Carolina, click here.