IU basketball 2025-26 non-conference opponent preview: Buy game opponents

  • 4h ago
 

IU basketball’s 2025-26 non-conference schedule was finalized on July 1 and Inside the Hall will have a team-by-team look at each opponent. Today, in conclusion, we look at Indiana’s seven buy game opponents.

The Darian DeVries era in Bloomington will tip off with a challenging non-conference schedule. With four high-major opponents on the slate, including two neutral-site battles and a true road game, the Hoosiers will be tested early. This mini-series on IU’s non-conference opponents for next season examined the four high-major opponents and concludes today with the remaining seven buy-game opponents.

Previously: Marquette, Kansas State, Louisville, Kentucky

Alabama A&M

The Bulldogs, members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, will open a new era for their program on Wednesday, November 5, at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. After a dismal 10-22 season that saw the program finish in the bottom five of the KenPom rankings, former Alabama A&M head coach Otis Hughley Jr. resigned from his position after three seasons. He was replaced by Donte Jackson, who compiled a winning record over eight seasons at Grambling State and reached the NCAA tournament in 2024.

It will be the first all-time meeting between Alabama A&M and Indiana. The Bulldogs are expected to be led by transfer guard Sami Pissis, who averaged 15.8 points last season at New Hampshire. Alabama A&M is currently 309th nationally in Bart Torvik’s rankings for next season.

Milwaukee

Bart Lundy enters his fourth season at Milwaukee, where he’s won 20 or more games in each of his first three seasons. The Panthers finished 14-6 last season in the Horizon League, just one game behind in the standings for the regular season conference championship. Milwaukee finished last season 141st in the final KenPom ratings and is 239th in Bart Torvik’s projections for next season following significant roster turnover.

The Panthers are expected to be led by Fresno State transfer guard Amar Augillard, who averaged 13.3 points per game last season for the Bulldogs. Toledo transfer guard Seth Hubbard – who averaged 8.4 points last season – is another name to know for a Milwaukee program in a transition season. It will be the first meeting between Milwaukee and Indiana. The two programs will meet on Wednesday, November 12, in Bloomington.

Incarnate Word

The Cardinals are IU’s third regular-season home opponent and will be making their first-ever trip to Bloomington. Members of the Southland Conference, Incarnate Word finished last season 19-17 and 224th in the final KenPom ratings. The season, however, marked progress for Shane Heirman, who won just eight games in the previous season, his first in San Antonio.

Incarnate Word is currently slotted just inside the top 200 of Bart Torvik’s projections for next season at No. 197. The backcourt should be led by a pair of transfer portal pickups in Tahj Staveskie and Harold Woods. Staveskie arrives from Cleveland State, where he averaged 12.5 points and shot 36.1 percent on 3s. Woods played at Northeastern last season, averaging 11.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Incarnate Word and IU will meet on Sunday, November 16, in Bloomington.

Lindenwood

Yet another first-time opponent for Indiana, Lindenwood is entering its fourth season in Division I and will be eligible for postseason play for the first time after the NCAA revised the reclassification criteria for transitioning programs. The Lions finished last season 16-17 and No. 327 in the final KenPom ratings. Bart Torvik expects a slight improvement for Lindenwood, which is currently ranked 295th in Torvik’s projections for the 2025-26 campaign.

Members of the Ohio Valley Conference, Lindewood will be led by 6-foot-5 sophomore guard Jadis Jones. Jones initially entered the transfer portal, but opted to return to St. Charles. He averaged 12.5 points and 5.8 rebounds last season. Indiana and Lindenwood will meet on Thursday, November 20 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Bethune-Cookman

Reggie Theus is back for his fifth season at the helm at Bethune-Cookman, which finished 17-16 overall last season and No. 286 in the final KenPom.com ratings last season. The outlook is brighter next season in Daytona Beach, according to Bart Torvik’s projections. Torvik currently has the Wildcats at No. 186 nationally entering the 2025-26 season.

The names to know on Bethune-Cookman are guard Reggie Bass, wing Jakobi Heady and forward Doctor Bradley. Bass arrives from Lindenwood, where he averaged 12.2 points, while Heady averaged 15 points and 6.5 rebounds last season at Central Michigan. Bradley is the most productive incoming transfer statistically. He averaged 19.6 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.8 steals last season at Arkansas Pine Bluff. The second all-time meeting between IU and Bethune-Cookman will take place on Saturday, November 29, in Bloomington.

Chicago State

Historically one of the worst Division I programs, the Cougars will come to Bloomington led by Landon Bussie, who is in his first season at the helm after five seasons at Alcorn State. Last season, Chicago State finished 362nd in the final KenPom ratings and won just four games. A slight improvement is expected next winter, with Bart Torvik currently placing the Cougars at No. 323 in his projections for the 2025-26 season.

Bussie brought Marcus Tankersly with him from Alcorn State, where he averaged 10.6 points last season. The fifth all-time meeting between IU and Chicago State will tip off on Saturday, December 20, in Bloomington.

Siena

IU’s final non-conference game will be against the Saints on Monday, December 22, at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. It will be the first meeting between the programs. Siena is entering its second season under Gerry McNamara, who won a national title with the Orange in 2003 and spent a long time on the Syracuse bench before accepting his first head coaching job in 2024 with the Saints.

After finishing 253rd in KenPom last season, Bart Torvik has Siena at No. 158 next season in his current projections. The key name to know is senior guard Justice Shoats, who averaged 16.1 points, 4.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals last season.

Category: Commentary

Filed to: , , , , , , ,