Empire Classic matchups announced, Indiana basketball to face UConn

The Indiana basketball program now knows its opponent for the 2023 Empire Classic. Per a release from the Empire Classic Twitter page, Indiana will face reigning National Champions UConn on Sunday, November 19th at 1pm EST.

Indiana and UConn have met 10 total times, including the last two in New York. The Huskies hold the series edge at 6-4. IU won the last matchup by a score of 57-54 on Dec. 10, 2019 in the Jimmy V Classic.

Indiana will be making its second appearance in the Empire Classic. IU defeated Washington, 102-84, in the opening round of the 2013 Empire Classic before falling to UConn, 59-58, in the title game.

Depending on the result of the first game, Indiana will face either Texas or Louisville that following Monday. The championship game of the event will be played at approximately 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 20, while the third-place game will be played at 4:30 p.m. ET. Television designations will be determined at a later date.

The series of games will mark a homecoming for Indiana head coach Mike Woodson, who was the head coach of the New York Knicks from 2012-14. Woodson was drafted 12th overall in the 1980 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks and played with the franchise from 1980-81. He also served two stints as an assistant coach with the Knicks from 2011-12 and 2020-21.

The Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden is one of the highlights of Indiana basketball’s 2022-23 non-conference schedule. Other highlighted games include a home matchup with Kansas as well as a neutral site games vs. Harvard at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and Auburn in Atlanta.

“I think our non-conference schedule will prepare us for the toughness of the Big Ten,” Woodson said previously. “I am thrilled with the chance to return to Madison Square Garden and Atlanta for three great games against high-major opponents.”

When Mike Woodson accepted the head coaching position with the Indiana basketball program, he wanted to get Indiana back on the national stage. Part of that was playing against the top teams in the country in high-profile non-conference matchups.

“My thing is I take a season one game at a time, one practice at a time,” Woodson added. “Yes, we’ve got goals. I can’t say this loud enough, guys: I came back here to win Big Ten titles and a national title. That’s all I want.”

“I’m not going to push the team in any other direction. If they’re scared of that challenge, then they shouldn’t be here. That’s kind of how I look at it.”

Indiana has made it to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments for the first time since the 2014-15 / 15-16 seasons. The Hoosiers will be looking to make the NCAA Tournament for the third-straight season under Mike Woodson.

Indiana’s ‘unofficial’ start of the season is Hoosier Hysteria on Homecoming Weekend, Friday, Oct. 20.

SEE ALSO: Indiana basketball 2023-24 non-conference set, full schedule rounding into shape

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