Indiana Basketball Game Preview: Minnesota – key storylines, injury report, how to watch

Indiana basketball continues its 124th season of competition with the first of a two-game homestand against Minnesota at 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 12. The Hoosiers are looking to bounce back after an embarrassing performance in the loss to Rutgers on Tuesday night.

The Golden Gophers (12-3, 3-1) have won seven-straight games, including league wins over Nebraska (76-65), at Michigan (73-71), and Maryland (65-62). The Gophers are led by 16.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game from junior forward Dawson Garcia. Junior guard Mike Mitchell Jr. (11.1 points per game), sophomore forward Joshua Ola-Joseph (10.7), and freshman guard Cam Christie (10.6) all score in double figures. Junior guard Elijah Hawkins is averaging 10.6 assists per game during the win streak.

Tip is scheduled for 6:30 PM ET on FS1.

Below is the full preview of Indiana basketball vs Minnesota.

Key Storylines

What is this Indiana basketball team? Seriously.

Can any one of you actually say what the identity of this Indiana basketball team is? To be honest with you, I struggle to do so myself.

This team is arguably the most inconsistent team in all of the high major programs this season. One minute, this team looks to be living up to the potential of all the talent that is on this year’s roster. The next minute, this a team that has no chemistry and does not understand basic fundamentals of how to win basketball games at this level.

You can point a lot of fingers to where the core of the issues are with this team. Lots of Indiana basketball fans have pointed to Mike Woodson, which can be fair to some extent, but you also have to look at the fact that he is not the one on the floor making the mistakes of poor ball-handlining, missed free throws, defensive collapses…you name it.

Whether you believe it or not, there is still so much basketball left for Indiana basketball finally find it’s groove. If you really think about, the Hoosiers are in a much better situation than what they were last year at this time and they still found a way to finish second in the conference.

There is an identity crisis on this team, that is for sure. Find your identity and all will come into place. There is still time.

Leadership is not only questionable, but a major concern

The leadership of this Indiana basketball team is just not what it needs to be…a matter of fact…it is starting to become a major concern.

Most of the leadership of this Indiana basketball was supposed to come from the backcourt. The two senior captains, Xavier Johnson and Trey Galloway, have not shown much leadership in game settings as what fans would like to see. Boneheaded decisions, immatureness, not stepping up in big moments are just some of the factors that we as spectators see watching the Hoosiers play.

The recent and most glaring example of the lack of leadership came in the Rutgers game the other night with Xavier Johnson being ejected for just a flat out stupid, immature, and dirty play from a 6-year senior. That entire game, Johnson provided nothing positive on the floor with his five turnovers, 1 assist, 1 rebound, and 2 points. After the ejection, did we see someone like Trey Galloway become that leader? No, not at all.

“I got to grow up, and I grew up tonight and got to keep growing up and not turn over the ball because my team needs me to make the right play every time,” Johnson said after the Ohio State game.

Is he growing up though? Based off what we saw at Rutgers…no.

Where the leadership on this team comes from is obvious. Malik Reneau, who is just a sophomore trying to take care of the frontcourt, and Anthony Leal, who hardly ever sees the floor.

At this point in the season, it is real pathetic why leadership from the two senior captains in Johnson and Galloway is still even a talking point. Indiana basketball needs more out of those two. Time to grow up.

“I expects our seniors…(Anthony) Walker, X (Xavier Johnson), Gallow (Trey Galloway)…those three guys are seniors, they got to help lead,” Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson said postgame.

Another must-win game

Here we are again. Another must-win game to get back on track.

The Hoosiers has lost two of the their last three Big Ten games. Those losses, however, have been just flat out embarrassing performances which has seen a total of 37 turnovers, lack of mental toughness, no leadership, etc.

Indiana basketball is about to face their most crucial stretch of their season starting next week with games vs both Purdue and at Wisconsin, arguably the two best teams in the conference this season. Tonight’s game vs Minnesota at home is not a game Indiana can look past. They simply just can’t because they are in no position to do so.

This is the not the Minnesota that fans are used to knowing. This is a tough team that is riding a 7-game winning streak and 3-2 in he conference. This team can beat Indiana and it would not be shock.

Have to figure out a way to get this win, Indiana.

Opinion: A consistent message falling on deaf ears — the lack of leadership is concerning for Indiana basketball

Series History

Indiana holds a series advantage of 107-69 over Minnesota in a rivalry that began in 1912. The Hoosiers have won eight of the last nine matchups with the Gophers, including six-straight victories. IU has claimed each of the last seven games played in Bloomington.

The two sides met just once last season and Indiana emerged triumphant by a score of 61-57 on Jan. 25, 2023, under the guidance of associate head coach Yasir Rosemond. Trayce Jackson-Davis secured 25 points, 21 rebounds, and six blocks in the game to become the first Hoosier with a 20-20 game since D.J. White (Jan. 8, 2008) at Michigan. TJD also became the first high-major player to post a 25-20-5 game since UConn’s Hasheem Thabeet (Feb. 14, 2009).

More: No additional discipline for Indiana basketball guard Xavier Johnson after Flagrant 2 Foul at Rutgers

Injury Updates

Jakai Newton: Newton had a lower body surgical procedure done this past offseason to help fix a previous injury he sustained during high school. He is still recovering and is not expected to play for the rest of the season.

Podcast: Talkin’ Bout The Hoosiers Episode 14 – A look into the current state of Indiana basketball + player leadership

Quick Hitters

Who?: Indiana (11-5) (3-2 Big Ten) vs Minnesota (12-3)(3-1)

When?: Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 • 6:30 PM ET

Where?: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222) • Bloomington, Ind.

TV: FS1 (Lisa Byington and Stephen Bardo)

Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)

Betting Lines: Indiana basketball is listed as a 3-point favorite via DraftKings Sportsbook.

SEE ALSO: Former Indiana basketball standout Brian Evans offers his thoughts on the state of the program: ‘I’m afraid it’s going to get worse’

Make sure to follow Hoosier Illustrated, part of the Full Ride Network, on Twitter @Indiana_FRN, Facebook and YouTube to stay up to date on all of the news, updates and coverage of Indiana University athletics. You can also listen to the Talking’ Bout the Hoosiers podcast on Spotify.