Indiana Basketball Game Preview: Oregon – key storyline, injury report, how to watch

Indiana University begins postseason play in the 125th season of competition in men’s basketball against No. 23 Oregon in the second-round of the Big Ten Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The eighth-seeded Ducks enter the game with a record of 23-8 (12-8 Big Ten) under 15th-year head coach Dana Altman. Oregon is led by All-Big Ten Third Team selection Nate Bittle who averaged 14.1 points, 7.3 points, and 2.2 blocks per game in the regular season. Sophomore guard Jackson Shelstad was second on the team with 13.3 points per game, while senior guard TJ Bamba added 10.2 points and was a All-Big Ten Defensive Team selection. Senior guard Keeshawn Barthelemy also averages double-figures (10.2) for Oregon.

Tipoff is set for Noon ET on BTN.

Below is the full preview.

Key Indiana basketball Storylines

Win and you’re in

After closing the regular season with a massive win over Ohio State, Indiana basketball appears to be on the right side of the bubble entering the Big Ten Tournament.

While a loss might not knock the Hoosiers out of the NCAA Tournament, a win against the Ducks would almost certainly guarantee them a spot in the Tournament.

A loss against Oregon would create some uncertainty as Indiana basketball would need to avoid bid stealers and other teams like Ohio State that sit below them on the projected bubble to make a run.

Indiana knows what is at stake when they take the floor in Indianapolis as they’ve been in a similar position under Mike Woodson before. In Woodson’s first year, the Hoosiers needed to win at least one tournament game to go dancing and they went on to beat Michigan, a tournament team, before defeating Big Ten Regular Season Champion Illinois in the next round.

Like in 2o22, if Indiana defeats Oregon they will have the Big Ten Regular Season Champion Michigan State waiting for them in the next round.

The Hoosiers have won three of four matchups against the Ducks with all four matchups having been played on the West Coast.

Indiana won their first three matchups in Portland as a part of the Far West Classic.

In their most recent matchup last week, Oregon defeated Indiana in a back and forth game by a score of 73-64 after closing the game on a 10-0 run led by Jackson Shelstad who scored 17 in the win. Trey Galloway led the way for Indiana with 16 points and four assists while Oumar Ballo had 10 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.

Indiana basketball Injury Updates