Kentucky vs. Indiana: Hoosiers Will Be Relevant Again After Narrow Defeat

Indiana hasn’t been relevant since 2007-08 when they went 25-7 and 14-4 in the Big 10. Head coach Tom Crean hasn’t been able to lift Indiana to a winning season since taking over after the 2007-08 campaign.

The Hoosiers are 8-0 this season and they have a great chance to finally put their stamp back on college basketball Saturday when they play Kentucky, the No. 1 team in the nation. They might not win, but they will open the eyes of the college basketball world.

Assembly Hall is going to see their first legitimate, big-time atmosphere game in years. You better believe that it will be rocking come tip-off.

Indiana will already come out of the gates pumped, but the crowd will push them to another level.

Kentucky may have the most talent in college basketball, but aside from a few players like Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones, they’re still youthful. I can’t believe I’m considering a sophomore as experienced, but that’s how you need to look at the Wildcats.

They are coming off an emotional, back-and-forth game against No. 5 North Carolina at Rupp Arena where the Wildcats escaped with a victory, 73-72. We may see a little bit of a letdown from the Wildcats after their emotional victory.

Youthful teams will find bumps along the road. Playing every game at the intensity level of Kentucky-UNC will be hard to match. The Wildcats may come out a little slower than what we are accustomed to.

Aside from home-floor advantage and Kentucky possibly ready for a letdown, Indiana is a solid club this year.

Kentucky saw Tyler Zeller last week against North Carolina, but they will do a double-take because Indiana has a Zeller of their own—Cody Zeller. He leads the Hoosiers in points (15.5) and rebounds (7.5) to go along with 67 percent shooting from the floor. He is an active big man who can create steals and block/alter shot attempts.

Zeller vs. Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis may be the best freshman vs. freshman matchup in recent history.

Victor Oladipo has done a little bit of everything for Crean. He has scored 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. He has great size at 6’5”. He will need to play an important role in a Hoosiers victory.

Senior Verdell Jones has scored 9.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game this season. He’s shooting 56 percent from long distance.

If the Hoosiers do capture victory it would mark the best start (9-0) since 1989-90. I don’t see them winning, but I do believe we see the promise of a great future.

In the end, Kentucky with Jones, Davis, Lamb, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marquis Teague and others find a way to get the job done with their extraordinary talent.

Prediction: Kentucky 78, Indiana 71