Okay, we’re already two games into the season, so this is cheating a bit.
But truth be told, we’ve been watching this IU basketball team play games going back to the summer. Those first two games against low-majors didn’t really tell us anything new.
So with the slightest bit of early insight into the 2026-27 season, here are some bold predictions on how things will play out.
IU FINISHES TOP-25 NATIONALLY IN OFFENSIVE REBOUNDING RATE
The entire identity of this team has been built on rebounding. Coach Darian DeVries wants to dominate the offensive glass, and he’s starting two 7-footers in an attempt to do just that. While that might come with some negatives on the defensive end, the Hoosiers should be highly efficient on offense due in part to second chances. IU will grab at least 36% of its misses, and finish in the top-25 nationally in offensive rebounding rate. Both would be IU’s best finishes since 2015-16.
EIGHT AVERAGE SEVEN OR MORE PPG, NO ONE OVER 14
This will be a balanced scoring team, with a wide cast of players leading the way in scoring from game-to-game.
All of Darren Harris, Markus Burton, Bryce Lindsay, Aiden Sherrell, Samet Yigitoglu, Jaeden Mustaf, Trevor Manhertz and Sam Alexis will average seven or more points per game. But no one will score more than 14 a game. Burton will be well under his 19.1 per game career scoring average, but over his 3.8 assist average.
BRYCE LINDSAY WINS SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR, SHERRELL MAKES ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Bryce Lindsay has started 44 career games including 31 with Villanova last year. He’s already shown he can be a big-time producer off the bench for IU. He’ll win the Big Ten Sixth-Man of the Year.
Meanwhile Aiden Sherrell’s prowess as a shot-blocker and rebounder will earn him a spot on the league’s All-Defensive Team.
THE HOOSIERS WILL WIN AT WISCONSIN
When IU travels to Wisconsin on Feb. 19, the Hoosiers will be trying to end a 29-year, 21-game losing streak in Madison. The Badgers have not looked good in their first two games of the season against low-major competition. They’ll probably start to figures things out — they typically do under Greg Gard — but IU should have a real chance to end this generational streak.
INDIANA WILL SWEEP PURDUE
Okay this is probably influenced by Purdue’s 0-2 start that includes a home loss to Valparaiso. But clearly this is not Matt Painter’s strongest team in recent years, and it is one of IU’s better squads. So the opportunity is there for the Hoosiers to claim their first season sweep over Purdue since 2023.
And with the road wins at Wisconsin and Purdue, we’ll say IU finishes better than .500 in true road games.
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT DOUBLE BYE (AT LEAST)
With 18 teams in the Big Ten Tournament, the format gives a triple bye to the top four seeds, and a double bye to seeds 5-8. The Hoosiers will comfortably get a double bye, and they’ll contend for the triple bye into the final week of the season. Should we also say IU will win its first-ever league tournament? Let’s not get carried away.
SELECTION SUNDAY IS NO SWEAT. NCAA TOURNAMENT IS SWEET.
Indiana hasn’t been comfortably in the NCAA Tournament on Selection Sunday since 2023. That changes this year as the Hoosiers earn a No. 6 seed or better.
They haven’t been to the Sweet 16 since 2016. You know how unpredictable the NCAA Tournament is, but this is IU’s best chance to get there since Trayce Jackson-Davis left. We think they’ll do it.
MOST WINS SINCE 2015-16
Indiana has not hit the 25-win mark since the 2015-16 season. Led by Yogi Ferrell, Troy Williams, Thomas Bryant and OG Anunoby, that was IU’s last Big Ten title and last appearance in the Sweet 16.
While they probably won’t reach that team’s 27 wins, the Hoosiers will exceed the 23 wins achieved in 2022-23 to give them the most wins in a season since 2015-16.
For complete coverage of IU basketball, GO HERE.
The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”
- You can follow us on X: @daily_hoosier and find us on Facebook and Instagram
- Seven ways to support completely free IU coverage at no cost to you.
