Game Day Essentials:
Indiana (4-0) vs. Lindenwood (2-3)
- Tip Time: 6:00 p.m. Eastern, Thursday
- Location: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222), Bloomington, Ind.
- Television: BTN (Jeff Levering, Shon Morris)
- Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)
- Stream: Fox Sports
- Point Spread: Indiana is a 34.5-point favorite
- KenPom Projected Score: Indiana 91 Lindenwood 62
- History: First Meeting
- Tickets (via our StubHub affiliate link)
Lindenwood’s Kyle Gerdeman
Kyle Gerdeman is in his seventh season as head coach of the Lindenwood men’s basketball program. Gerdeman has led the Lions at both the Division I and Division II levels and has collected a 71-105 overall record.
Before Lindenwood, Gerdeman spent some time as an assistant at the Division I ranks with Southeast Missouri State and Central Michigan. Gerdeman was hired at Lindenwood on June 26, 2019. At the time, Lindenwood was undergoing a transition from Division II to Division I, and Gerdeman led them in the Great Lakes Valley Conference from 2019-22.
In three seasons in Division I, Gerdeman has led Lindenwood to a 36-60 overall record. His best year with the Lions was undoubtedly last season, where the Lions went 16-17 overall record with a 10-10 record in the Ohio Valley Conference. Gerdeman has yet to lead Lindenwood to a winning season at the Division I level.
Lindenwood’s results and roster:
| DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/4/2025 | at No. 10 Texas Tech | Lubbock, Tex. | L 60-98 |
| 11/6/2025 | UHSP | St. Charles, Mo. | W 116-51 |
| 11/10/2025 | at Saint Louis | Saint Louis, Mo. | L 66-109 |
| 11/14/2025 | vs Charleston Southern | Huntsville, Ala. | W 83-77 |
| 11/16/2025 | at Alabama A&M | Huntsville, Ala. | L 65-74 |
Lindenwood’s Game Notes (via Lindenwood Athletics)
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
- Lindenwood brings in nine newcomers to the 2025-26 squad, highlighted by 6’0 Guard Mekhi Cooper. Cooper is a transfer from Miami (OH) where he started 63 of 65 games played for the Redhawks. In 2024 25, the native of Bolingbrook, Illinois averaged 5.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game starting all 34 games. The Lions also bring in the WAC All-Freshman Selection Dontrez Williams from Abilene Christian. Williams averaged 5.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game where he appeared in all 32 games for the Wildcats.
- The transfers have been getting it done for the Lions so far in 2025-26, as Milos Nenadic and Dontrez Williams lead the group of transfers in points scored through the first five games of the season. Nenadic has scored 62 points, averaging 12.4 points per game, while Williams has scored 38 points, and is averaging 12.7 points per game.
CONFERENCE LEADERS
- Reigning OVC Freshman of the Year Jadis Jones is leading the Ohio Valley Conference in field goal percentage shooting the ball at a clip of 82.4%. Jones also leads the Lions with 17.3 ppg in four games played so far in his Sophomore season.
- Milos Nenadic ranks second in the OVC in rebounds per game, averaging 7.4 per game. The transfer from Maine leads Lindenwood with 37 total rebounds.
Lindenwood’s KenPom notable numbers:
(out of 365 teams)
Tempo – No. 49 (Offense No. 71 / Defense No. 86)
Offensive Efficiency – No. 346
- Lindenwood has had a shaky start offensively. Their effective field goal percentage is 44.7 percent (No. 313). They’re shooting 24.7 percent from three (No. 338) and 48.4 percent from two (No. 244).
- The Lions’ best metric is their free-throw rate, suggesting they get to the line at a decent clip (44.4% FTA/FGA, No. 79).
- Lindenwood struggles with taking care of the ball with a 20.7% turnover percentage (No. 297).
- The Lions are a more inside-focused team, with a 55.5 percent point distribution on two-pointers (No. 56).
Defensive Efficiency – No. 276
- Teams are shooting a 57.1 percent effective field goal percentage against Lindenwood (No. 319). Opponents are shooting 38.8 percent from three (No. 317) and 56 percent from two (No. 275).
- Teams are shooting 47.5% of their shots (No. 333) and scoring 39.4% of their points (No. 27) from three.
- The Lions are decent at forcing turnovers with an 18.4 percent rate (No. 158).
- They give up offensive rebounds at a 35.4 percent rate (No. 274).
OG’s Pick
Overall Record: 4-0
Ok, I may have gotten a bit ahead of myself.
No matter, the overall record is still undefeated, and it will more than likely stay that way. IU should come away with a win against a struggling Lindenwood squad, which recently lost to Alabama A&M. Just by comparing common opponents, it’s fairly impossible to pick against the Hoosiers. Let’s just see if Indiana can handle things a bit better than they did against Incarnate Word.
PICK: Indiana 95 – Lindenwood 60
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