IU basketball returns to the hardwood on Friday evening for its second and final exhibition game of the 2023-24 season.
Marian is playing the Hoosiers for the third time in the head coach Scott Heady era, and are lining up for the second consecutive season against Indiana.
Marian enters the game coming off a 90-76 win in their season opener last Saturday against IU-Southeast, getting 58-combined points between guards Brody Whitaker and Gus Etchison in the victory.
Here’s what you need to know about the Friday evening matchup.
Game Day Essentials:
Marian at Indiana
- Tip Time: 6:30 p.m. Eastern
- Location: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222), Bloomington, Indiana
- Television: BTN Plus
- Stream: Big Ten Network Plus
- IU Radio Network: IU Radio Network
Debut of the Bob Knight Jersey Patch
As we reported yesterday, the IU men’s and women’s basketball teams will wear jersey patches all season in honor of the late Bob Knight.
The patch features initials for Knight’s full name, Robert Montgomery Knight, and three stars representing his three national championships while at Indiana.
Here is a preview of the patch:
Return of Steve Downing
In the first game since the passing of Knight, IU will play a team called the Knights, a school where Knight has an endowed scholarship, and an AD who was one of Knight’s favorite IU players.
Marian Director of Athletics Steve Downing played for Indiana from 1970-73. A member of the IU Hall of Fame, Downing was named the Big Ten Most Valuable Player in 1973 after leading the Hoosiers to the Final Four. He averaged 20.1 points and 10.6 rebounds that season.
“The Marian University community and I are saddened at the loss of Coach Knight. I had the privilege of playing basketball for and coaching with coach Knight, and he was my mentor,” Downing said in a release on Thursday. “He believed in the power of sports to shape character and foster teamwork. Our student-athletes at Marian uphold the tradition of excellence that Coach Knight instilled in me and his players.”
Downing also released a video on Thursday discussing Knight and his connection to Marian.
The Daily Hoosier’s Seth Tow caught up with Downing last October for his thoughts on Mike Woodson and the Indiana program:
IU basketball alum Steve Downing anticipating Assembly Hall return with Marian
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