Overview
With new rules permitting NCAA Division I schools to compete against each other in exhibition games, the Indiana men’s basketball team has scheduled an exhibition game against powerhouse-Big 12 opponent Baylor. The Indy Showdown will be managed by veteran event promoter bdG Sports.
Previously, NCAA rules only permitted Division I institutions to meet in an exhibition if the game was played for charity. But the rules were changed this year providing the schools this opportunity as long as no class time was missed.
“Adding Baylor to our exhibition schedule was an important piece to our non-conference slate,” Indiana head men's basketball coach Darian DeVries said. “Baylor is always a talented, well-coached team that will help prepare us for our season. We are excited to showcase this game in front of Hoosier Nation in Indianapolis.”
For IU, this will be the first of two games played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse this season. The Hoosiers will play Louisville there in a nationally televised CBS game on Saturday, December 6.
DeVries, who tips off his first season as the head coach at IU, will have a top-10 portal class, per 247 Sports, led by Tucker DeVries (West Virginia), Lamar Wilkerson (Sam Houston State) and forward Reed Bailey (Davidson).
Circle City holds special significance in the history of the Baylor men’s basketball program as the Bears won the 2021 national championship there during the pandemic-impacted season. Baylor ranks as one of only five schools to be listed inside the top 10 in each of the last six seasons. Head coach Scott Drew led the Bears to their program-best sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance a year ago and has retooled his roster for the coming season with a Top-25 class from the portal according to 247 Sports. Michael Rataj (Oregon State), Obi Agbim (Oklahoma State), Dan Skillings (Cincinnati) and JJ White (Omaha) headline the list of portal newcomers.
“We are excited about returning to Indianapolis in October, a city that holds fond memories for the Baylor Family,” Drew said. “Playing against an opponent like Indiana in its home state is a great chance for our team to experience what it will be like playing on the road in the Big 12 Conference. We are grateful to bdG Sports for providing this unique opportunity to compete in an NBA arena against one of the nation’s most storied programs.”
The two teams met once before, in a regular-season game on December 13, 1980, which IU won, 83-47.
Records and statistics accumulated in the exhibition matchup will not count toward regular-season totals.
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