PREVIEW: No. 6/5 Hoosiers Host UMass Lowell in First Regular Season Game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall

Wednesday, November 16

Bloomington, Ind.

7:00 PM

Indiana University

UMass Lowell

PREVIEW: No. 6/5 Hoosiers Host UMass Lowell in First Regular Season Game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall

11/15/2016 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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OPENING TIP
Indiana University begins its 117th season and the defending Big Ten Champions are ranked 5th in the USA Today Coaches Poll and 6th in the Associated Press Preseason Poll after beating #2/3 Kansas in the Armed Forces Classic, 103-99 in OT in the season opener for both teams. IU was ranked 9th in the final rankings a season ago - the 2nd in 4 years the Hoosiers finished the year ranked in the top 10.

Wednesday's game will also mark the first regular season game in the newly renovated Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (read more), which features the largest main centerhung display in a college-specific venue in the country courtesy of Daktronics.

#6/5 Indiana vs. UMass Lowell (Indiana Classic)
Location	Bloomington, Indiana
Venue	Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
Tipoff	7:00 p.m. ET
TV	BTN & BTN2Go (Kevin Kugler & Seth Davis)
Radio	IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, Joe Smith)
Live Stats	IUHoosiers.com

MORE ABOUT THE SCOREBOARD
• The four video displays make up the centerhung configuration using a total of 1,433,600 LEDs to provide high quality images and graphics for fans. One of the main displays incorporates six times more LEDs than the city of Bloomington has people.

• The two main displays each measure approximately 18 feet high by 31 feet wide with the two end displays each measure 10 feet high by 20 feet tall. All four displays feature six-millimeter line spacing to provide excellent clarity and contrast with the wide angle visibility.

• These displays also feature variable content zoning which allows each display to show one large image across the entire display or each display can be separated into multiple zones. These zones can then show any combination of live video, instant replays, scoring and statistic information, animations and sponsorship messages.

UP NEXT
• The Hoosiers will host Liberty on November 19 as part of the Indiana Classic.

HEAD COACH TOM CREAN
• Tom Crean, the 2016 Big Ten Coach of the Year, begins his ninth year of leading the Hoosiers. Over the last five years, IU is 121-53 and leads the Big Ten with 24 regular season wins over ranked opponents during that time. IU is nationally ranked for the sixth straight season. Eight players in his first six recruiting classes have scored 1,000 points in their career under Crean at Indiana. Yogi Ferrell (1,986), Christian Watford (1,730), Verdell Jones III (1,347), Jordan Hulls (1,318), Cody Zeller (1,157), Will Sheehey (1,120), Victor Oladipo (1,117) and Troy Williams (1,115) also have scored 1,000 points or more. From the Class of 2014, James Blackmon, Jr., is the next closest Hoosier to approach the mark. He has scored 750 points in a season and a half. Three players, Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell (2016), Cody Zeller (2013) and Victor Oladipo (2013) have been selected as All-Americans. In addition, Oladipo earned two National Player of the Year honors and was named National Defensive Player of the Year. IU won the 2013 and 2016 Big Ten titles outright. Last year's outright title is the team's second in a four year period with the last time that happened at IU coming in 1980, 81 and 83. The Hoosiers are now tied for the Big Ten lead in overall championships (22) and outright titles (13).

THE SERIES
• This is the first meeting with UMass Lowell of the America East Conference. IU is 3-0 against teams from that league going 2-0 against Stony Brook and 1-0 against UMBC.

IU INSIGHT
• IU has won 31 straight home openers and with the win against Kansas have won 19 straight season opening games. Tom Crean is now 17-1 in season opening games.

• The win over No. 2/3 KU makes it the highest ranked opponent the Hoosiers have defeated in a season opener since beating No. 2 UCLA in St. Louis in 1975. Over the last five-plus years, Indiana is tied for the second most wins in the country against AP Top 3 teams.

• Later this season, the Hoosiers will take on No. 6 North Carolina at home in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Hoosiers will face Butler, ranked No. 19 by Kenpom, in the 6th Annual Crossroads Classic in Indianapolis on December 17. IU and No. 12 Louisville will start at three-year series with a game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on New Years Eve.

• Since 2011, the Hoosiers have averaged 24 wins per season compared to 20 averaged at IU from 1995-2008

• Last year, IU was 3rd in the country in field goal percentage (50.2), 5th in 3-point field goal percentage (41.6), 7th in total 3-point field goals (345), 11th in scoring (82.6), 12th in scoring margin (12.7), and 19th in assists (560). The 345 3FG also established a new school record and Big Ten record.

• The 2015-16 Hoosiers were just one of three teams in the last 20 years in college basketball to average more than 80 points, shoot better than 50 percent from the field and 41 percent from 3-point range. The others are the 2001-02 Kansas Jayhawks and the 2000-01 Stanford Cardinal.

DID YOU KNOW
• UMass Lowell head coach Pat Duquette is in his fourth year as the head coach with the River Hawks, as he has guided their transition to the Division I level. His record is 33-54.

• The Indiana Classic is a four-game exempt tournament featuring IU, Fort Wayne, UMass Lowell, Liberty, and Mississippi Valley State.

• After his 26-point, six-rebound effort against Kansas, junior James Blackmon, Jr., was named National Player of the Week by NBC and Co-Big Ten Player of the Week. Freshman Curtis Jones, who had 15 points in 16 minutes, was named Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

• Since 2011-12, IU has had the most potent offense in the Big Ten, leading in points scored (77.9), field goal percentage (47.8), and 3-point field goal percentage (40.3). The Hoosiers lead all major conference schools in field goal percentage and 3-point percentage during that same time frame.

• Five former Crean-coached Hoosiers are on active NBA rosters including Cody Zeller (Charlotte), Victor Oladipo (Oklahoma City), Noah Vonleh (Portland), Yogi Ferrell (Brooklyn) and Troy Williams (Memphis). Three of his former players at Marquette also are active including Dwyane Wade (Chicago), Steve Novak (Milwaukee) and Wes Matthews (Dallas). Oladipo just signed a 4-year, $84 million extension and Zeller got 4-years and $56 million.

• Junior James Blackmon, Jr. and sophomore center Thomas Bryant are among 50 candidates for the 2017 Naismith Award.

• During the last two years, the Hoosiers have averaged 9.7 3-point field goals per game, the most of any major college program. Villanova is second at 8.9. IU made 15 against Kansas.

• The Hoosiers have three former head coaches on their coaching staff this season (Buckley, Martin, Judson). Associate Head Coach Tim Buckley begins his ninth year at Indiana. The former head coach at Ball State, his Cardinals beat No. 3 Kansas and No. 4 UCLA at the 2001 Maui Classic. Assistant Coach Chuck Martin is in his third year with the Hoosiers and was the head coach at Marist (2008-13). Assistant Coach Rob Judson is in his second year as an assistant coach after serving as Director of Operations in early 2014. He was the head coach at Northern Illinois (2001-07) and won the MAC West title in 2006.

• Bryant was named Preseason All-American by Blue Ribbon Basketball Yearbook (first team) and NBCSports.com (second team). He averaged 14.4 points and 5.5 rebounds in postseason play. Had 19 points, five rebounds and two steals against Kentucky. He led the Big Ten in field goal percentage. He also was named Preseason All-Big Ten and is on the Kareem Abdul Jabbar Watch List (Top Center).

• Blackmon Jr. has the second-highest career average (16.0) of any player who has played for Crean at Indiana (Zeller, 16.1). When he went down prior to the start of Big Ten play in December 2015, he was averaging 15.8 points and shooting 46.3 percent from 3-point range. He had a career-high 33 points against Alcorn State as a sophomore. He was named Preseason All-Big Ten and is on the Jerry West Award watch list.

• Junior guard Robert Johnson is the most experienced Hoosier, having started 56 career games. Despite an ankle injury, Johnson made 5-of-7 field goals and 3-of-4 3-pointers in 34 minutes of action against Chattanooga and Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament. He also had six assists with no turnovers against Chattanooga.

• Senior forward Collin Hartman will begin rehab for his knee immediately. Over the last two seasons, he has averaged 4.9 points and has shot 40.8 percent from 3-point range. He played three games in the NCAA Tournament with a fractured wrist and averaged 5.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.3 rebounds.

• Sophomore forward OG Anunoby made his first career start last week against the Jayhawks. He saw his playing time increase as conference play began last year. He averaged 5.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and shot 53.3 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from 3-point range in Big Ten play. In the NCAA Tournament he tied for the team lead in blocked shots (3) and offensive rebounds (5) and made 10 of his 15 field goal attempts (66.7). He was named third-team Preseason All-American by The Sporting News and is on the Julius Erving Award watch list.

• Junior guard Josh Newkirk is eligible after sitting out a season following his transfer from Pittsburgh. With the Panthers, he averaged 5.9 points and 2.7 assists as a sophomore. In his career, he had 154 assists and 77 turnovers. He scored 16 points against Indiana in the 2014 Big Ten ACC Challenge.

• Sophomore forward Juwan Morgan came on in the last nine games of the 2015-16 season despite shoulder issues. He made 4-for7 3-pointers during a four-game stretch of Big Ten play last year and averaged 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds down the stretch for the Hoosiers.

• Junior Freddie McSwain, Jr. is a Georgia native who comes to IU after averaging 14.0 points and 8.4 rebounds at Neosho County Community College. He is a tremendous athlete at 6-6, 215.

• Freshman De'Ron Davis was Mr. Basketball in Colorado and was one of the most coveted power forwards in the county. He led his team to back-to-back state championships at Overland High School in Aurora, Colorado.

• Jones is a Virginia native and a Boo Williams AAU product. He played with Thomas Bryant at Huntington Prep. IU fans got to see him up close in the Derby Classic when he scored 25 points.

•Freshman guard Devonte Green is another big-bodied guard who was the Long Island Player of the Year as a senior when he averaged 20.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.7 steals as a senior and shot 42 percent from behind the 3-point line

• Former Hoosiers Christian Watford and Nick Zeisloft will play for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League and Will Sheehey will play with the Raptors 905 in Toronto. Jordan Hulls is playing overseas in Germany.

• IU was 17-0 in Assembly Hall last season.

Most Wins Vs. AP Top 3 Teams, Since 2011-12
Duke - 6
Indiana - 5
Kansas - 5
Wisconsin - 5

• Before the win over No. 2/3 Kansas on Friday, IU had lost the last three times it had opened the season against a nationally ranked team. IU fell to No. 17 Louisville in 1984, to No. 11 UCLA in 1991 and to No. 24 Temple in 1997.