Go Bold – IU Built for Challenging Schedule
11/12/2021 12:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Let other basketball programs schedule non-conference patsies.
Indiana coach Teri Moren has bolder plans.
"I think if we didn't do that, our kids would be awfully disappointed," she says about the upcoming run of No. 13 Kentucky (2-0), No. 3 and defending national champ Stanford and No. 5 North Carolina State (a rematch of last season's Sweet Sixteen showdown that IU won).
As All-America forward Mackenzie Holmes puts it, "Our non-conference schedule is really tough."
In these dodge-no-one Cream and Crimson times, when preparing for a brutally tough Big Ten demands the best possible competition, focus turns to Kentucky on Sunday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
The No. 8/7 Hoosiers (1-0) are built for this like never before. They return five starters and key reserves from an Elite Eight team, and showed they weren't messing around with an 86-63 road blowout of Butler on Wednesday night.
"We felt with five returning starters, plus some of the pieces that can help off the bench, that we needed to put together another difficult schedule," Moren says.
IU's six straight 20-victory seasons reflect Moren's drive to turn the Hoosiers into consistent Big Ten and national contenders. Facing strong competition before conference play is a big part of the plan.
"It's always intentional in how we put together our schedule," she says. "We look at our personnel as being a veteran team, or not being a veteran team. Then we move forward with our schedule."
With five Big Ten teams ranked in the preseason top 20 (No. 4 Maryland, IU, No. 9 Iowa, No. 11 Michigan and No. 17 Ohio State), Holmes is all for it.
"That will help us when we get into conference play. It gives us a chance to play against that type of competition and prepare for what the Big Ten will offer."
Adds guard Ali Patberg: Our conference is one of the best in the country. It will be a great Big Ten season. We'll play the other great conferences
"We're all competitors. We're excited to play teams at that level."
In terms of scheduling specifics, Moren says the Kentucky game was part of a home-and-home series.
"We got into the tournament in the Bahamas with Stanford and Miami. Then we have the Big Ten-ACC Challenge with North Carolina State. We know why that is. They want to see another game (between the two teams). I don't know if it will be a revenge game for them.
"Our players love the competition and the challenges we present them with in the non-conference. It's benefited us so much."
IU showed its potential against Butler, no one more than point guard Nicole Cardano-Hillary. In her best game at IU, she scored 29 points and went 10-for-11 from the field, 7-for-8 on three-pointers. Her seven three-pointers rank third in school history. She added six rebounds and five assists.
As far as her career scoring high, she had 41 points while at George Mason.
Guard Grace Berger scored 18 points to become the 29thHoosier to surpass 1,000 points.
Kentucky opened with decisive wins over Presbyterian and North Alabama.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Let other basketball programs schedule non-conference patsies.
Indiana coach Teri Moren has bolder plans.
"I think if we didn't do that, our kids would be awfully disappointed," she says about the upcoming run of No. 13 Kentucky (2-0), No. 3 and defending national champ Stanford and No. 5 North Carolina State (a rematch of last season's Sweet Sixteen showdown that IU won).
As All-America forward Mackenzie Holmes puts it, "Our non-conference schedule is really tough."
In these dodge-no-one Cream and Crimson times, when preparing for a brutally tough Big Ten demands the best possible competition, focus turns to Kentucky on Sunday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
The No. 8/7 Hoosiers (1-0) are built for this like never before. They return five starters and key reserves from an Elite Eight team, and showed they weren't messing around with an 86-63 road blowout of Butler on Wednesday night.
"We felt with five returning starters, plus some of the pieces that can help off the bench, that we needed to put together another difficult schedule," Moren says.
IU's six straight 20-victory seasons reflect Moren's drive to turn the Hoosiers into consistent Big Ten and national contenders. Facing strong competition before conference play is a big part of the plan.
"It's always intentional in how we put together our schedule," she says. "We look at our personnel as being a veteran team, or not being a veteran team. Then we move forward with our schedule."
With five Big Ten teams ranked in the preseason top 20 (No. 4 Maryland, IU, No. 9 Iowa, No. 11 Michigan and No. 17 Ohio State), Holmes is all for it.
"That will help us when we get into conference play. It gives us a chance to play against that type of competition and prepare for what the Big Ten will offer."
Adds guard Ali Patberg: Our conference is one of the best in the country. It will be a great Big Ten season. We'll play the other great conferences
"We're all competitors. We're excited to play teams at that level."
In terms of scheduling specifics, Moren says the Kentucky game was part of a home-and-home series.
"We got into the tournament in the Bahamas with Stanford and Miami. Then we have the Big Ten-ACC Challenge with North Carolina State. We know why that is. They want to see another game (between the two teams). I don't know if it will be a revenge game for them.
"Our players love the competition and the challenges we present them with in the non-conference. It's benefited us so much."
IU showed its potential against Butler, no one more than point guard Nicole Cardano-Hillary. In her best game at IU, she scored 29 points and went 10-for-11 from the field, 7-for-8 on three-pointers. Her seven three-pointers rank third in school history. She added six rebounds and five assists.
As far as her career scoring high, she had 41 points while at George Mason.
Guard Grace Berger scored 18 points to become the 29thHoosier to surpass 1,000 points.
Kentucky opened with decisive wins over Presbyterian and North Alabama.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballFB: Kellan Wyatt Media Availability (9/16/25)
Tuesday, September 16
FB: Mikail Kamara Media Availability (9/16/25)
Tuesday, September 16
FB: Curt Cignetti Media Availability (9/15/25)
Monday, September 15
FB: Under The Hood - Week 3 (Indiana State)
Thursday, September 11