By Nick Jenkinson-SCINN Sports Director
The Indiana Hoosiers open the 2026-27 Men’s Basketball Regular Season Hosting the Eastern Illinois Panthers at 7 PM this evening with the game streaming on Big Ten Network Plus.
The Hoosiers finished 3-0 on exhibition play beating Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse 96-68 North Carolina 7658 at Bainbridge Fieldhouse on Indianapolis and 779-74 over Western Kentucky at the Ford Center in Evansville.
The new look Hoosiers return two scholarship players from a season with Sam Alexis and Trent Sisley. Indiana went with the same strain lineup in all three exhibition games with Seven Footers Adorn Sherrell and Samet Yigitoglu along with guards Jaaeden Mustaf, Darren Harris and Markus Burton all who came in Bloomington in the off-season from their previous school.
. Bryce Lindsay is the sixth man off the bench sparked the Hoosiers with 26 points against North Carolina and z20 points against Western Kentucky . The Hoosiers brought in size and quickness as head Coach Darian DeVries begins his second season as head Coach of the Hoosiers. DeVries won his home debit a season opener 98-51; over Alabama A&M 98-51 in his first game as Indiana Head Coach and has an ,8-0 overall record in season openers
The Hoosiers are 52-3 all-time in-home openers since Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall opened the 1971-72 season and have won eight straight home openers. The Hoosiers lead the all-time series with Eastern Illinois 3-0. Indiana beat Eastern Illinois in the opening round of the 1992 NCAA Tournament in Boise, 8daho 94-55 with a double-double form Alan Henderson of 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Indiana and Eastern Illinois will meet in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for the third time. As the Hoosiers beat the Panthers 88-49 on November 13, 2015, and 90-55 on November 10, 2024. Indiana had won all three meetings by an average of 37.7 points.
Eastern Illinois is led by Former Indiana University Hoosier Marty Simmons. Who played for Hall of Fame Head Coach Bob Knight from 1983-85 and then targeted to the University of Evansville and played for the Purple Aces from 1986+88. Simon’s who grew up in Lawrenceville, Illinois played for Ron Felling at Lawrenceville High School before felling came to Bloomington as an assistant coach under Knight.
Simmons has been a head coach for 23 seasons and begins his sixth season at Eastern Illinois which is located in Charleston. Simmons has won ,366 games with stops at Wartburg College in Iowa from 2996-97, Southern Illinois Edwardsville from ,2002-07, and Evansville from 2007-18..
Eastern Illinois lost all five starters from a season ago they finished with 13-20 record. The Panthers have three returners from a season ago sophomore guard Markus Blackwell, fifth Year ring J.T. Elder and Senior Forward Andrew Austin. The Panthers have two players form the State of Indiana on the roster with Senior Gavin Welch from New Castle and Sophomore Shane Sims who played at Harrison High School in Evansville.
Indiana’s expected to win this game by big margin. After playing a tight game with Western Kentucky on which coach DeVries wanted to get his freshman some playing Tom it will be interesting to see how they respond as the games count as the College Basketball season is officially underway.