Indiana Basketball Game Preview: Minnesota – key storyline, injury report, how to watch

Indiana basketball begins Big Ten Conference play its 126th season of competition with a game at Minnesota at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. The league opener will be aired on BTN with Cory Provus, Robbie Hummel, and Andy Katz on the call.

Minnesota (4-4) is led by first-year head coach Niko Medved. The Gophers are led by 22.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 14 made 3-pointers from senior wing Cade Tyson. He is shooting 53.2% (50-of-94) from the field and 81.3% (65-of-80) from the free throw line through eight contests. Junior forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson is the only other Minnesota player in double figures this season at 12.4 points and a team-best 9.1 rebounds per game. He has blocked nine shots. Senior guard Langston Reynolds (9.8 points per game) and sophomore guard Isaac Asuma (9.3) round out the scoring leaders.

Minnesota is 4-0 inside Williams Arena this season with victories over Gardner-Webb (87-60), Alcorn State (95-50), Green Bay (72-65), and Chicago State (66-54).

Below is the full preview.

Scouting Notes (On3+): Minnesota

Key Storyline for Indiana basketball

First true road test, start of Big Ten play

Indiana basketball enters this important week 7-0 on the season with their best wins coming vs Marquette and Kansas State so far. Yes, those are power conference wins but when you look at the environment in which they won, Marquette was a neutral site game (70% Indiana fans) and KSU came in Bloomington.

Indiana basketball has yet to win in a true road environment this year but they will have their chance to do so when they travel to Minnesota tonight. Not only is this a road game, it is the first conference game this season so there is a ton of opportunity for the Hoosiers.

Tonight’s game also starts a very important 4-game stretch in which the Hoosiers have a chance to start the Big Ten season strong while also the chance to get some quality wins.

Minnesota is projected to be one of the worst teams in the Big Ten this season but this is still a game Indiana cannot take likely with it being on the road especially. A win tonight can help build some momentum for Saturday vs Louisville in Indianapolis.

(On3+): With increasing role for Indiana, Nick Dorn has ability to ‘flip the game all by himself’

Matchup History

Indiana holds a decisive advantage in the 179-game series between long-time conference foes. The Hoosiers have won 110 times, including nine-straight overall and three-straight in The Barn. Minnesota is one of five programs that IU has defeated over 100 times in program history. The Gophers join Northwestern (120), Ohio State (114), Michigan (111), and Iowa (107) on that list.

The sides met just once last season, an 82-67 Hoosier victory on Dec. 9, 2024, at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. IU put on a dominant performance in the paint as Oumar Ballo and Malik Reneau combined for 34 points on 12-of-15 shooting from the floor and 14 rebounds.

How it Happened: Indiana women’s basketball suffers first loss of season in Coconut Hoops vs Iowa State

Indiana basketball Injury Report

Josh Harris – Harris has an ankle/foot injury that has sidelined him most of the fall. Darian DeVries stated on his radio show that he “will be out for awhile.”

Jason Drake – The transfer guard from Drexel has missed nearly all the offseason for Indiana basketball with a lower body injury. He has started to go through pregame warmups so it looking like mid-December for his return.

Aleksa Ristic – Ristic developed a lower body injury in the fall which forced him to miss some time with Indiana basketball. He has started to go through pregame warmups so it looking like mid-December for his return.

Indiana freshman guard Aleksa Ristic ‘getting closer and closer’ to a return from injury

Quick Hitters

Who? Indiana basketball (7-0) at Minnesota (4-4)

When? Dec. 3, 2025 • 7 PM ET

Where? Williams Arena (14,625) • Minneapolis, Minn.

TV: BTN (Cory Provus, Robbie Hummel, Andy Katz)

Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)

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