EVANSVILLE — The Indiana University men’s basketball team is taking its preseason show on the road to southern Indiana this fall.
The Hoosiers will travel to Evansville to face Western Kentucky University in a neutral-site exhibition game on Sunday, October 25, at the Ford Center.
The matchup adds another regional flavor to Indiana’s preseason calendar. It marks the second neutral-site exhibition game the Hoosiers have locked in for October, emphasizing a clear strategy to connect with fans across different corners of the state before the regular season tips off. Just one week prior, on October 18, IU will face perennial powerhouse North Carolina at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
While Indiana has not yet released its full non-conference schedule, the program’s early slate is heavily centered around marquee, neutral-site venues across the Hoosier State.
Beyond the two exhibition games, the university has already confirmed two high-profile, regular-season matchups in Indianapolis:
- Nov. 9: vs. Syracuse (Gainbridge Fieldhouse)
- Nov. 20: vs. Kentucky (Lucas Oil Stadium)
The upcoming season carries high expectations for head coach Darian DeVries, who enters his second year at the helm of the Hoosier program.
After taking over the program last year, DeVries is tasked with returning Indiana to national prominence. The primary goal for the re-tooled Hoosiers this winter will be snapping a postseason drought and returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2023. Facing a gritty Western Kentucky squad in the standard raucous environment of the Ford Center will serve as a crucial barometer for DeVries’ squad before the official games begin.
Ticket information and tip-off times for the Evansville matchup are expected to be released by the university at a later date.
