A half-court shot for free tuition? Fans watched as the men’s and women’s basketball teams both competed and teamed up in various competitions, all in preparation and good fun heading into their respective seasons. Events such as a skills competition, three-point contest, and Knockout headlined the evening, and it was capped off by two lucky fans attempting two shots each from half-court for their entire college experience paid for.

With Hoosier Hysteria behind us, the focus is now on the start of the season when the women take on Northwood at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 1, on Big Ten Plus while the men face Florida Gulf Coast at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7, on Big Ten Network. Both games will be played at home. The men start their regular season after two exhibition matches – against the University of Indianapolis and Marian.

Looking ahead to the women’s upcoming season, they are aiming for another Big Ten championship after earning their second in history last February, their first in 40 years. Beyond that, they are looking to improve this year after going 28-4 last season but falling short of an NCAA championship as the #1 seed losing to the #9 seed Miami Hurricanes in the second round.

The women lost graduate student Grace Berger (drafted by the Indiana Fever), the sixth highest scoring leader of all time in IU women’s basketball, but brought back the first ever preseason All-American in IU women’s history, Mackenzie Holmes. Seniors Sydney Parrish, Sara Scalia, and Chloe Moore-McNeil are also key returners.

Entering this season, IUWBB earned a #9 seed preseason ranking by The Athletic out of the top 25 schools ranked. Head coach Teri Moren, the winningest women’s basketball coach of all time at IU, has hopes of a national championship this year after a disappointing end to a remarkable season. IU is ranked third out of the Big Ten schools, only behind Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes (#1) and the Ohio State Buckeyes (#2).

As for the men, they are looking to take their revitalized roster past the second round of the NCAA tournament as well, where they were also eliminated by the Miami Hurricanes, except they were ranked as the #4 seed.

The Hoosiers lost key pieces – Trayce Jackson-Davis (drafted by the Golden State Warriors), Jalen Hood-Schifino (drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers), Miller Kopp, and Race Thompson to name a few, but did bring in 5-star recruits Gabe Cupps (freshman), Mackenzie Mgbako (freshman), and Kel’el Ware (sophomore transfer from Oregon). Mike Woodson also expects sophomores Malik Reneau and CJ Gunn to have big seasons for the Hoosiers this year.

Entering this season, IU is not ranked in the top 25, but did come in at #30 according to the Three Man Weave. Head coach Mike Woodson has expressed his disinterest in preseason rankings.

“I don’t care about rankings,” said Woodson. “You’ve got to play the games. We’ll start here soon and kind of get a feel for where we are and what we need to continue to grow in. You’re talking about 10 new faces, six guys that came from different programs and that are tying to figure out me as a coach and all the things I’m asking them to do.”

Woodson went on to express that only time will tell what’s in store for his team this season.