Indiana State’s men’s basketball team is set to stage an exhibition matchup against Butler on October 10, 2026, inside the iconic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The game will be the first time that head coach Matthew Graves returns to the venue as an opposing coach, a place where he once played and later helped shape the program as an assistant.
A Full‑Circle Moment for Coach Graves
Graves spent 17 combined seasons at Butler, first as a player and then as an assistant, working under longtime mentor Ronald Nored, who now serves as Butler’s head coach. Together from 2009 to 2012 they compiled a 89‑21 record, a testament to the chemistry that still resonates in the program.
Last year’s exhibition saw the Bulldogs edge the Sycamores 105‑80, with Indiana State shooting 41.1% from the field and 33.3% from three‑point range, while Butler posted 50% shooting and 45.8% from deep. The two schools last met in the regular season in 2016, when a clutch free throw by Brenton Scott with 1.5 seconds left secured a 72‑71 victory for Indiana State, a moment that still fuels the rivalry.
Details about the upcoming exhibition, including ticket information and broadcast plans, will be released in the coming weeks, but the anticipation among fans and alumni is already palpable. The game promises to blend nostalgia with fresh competition as Graves’ Indiana State squad takes on Nored’s Butler team in a venue that holds deep significance for both programs.