Missouri’s men’s basketball program is set to travel to Bloomington on December 18, 2026, for a much‑anticipated non‑conference clash with Indiana. The game will be the centerpiece of a schedule that Coach Dennis Gates has deliberately toughened as the Tigers prepare for the expanded NCAA Tournament.
A tougher schedule for a new era
The agreement with Indiana includes a reciprocal clause that precludes a return match in Columbia, ensuring the Hoosiers host the contest on their home floor. This arrangement reflects a broader trend among power‑conference programs to curate non‑conference slates that maximize postseason résumés.
Gates has added six power‑conference opponents to the 2026‑27 slate, among them Kansas, Illinois, Marquette, Indiana, Nebraska and Pittsburgh. The move reflects the NCAA’s recent expansion to 76 tournament teams, a shift that has prompted coaches across the country to seek stronger résumés.
Indiana’s reshaped roster
Indiana arrives with a revamped roster. After finishing 10th in the Big Ten with an 18‑14 record last season, the Hoosiers have lost their top two scorers, Lamar Wilkerson and Tucker Devries, who signed Exhibit‑10 contracts with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics respectively. In their place, Alabama transfer forward Aiden Sherrell joins the squad, bringing a 11.1‑point, 6.2‑rebound average from his previous season.
The last meeting between the two schools dates back to 2004, when Missouri edged Indiana 56‑53 in a game that featured future NBA talents such as Jimmy McKinney, Linas Kleiza, Jason Conley, D.J. White and Patrick Ewing Jr. That historical footnote adds a narrative layer to the upcoming encounter.
Beyond the on‑court storylines, the matchup underscores a broader trend: conferences are curating non‑conference slates that maximize postseason prospects, a strategy that Gates says is essential in the new tournament landscape.