Indiana @ Notre Dame preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 16, 2017 ) Indiana 80, Notre Dame 77

Notre Dame and Indiana meet Saturday for the fifth time in the ninth annual Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Fighting Irish have gone 1-3 against the Hoosiers in the in-state event, which also includes a matchup between Purdue and Butler after the Indiana-Notre Dame game.

The Hoosiers return to the court after a one-week break for final semester exams that followed a 96-90 overtime victory over Nebraska on Dec. 13. Their only loss came at Wisconsin in a Big Ten game earlier this month. After Saturday's game, they'll have another break before their final non-conference game against Arkansas on Dec. 29 as they attempt to finish the non-league portion of the schedule without a loss. Notre Dame has won two in a row, including a 75-61 victory over UCLA on Dec. 14 in its last outing, since a 73-72 loss in ACC play at home to Boston College on Dec. 7.

TV: Noon ET, ESPN

ABOUT NOTRE DAME (8-3): The Fighting Irish are a little short-handed after Robby Carmody suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier this month and Chris Doherty announced that he's transferring, but they managed to handle UCLA in South Bend using only seven players. Notre Dame revolves around John Mooney, a senior forward who is averaging 14.8 points and 13.4 rebounds and ranks among the top rebounders in the country. The Irish's strengths are 3-point shooting, which accounts for 37.5 percent of their field goals, and avoiding turnovers (9.7 per game, nation's best 1.82 assist-to-turnover ratio), but they could be vulnerable inside the paint against Indiana.

ABOUT INDIANA (10-1): Trayce Jackson-Davis continued to show he's one of the top freshmen in the country with his 25-point, 15-rebound performance in the win over Nebraska that boosted his team-leading averages to 15.1 points and 9.1 rebounds. Sophomore point guard Rob Phinisee has missed five games with injuries, but the importance of his presence was reflected in his 16 points and four assists against Nebraska. Justin Smith (13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds), Aljami Durham (12.8 points, 50 percent from the field, 41 percent on 3-pointers) and Devonte Green (12.5 points, 42.5 percent on 3s) are also key contributors.

TIP-INS

1. Jackson-Davis ranks first in Division I among freshmen with 54 made free throws, second in rebounds with 100 and free throw attempts with 76, and third in field goal percentage at 64.4 and in blocked shots with 22.

2. Indiana leads the country with 20.7 free throws made and 29.4 attempts per game.

3. Mooney's 13.4 rebounds per game rank first nationally and he is tied for second in Division I with eight-double-doubles.

PREDICTION: Indiana 73, Notre Dame 69