The 2022-2023 basketball season began with high hopes in Bloomington, Indiana. Indiana Hoosier fans were hopeful that second-year head coach Mike Woodson would be able to follow up a successful first season with a possible Big Ten Championship and a run in the NCAA Tournament.
All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis was back along with point guard Xavier Johnson and veteran big man Race Thompson. In addition, the Hoosiers had added a pair of highly rated incoming freshmen, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Malik Reneau. IU was ranked near the top ten in most preseason polls and considered a co-favorite with Illinois to win the conference.