Report: Indiana's 2015-16 basketball schedule features doubleheaders with Big Ten West opponents

Jeff Rabjohns just dropped Indiana's 2015-16 schedule of opponents over on Peegs.com. From his article:

Home and road games:

Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin

Home only:

Maryland, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue

Road only:

Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Rutgers

While much is still left to be decided with roster turnover and recruiting, that's a pretty favorable draw for the Hoosiers' Big Ten slate next season. They'll get the "Big Ten West" version of the doubleheader -- which is the side of the conference that will suffer most from roster turnover this offseason. But what does this mean for the Hoosiers in 2015-16?

START THE HYPE MACHINE

Wisconsin should take a giant step backward, with the Badgers poised to lose Frank Kaminsky, Josh Gasser, Traevon Jackson to graduation and likely Sam Dekker to the NBA Draft, as well. That'll leave two sophomores (Bronson Koenig & Nigel Hayes) to run the show for Bo in Madison. Illinois and Iowa will have to replace both of their top scorers in Rayvonte Rice and Aaron White. Nebraska won't lose any of its core of Terran Petteway, Shavon Shields, Bennie Parker, and Walter Pitchford -- but the Huskers have hardly looked like the team that was a trendy pick to challenge Wisconsin for a conference title at the beginning of the season.

Outside of the doubleheaders, the Hoosiers will avoid trips to the Xfinity Center, Value City Arena, and Mackey Arena -- three venues that account for 60% of Indiana's road losses in 2014-15. They'll also get Northwestern at home. As for the one-time road games, only the trips into the Mitten should scare Tom Crean's club that will return everyone (pending unlikely draft entries) in 2015-16. Two of the road-only trips will be to Happy Valley & Piscataway, places that hardly strike fear in the hearts of Big Ten basketball coaches.

So, to recap:

1. Indiana basketball will play a very favorable schedule in 2015-16 in the Big Ten.

2. They will likely return every player on the roster of significance.

3. Other Big Ten teams will face lots of roster turnover.

GO GO GO INDIANA FANS THIS IS WHAT YOU LIVE FOR LET'S START CREATING GO GO GO CRAZY MESSAGE BOARD EXPECTATIONS DELUSIONS HURRY RUN, RUN TO THE HILLS SHOUT THE GOOD NEWS TO ALL THAT CAN HEAR:

VILLAGERS, I COME WITH GOOD NEWS. TWENTY-FIFTEEN-SIXTEEN WILL BE THE YEAR INDIANA HANGS BANNER NUMBER SIX. LET US RECORD ANOTHER VERY BAD RAP SONG ABOUT IT AND PREPARE FOR THIS DAY. WE SHALL ERECT STATUES OF CREAN AND DANCE IN THE STREETS UPON THE END OF MARCH.

In honor of this schedule, let's play HOOSIER FAN FICTION. In the comments, please write in four sentences our less your craziest, most absurd expectations for the 2015-16. Tom Crean elected to Congress? Sure. Fred Glass fires a bottle rocket out of his hind quarters at the victory parade? Fine. Troy Williams releases a celebratory mixtape with Bun B & Slim Thug after hitting the game winner in Houston? HELL YES.