Indiana basketball couldn't have asked for a much better start to the 2026-27 season. The Hoosiers cruised to a 91-57 victory over Eastern Illinois in Monday night's season opener, showcasing an efficient offense and a balanced attack under head coach Darian DeVries.

Now, Indiana (1-0) will look to keep things rolling when Bellarmine (0-1) comes to town Thursday night for a 6 p.m. ET tipoff. The Knights are coming off a disappointing 93-47 loss to Vanderbilt, making this another favorable matchup for the Hoosiers as they continue building chemistry early in the season. As of right now, IU is favored by about 23 points over the Knights.

The Hoosiers were impressive offensively against Eastern Illinois, shooting 50 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from beyond the arc while scoring 91 points.

Point guard Markus Burton led the charge with 19 points and five assists, immediately establishing himself as a key piece of Indiana's offensive attack. His ability to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates should be a major advantage against Bellarmine.

Indiana also received solid production on the glass, finishing with 34 rebounds. Samet Yigitoglu led the team with seven boards, and his presence inside could be especially important against a Bellarmine squad that managed just 20 rebounds in its opener. He will have a decided size advantage.

The biggest question for Indiana might be whether it can continue playing efficiently while improving its ball movement. The Hoosiers recorded 13 assists against Eastern Illinois but will undoubtedly want that number to climb as the season progresses.

Things couldn't have gone much worse for Bellarmine in its opener against Vanderbilt.

The Knights scored just 47 points while shooting 37 percent from the field and 23.8 percent from three-point range. They also committed 23 turnovers, an alarming number heading into another matchup against a Power Four opponent.

DeMarcus Surratt led Bellarmine with nine points, while Grant Neal contributed four rebounds and Tyler Doyle recorded three assists.

Those numbers don't exactly suggest that Bellarmine will have enough firepower to challenge Indiana, especially if the Hoosiers establish themselves defensively and capitalize on turnovers.

Thursday's matchup is less about the opponent and more about Indiana continuing to develop its identity.

DeVries has assembled a talented roster, but chemistry and consistency will take time. The Hoosiers have an opportunity to build confidence, improve their offensive execution and establish better defensive habits before the competition becomes considerably tougher.

Anything short of another comfortable victory would be surprising, but the most important takeaway will be how Indiana looks while getting there.