There are four home classics with the Warriors playing two contests in each.  The marquee event will bring two powerhouse programs – Southern Idaho and Northwest Florida State – to the Hellyer Center for back-to-back challenges Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.

"We tried to put together the most challenging schedule possible, it was as simple as that," Plona explained.  "There are a lot of schools that try to 'schedule smart,' with games that look challenging on paper but the coach thinks they have a great chance to win.  We threw that thought process in the trash can and decided to 'schedule tough.'"  The IHCC coach said he wants his players to have a Division I-level experience when they play at Indian Hills and there is no better way to do that, he adds, than to play 30 very demanding games that will force the Warriors to grow as a team and improve throughout the year.

The schedule begins with three straight games against strong programs from the Jayhawk Conference in Kansas, one of them on the road at Coffeyville, and follows with two more out-of-state teams coming to the Hellyer Center in Howard (Tex.) and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.  Following a home game with the first Iowa opponent, Ellsworth, the Warriors head to Scottsbluff, Neb. for a Thanksgiving weekend tourney and then get set for the rugged one-two punch they'll face the next weekend.  Southern Idaho and Northwest Florida will both be preseason top-five teams Plona predicted.

Before starting ICCAC play on Jan. 12 on their home floor against Northeast Nebraska, the Warriors will face four straight road tests.  They'll take on Southern Idaho as part of a two-game trip to Twin Falls, Ida. and will square off with Missouri State-West Plains in one of two contests in Missouri the first weekend in January.

"We are playing true road games at Coffeyville, Western Nebraska, Moberly (Mo.), Southern Idaho and West Plains," Plona points out, "and that will prepare us for road league games as well as anything we can do."  To make it to Hutch and a sixth consecutive national tournament berth, Plona notes IHCC would have to win a true road game in North Dakota and he feels this schedule prepares them for that possibility as well.

Indian Hills was 33-1 last year and returns two key players from that squad, guards Tomas Woldetensae and Devontae Lane.  The record included a perfect 21-0 ledger at home.  "Warrior Nation was awesome last year," the coach said, "and there is no better experience at our level than being an Indian Hills Warrior and playing in front of a full Hellyer Center.  We appreciate all the support from our outstanding sponsors and devoted fans, and look forward to another outstanding year of Indian Hills basketball."

The season-opener is Nov. 2 against Butler (Kans.) CC, followed by a meeting with Independence (Kans.) the next night, both games part of the Financial Partners Classic.

Season tickets for the 2018-19 home schedule are currently on sale in the athletic office at the Hellyer Center.

Indian Hills schedule notes:

• 18 home games, 8 of them coming in four classics

• 12 away games, including 9 true road contests

• Play 14 teams that won at least 21 games last year, meeting all but one of them twice (total of 20 games)

• Face only two teams that had losing records last year

• Meet six teams that played in either the Division I or Division II national tournament last year, including DII national champ Triton (Ill.)

• 16 of 30 games will be on Saturday, 7 on Friday, 4 on Wednesday, 2 on Tuesday and one Thursday game

• Take on teams from 11 different states

• 7 home-and-home matchups

• Play only NJCAA teams (DI, DII, DIII) for the 7th year in a row