'I think we're good enough to beat anybody in the country.' IU is about to find out.

Long before his first game as Indiana’s coach, Mike Woodson talked about matchups like Saturday’s.

“My thing is I like to get a team in position first before we start chasing the big boys,” Woodson said in May 2021. “I mean, I’m not afraid of competition… I want a team that’s competitive, and if we can play, get back to play the Kentuckys and the Kansases and teams of that nature before we get on to the Big Ten, I’m open for that.”

Indiana has already started Big Ten play this season, but the idea of Woodson’s point remains. Last season, Woodson’s first as IU’s head coach, was foundational. Now, the Hoosiers can and will play the big boys in their nonconference schedule. On Saturday, IU will embark on an arduous two-game stretch — vs. Arizona in Las Vegas and then at the defending national champion Kansas a week later.

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In the broad picture, the importance of this stretch is twofold. One, it gives Indiana a chance to validate it’s on the right track. And two, if Indiana wants to ascend back where it used to be, among the best programs in the country, it needs to prove it belongs in premier matchups like these.

“Well, it's good for our fanbase, number one, and if you've got a good enough team that can compete at that level, why not give it a shot,” Woodson said earlier this week.  “As a player and as a coach, I've never feared any team or any players, so I think we're good enough to beat anybody in the country if we commit for 40 minutes on both ends of the floor.”

This season, Indiana has given both reason to believe this team is capable of something special, but also enough traces of uncertainty to put into question whether it can be different than years past. Trayce Jackson-Davis, coming off a triple-double against Nebraska, has been playing at an All-American level. Xavier Johnson has still be inconsistent, but also put together some incredibly impressive stretches of play, like his performance in IU’s win at Xavier.

While that duo often spearheaded IU’s success last season, there have been signs of a more well-rounded team this season. Miller Kopp has emerged as the shooter Indiana needs him to be. As of late, Trey Galloway and Tamar Bates have been X-factors. The addition of highly-touted freshmen Malik Reneau and Jalen Hood-Schifino have made an undeniable impact.

There’s still, though, so much unknown about this team.

Indiana showed flashes of its former self in its disappointing performance against Rutgers, the Hoosiers’ only loss of the season to date. It felt as if IU was juggling what it wants to be with shades of its former self.

This season, four games especially stood out in nonconference schedule: Xavier (road), North Carolina (home), Arizona (neutral) and Kansas (road). Externally, it felt like if Indiana could go at least 2-2 in those games, it would be a success. Well, the Hoosiers are 2-0 so far in those games. Winning one or both of these next two games would feel like a massive statement that this team is for real.

That won’t likely come easily. No. 9 Arizona is legit. It enters Saturday with a 7-1 record, including capturing a Maui Invitational title. Arizona’s offense is potent, scoring better than 91 points per game. Not only that but the Wildcats are big. Their two leading scorers (points per game) — Ąžuolas Tubelis and Oumar Ballo — are listed at no shorter than 6-11. Guard Kerr Kriisa, who is averaging 12.8 points and 7.8 assists per game.

IU’s defense, which was really good last season and has been really good again this season, should be put to the test. Given Arizona’s dominant frontcourt, Saturday would be a good time for Race Thompson, who has struggled some this season, to shine. It should also important for Reneau to avoid foul trouble, which has been an issue for him this season.

Perhaps the biggest unknown hanging over Indiana right now is the status of Hood-Schifino. The talented freshman has missed the past two games (back). His size and length could be even more crucial in a game like Saturday’s. Plus, in the past two games, Johnson has struggled without Hood-Schifino.

“I think X, the fact that we have been training the last really six months now with two point guards, and we've kind of taken the ball out of X's hands a little bit,” Woodson said. “And (now) not having Jalen on the floor, it put it back in his hands in a dominant way, which is okay. But you've got to be smart about some of the things you're doing.”

If Indiana doesn’t have encouraging showings in these two games, it doesn’t mean it can’t eventually achieve its goals. But it might mean it’s further off than some hoped.

More broadly, this two-game stretch underscores IU’s aspirations to get back on top. A historical giant in the college basketball world, Indiana has slipped further away from consistent relevancy, but is now trying to claw its way back. Getting there requires not only playing on the big stage but also winning on it.

If it wasn’t clear enough that Indiana is here, an electronic buildboard in Las Vegas advertised the duo of matchups Saturday, including Arizona vs. Indiana. Part of it? An image of Jackson-Davis.

These were the types of matchups Woodson spoke about even before his first game as IU’s coach. Indiana has done enough to put itself in this position. Now, it’s about proving it on the court.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IU basketball vs. Arizona preview: Hoosiers get big test in Las Vegas