Indiana Basketball: Hoosiers listed as team “with work to do” on ESPN

The Indiana basketball program is looking to make its way back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2016.

A team that has seemingly been on the bubble, and making its way off, since early January, Indiana basketball is an enigma that is difficult to understand this season.

With some of the best wins in the country, Marquette (by 23), Louisville (by 1), and @ Michigan State (by 4), Indiana is still “on the bubble” and has work to do to solidify their position in the NCAA Tournament.

According to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, the Hoosiers are listed as a team “with work to do” coming down the stretch of the season.

After losing back-to-back home games against No. 20 Iowa, and Ohio State by a total of eight points, two possible resume bolstering wins fell to the side.

Because the Big Ten is so competitive, finishing with a sub .500 record can still mean a tournament bid.

As of now, Indiana is sitting at 4-9 in the Big Ten, ranked tied for 10th in the conference. With four of their next five games against ranked opponents, and the other against a projected tournament team in Minnesota, there is still plenty of opportunity left for a team that has “work to do”.

ESPN’s Bubble Watch has Indiana’s magic number at five more wins to have a good chance of making it in the dance, but of course it still matters what other teams on the bubble do around them.

As long as Indiana can get to an 8-12 or 9-11 record in the Big Ten, and win a game in the Big Ten Tournament, then their resume may be placed at the top of the at-large bids fighting on the bubble.