Indiana Basketball: Hoosiers back in the at-large discussion

With their win against No. 6 Michigan State, Indiana Basketball puts themselves right back in the bubble conversation.

Despite a 3-12 record over their last 15 games, Indiana basketball has now moved back into the at-large bid conversation for the NCAA Tournament.

Following back-to-back wins over No. 19 Wisconsin and No. 6 Michigan State, the Hoosiers now have four top 25 wins, as well as wins over Louisville and Butler.

With their first consecutive wins over top 25 teams since 2015-16, Indiana is now playing their “best” basketball at the right time of the season.

Following their win today, Indiana now as the fourth strongest strength of schedule according to KenPom’s rankings.

With 15 Quad 1 games played, and now with six Quad 1 wins, second most in the NCAA, Indiana is now a team that can play its way back in the tournament with a couple of wins to finish out the season.

As for the history of 15 loss teams making it in the NCAA Tournament? Alabama (2017-18) is the only team to make the NCAA Tournament with 15 losses, as an at-large bid. Indiana sits at 15-14 currently.

With games against Rutgers and Illinois to end their regular season, the Hoosiers should (hopefully) be 17-14 entering the Big Ten tournament. If they are able to reach that mark, at 8-12 in conference, they will be nine seed in the conference tournament.

As it stands, Indiana would have the opportunity to play either Ohio State or Minnesota in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament, with a then third matchup against either Michigan State or Michigan in the quarterfinals.

If Indiana can reach the 18 or 19 win mark, with the resume that they have already, it may be tough to keep them out, despite having a possible 15 losses, marking a first in NCAA Tournament history.