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Indiana Basketball: What Indiana needs to do to get an at-large bid

By Alec Lasley

BLOOMINGTON, IN - JANUARY 14: Romeo Langford #0 of the Indiana Hoosiers walks down the court after a turnover in the 66-51 loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Assembly Hall on January 14, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - JANUARY 14: Romeo Langford #0 of the Indiana Hoosiers walks down the court after a turnover in the 66-51 loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Assembly Hall on January 14, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 04: Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman #12 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 75-66 during the championship game of the Big 10 Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 4, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 04: Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman #12 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 75-66 during the championship game of the Big 10 Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 4, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

2. Win 1-2 games in the Big Ten Tournament

If the season were to end today, this is what the Big Ten Tournament would look like, and the route the Hoosiers would have.

Assuming the Hoosiers take care of business these next two games, a potential matchup with either Minnesota or Ohio State would await them, and the way Indiana is playing right now compared to how both teams above are stumbling across the finish line, I would favor the Hoosiers in that matchup.

Getting a win over either one of those two teams would certainly continue to push them up the list of bubble teams since most conferences don’t have their 8th and 9th seeds in the bubble conversation.

Then would come a matchup against the No. 1 seed – Purdue, Michigan or Michigan State.

As it looks now, Purdue has the easiest remaining schedule of the three teams, and quite honestly, that would be the best matchup for the Hoosiers.

It is hard enough beating a team twice in the same year, but three times? That is almost impossible.

If Indiana could sneak by Purdue (most likely) and give themselves another quad 1 victory plus another ranked win, Indiana would all but be locked in to an at-large bid.

Big Ten analyst Jon Crispin said it best,

"“I think they’re one of the most dangerous teams in the conference,e the way they’re playing”"

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