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Indiana Basketball: Big Ten tournament preview, Hoosiers face tough draw

By Adam Childs

BLOOMINGTON, IN - FEBRUARY 13: An Indiana Hoosiers cheerleader is seen during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Assembly Hall on February 13, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - FEBRUARY 13: An Indiana Hoosiers cheerleader is seen during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Assembly Hall on February 13, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Indiana basketball
Indiana basketball. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Sleepers

Michigan

The Wolverines have had a very up and down season. They swept through the Battle 4 Atlantis, taking out Gonzaga by double-digits in the final (one of only two losses the Zags have). They also lost seven of 11 at one point, when their star player Isaiah Livers went down with an injury.

They are led by Zavier Simpson and Jon Teske who have both broke records for most wins at Michigan and they don’t lack experience. Simpson led the Wolverines to back-to-back Big Ten tournament championships in 2017 and 2018. That experience alone could help them in this tournament. They also have both Maryland and Michigan State on the other side of the bracket. Two teams that the Wolverines don’t match up well with. The Wolverines might not be playing the best but they are 4-0 on neutral courts this year and have already won a tough tournament. Don’t count this team out.

Indiana

Most people might laugh at the Hoosiers being a sleeper, but there always seems to be a team out of nowhere that makes a run and Indiana could be it. They are streaky team, but that is the type of team that can get red-hot and rolls off a bunch of wins in a row to make a run.

The Hoosiers have also shown they can play with anyone in the conference and have pulled off a bunch of ranked wins. They have beat Iowa, Penn State, Ohio State, and Michigan State. Not to mention they took both Maryland and Wisconsin down to the wire. Confidence against these teams won’t be a problem. Now if they can just avoid their patented scoring slumps, they could make a run.

Related Story. Joe Lunardi continues to disrespect Hoosiers. light

Illinois

The Illini looked like the best team in the conference not too long ago, but then they fell back down to earth when they lost four straight games in early February. But since then they have won five of six to clinch the number four seed in the tournament. Normally a top-four seed wouldn’t be a sleeper, but not many people are talking about the Illini, which makes it perfect for them to sneak up on teams.

Illinois is led by Ayo Dosunmu and star freshman Kofi Cockburn who has been dominant inside. The Illini play some of the toughest defense in the conference and will be a tough out for anybody they play.

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