Indiana Basketball: Hoosiers climb into ESPN’s way too early top 25

The Indiana basketball team is starting to get some recognition as ESPN has moved the Hoosiers into the top 25 of their way too early rankings.

Earlier this week ESPN updated their way too early top 25. Since the publishing of the rankings, the Hoosiers took a hit when Justin Smith decided to graduate and transfer somewhere else. There has been some news coming out that Smith had said he wasn’t going to return, but it became official on Friday.

With Smith, ESPN had moved the Hoosiers up from unranked to 23, one spot behind fellow Big Ten foe Ohio State. Indiana was joined in the top 25 by conference teams Iowa at five, Wisconsin at seven, Michigan State at ten, and Rutgers at 25. The Michigan Wolverines have also moved into the next in line spot.

It is another strong showing from the Big Ten who was by far the best conference in the country last year and look like they could be just as good this year. The Hawkeyes could be a national contender if Luka Garza in fact returns to Iowa after putting his name in the early entry list for the NBA draft.

The sudden jump by the Hoosiers comes on the heels of Khristian Lander making it official that he will don an Indiana uniform next year. He reclassified to the 2020 class and will be in Bloomington next year.

The loss of Smith could hurt but the Hoosiers have Jerome Hunter ready to take his place and with the way he has developed it may be an upgrade. It Hunter or Race Thompson can step up this team is a legitimate top 20 team and could contend for the top of the Big Ten.

There are still a lot of questions heading into the season, but the excitement in Bloomington is really starting to build.