Indiana Hoosiers All-Time Round-by-Round Record in NCAA Tournament

Indiana Hoosiers fans have long been treated to elite basketball, but have yet to return to the program’s championship heights of the Bobby Knight Era for the past few decades.

This time around, the responsibility of carrying the aching Big Ten again falls on their shoulders; the Hoosiers rank as the conference’s second-highest seed behind the top-seeded Purdue Boilermakers.

Will any Big Ten team reach the Final Four in 2023? That’s on Zach Edey, sure, but it’s also on Jalen Hood-Schifino and Trayce Jackson-Davis, a duo with as much star quality as any in the tourney.

If Indiana’s able to channel the energy of their program’s ghosts, perhaps these Hoosiers will be able to make a run befitting of their tournament history.

Indiana Hoosiers all-time NCAA tournament record

The tournament, of course, expanded to 64 teams beginning in 1985. The first modern tournament Indiana participated in was 1986, which didn’t go so well, resulting in a loss to 14-seeded Cleveland State.

But if the Hoosiers make it out of the first round, they traditionally have a great shot to reach the Sweet 16 (including early years where the tournament began with fewer teams).

First Four: 1-0 (in 2022)
Round of 64: 15-11 (one bye in 1982)
Round of 32: 17-6
Sweet 16: 10-12
Elite 8: 8-3
Final 4: 6-2
NCAA Final: 5-1

What is the Indiana Hoosiers’ Sweet 16 record?

The Indiana Hoosiers are a remarkably average 10-12 in Sweet 16 play, which is their largest stumbling block in their tournament history. If they win their first round battle, they’re overwhelmingly likely to advance to the second weekend, but once they get there…

Notable losses include a one-pointer to Villanova in 1978-79, where Mike Woodson scored 24 points.

What is the Indiana Hoosiers’ Elite 8 record?

The Hoosiers are also 8-3 in the Elite 8, only falling in 1975, 1984 and 1993. Those losses came at the hands of Kentucky (ghastly), Virginia (after stifling Michael Jordan), and No. 2 seed Kansas (but it could’ve all been different if they hadn’t lost Alan Henderson late in the year).

What is the Indiana Hoosiers’ Final Four record?

Let the Hoosiers into the Final 4, and there’s a 75% chance they’re advancing to the Final. Once they’re in, there’s an 83% chance they’re winning it all. Indiana is 6-2 in Final Four matchups and 5-1 in title games.