Admittedly, it may come across as a back-handed compliment, but Tom Izzo may have a point in all this. In the immediate aftermath of the Michigan State Spartans defeating the Indiana Hoosiers over the weekend, he tipped his cap to Darian DeVries' squad by giving them credit. He is firmly of the belief that this middling 17-12 (8-10) Indiana team belongs in the field of 68 after Sunday's game.
Izzo did not beat around the bush with his post-game commentary on how he feels about Indiana.
"You know, everybody asks me, 'Are they good enough to be in the tournament?' Read my lips. Hell, yes. You know, somebody's gotta lose some of these games. The league is so good."
The Big Ten is a bloodbath, but this comment from Izzo does feel a bit patronizing for Indiana fans.
Tom Izzo believes Indiana is an NCAA Tournament team:
— Jared Kelly (@Jared_Kelly7) March 1, 2026
"Everybody asks me, 'Are they good enough to be in the tournament?'
"Read my lips: hell yes." #iubb pic.twitter.com/EnykTFDXBC
Indiana was the last team in following Joe Lunardi's latest Bracketology update for ESPN on Friday...
Tom Izzo wants the Indiana Hoosiers to make March Madness this spring
While Izzo may be one of the most respected head coaches in men's college basketball, Indiana has a rather flimsy NCAA Tournament resume to even begin with. As stated above, Indiana fell to 17-12 on the season and 8-10 in Big Ten play in the wake of the home loss to Michigan State. Yes, it may have been a Quad 1 game, but Indiana has now stumbled to a terrible 2-11 in games of that designation.
While their NET rating was a commendable 38 entering play this past weekend, that could drop into the low to mid-40s. If that is the case, Indiana may go from the last team in, to one of the first four or next four out. With only a Quad 2 home game vs. Minnesota and a Quad 1 road date at Ohio State left before the Big Ten Tournament, Indiana might need to win both to improve its chances of making it in.
Overall, Izzo saying that Indiana belongs in the field because the Big Ten is a tough league and somebody has to lose these games really does not help the Hoosiers' case. Yes, winning this game at home over Michigan State was never going to be easy. In reality, Indiana's March Madness dreams may have died at the buzzer at the hands of Northwestern last week. Indiana has run out of gas here.
If Indiana makes the NCAA Tournament, it will be because it went on a run in the Big Ten Tournament.