A lot can happen between now and the end of the season, but all signs point to Darian DeVries and the Indiana Hoosiers making the field of 68. On the year, IU is 17-8 overall and 8-6 in Big Ten play. The Hoosiers have saved their best basketball for the home stretch. They have rattled off back-to-back wins over Wisconsin and Oregon over the course of three days to improve their standings in all this.
However, Indiana fans may have a bone to pick with ESPN's Joe Lunardi. In the latest Bracketology update, he has Indiana staying put as a No. 9 seed. While being a No. 9 seed means a team is comfortably in the tournament, this stops the recent upward trajectory of the Hoosiers' climb. Indiana had been on the bubble only a few weeks ago. Why is it that IU did not move up in this latest update?
Well, neither Wisconsin or Oregon were Quad 1 wins... While the narrow home victory over Wisconsin will help, it was only a Quad 2 victory. As for the Oregon drubbing, that was a Quad 3 victory for the Hoosiers. Indiana has six games left, including three vs. ranked opponents. As long as they avoid a major slip-up or two, Indiana should comfortably make the field. However, they may not climb higher.
Indiana would face No. 8 Villanova in the first round of the Greenville quadrant of the East Region.
Indiana Hoosiers were not rewarded for beating two teams in three days
This is one of those situations that makes sense on paper, but maybe not upstairs. Beating Wisconsin and Oregon at home were largely expected outcomes for the Hoosiers. Where their fate will be had is in how they play vs. Quad 1 teams in Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State, and Ohio State. All but the Michigan State game will be on the road. These also have Quad 3's with Northwestern and Minnesota.
Overall, Indiana likely makes the NCAA Tournament field should it hold serve with wins over Northwestern and Minnesota. Should it pick up one more Quad 1 victory over either Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State, or Ohio State, that could be gravy on top. For now, Indiana has avoided major road bumps along the way of its challenging Big Ten schedule. This team is good, but how great is it really?
Ultimately, Indiana would be a dangerous team entering the NCAA Tournament. Again, the Hoosiers are playing some of their best basketball down the stretch. This team is gaining confidence with each passing Big Ten contest. That could make the prime to upset someone in the field of 68. However, they are going to need another Quad 1 win to have any hopes of being a top-eight seed or better.
For now, Indiana has put together a compelling enough of a resume to merit inclusion into the field.