If it happens, Darian DeVries will gladly take it! The Indiana Hoosiers are playing with fire down the stretch when it comes to making the NCAA Tournament. Indiana has lost four Big Ten games in a row to stumble to a middling 17-12 record overall and an 8-10 mark in-conference. Yes, this is a bit of a tough stretch on the Hoosiers' schedule, but quality teams do not lose at home to Northwestern...
However, Indiana is on the right side of the ledger when it comes to the world of Bracketology for at least another update... ESPN's Joe Lunardi has the Hoosiers as the last team in the field of 68 for the second update in a row. Indiana is seeded right behind Santa Clara, Ohio State, and New Mexico in that grouping, but just ahead of Auburn, San Diego State, VCU, and Virginia Tech as the first four out.
For whatever reason, Lunardi keeps giving this team and this fanbase a sliver of hope that IU will make the NCAA Tournament. With their NET rating plummeting to 41, what has Indiana done under DeVries that merits the Hoosiers being included in March Madness? They are an atrocious 2-11 in Quad 1 games. While they are 15-1 in their other combined 16 games, Indiana only handles cannon fodder.
If not for the home upset of Purdue months ago, Indiana would be nowhere close to making the field.
Indiana has two more opportunities to prove Joe Lunardi right this year
Looking ahead to who Indiana has to play in the final week of the regular season, the Hoosiers have a Quad 2 home date with an improving Minnesota team. Indiana will then finish the regular season at a tournament-hopeful Ohio State team with potentially an at-large bid on the line. Ohio State is the second of the last four teams to make the field right now, ahead of only New Mexico and ... Indiana...
To put it as simply as possible, Indiana has to beat Minnesota at home. Otherwise, the Hoosiers may need to win the Big Ten Tournament to make the field of 68. They cannot afford another Quad 2 loss when it comes to their increasingly flimsy resume as is. As far as the Ohio State Quad 1 road game is concerned, a win over the Buckeyes should get IU into the field of play. The loser is not making it in...
Overall, the Big Ten is projected to get 10 teams into the tournament. However, it might be closer to nine teams, based on the winner of Indiana at Ohio State effectively knocking the loser well below the cut line. It should be noted both Los Angeles schools in-conference are in and around the bubble. UCLA is one of the last four bye teams, whereas USC is the very first team among the next four out.
While UCLA feels safe and USC is likely out of it, Indiana vs. Ohio State could be for all the marbles.