Do not be shocked to see the Indiana Hoosiers climb up even higher in future Bracketology updates. After having a little bit of a tough go with it in Quad 1 play, Indiana has won back-to-back games over Big Ten teams of that designation. Their five-point home win over arch rival Purdue sent shockwaves through the league. The Hoosiers backed it up with an impressive overtime road victory over UCLA.
And that leads us to Bracketology... In the latest update, ESPN's Joe Lunardi has Indiana not only comfortably in the field, but they are the first team mentioned in the Last Four Byes section. Along with UCLA, the Hoosiers are joined by New Mexico and Miami firmly above the cut line. Lunardi has Indiana as a No. 10 seed taking on a No. 7 Auburn team in the Portland quadrant of the West Region.
On the season, Indiana is now 15-7 overall and 6-5 in Big Ten play. They have improved to 2-6 in Quad 1 games with back-to-back wins over Purdue and UCLA. They are 1-1 in Quad 2 games, but a combined 12-0 vs. Quad 3 and Quad 4 opponents. With the Hoosiers starting to peak at the right time, it just goes to show the importance of having a galvanizing force on the sidelines at head coach.
Let's take a slightly deeper look into what Darian DeVries' team needs to do to make the tournament.
Indiana Hoosiers are creeping closer to a likely NCAA Tournament bid
With nine conference games left before the Big Ten Tournament, Indiana has five more games vs. Quad 1 teams, two against Quad 2 opponents, and two vs. Quad 3 teams. While getting to 20 wins could be challenging, that would require beating all four Quad 2 and 3 opponents left, as well as taking a third Quad 1 game. The good news is Indiana has shown it can win away from Bloomington.
That one-point road victory in overtime over UCLA suggests that beating USC in Los Angeles is not out of the realm of possibility. Should IU pick up that win, or any more Quad 1 wins, this team should make the tournament quite easily, so long as it does not drop a Quad 2 or 3 to counterbalance in the negative. Games vs. Wisconsin, Oregon, Northwestern and Minnesota all at home are must-wins now.
At this point in time, the only Quad 1 game at home Indiana has left on the schedule is vs. Michigan State on March 1. Again, as long as the Hoosiers protect their home court in their four other games of note, this should be a tournament team. Anything they do away from Assembly Hall will only create wiggle room for the Hoosiers to comfortably make the field. It is great to see this team finally jelling.
Just when it looked like Indiana may be sitting this year's tournament out, look at where they are now!