Hold on tightly because the final few weeks of the Indiana Hoosiers' season is going to be a wild ride! After struggling to some degree earlier on in Big Ten play, Darian DeVries' team seems to have finally found its footing. While it is coming off a tough six-point road loss at the USC Trojans, that was only a Quad 1 defeat. USC is probably going to make the NCAA Tournament, just like 15-8 (6-6) Indiana will.
In the latest Bracketology update, ESPN's Joe Lunardi actually has Indiana moving up a seed from a No. 10 seed to a No. 9 seed. Indiana has improved its seeding in each of the last three updates. This team has gone from being in and around the cut line, to firmly being in the field. The Hoosiers would face Utah State in the No. 8 vs. No. 9 game as part of the San Diego quadrant inside the West Region.
Admittedly, it is still a bit strange to see a team move up in seeding after suffering a loss. A few things have played into Indiana's hand here... The most important thing to realize beyond the USC loss being of immense quality is that its road loss to Minnesota from earlier in the year has improved. It is now of the Quad 1 variety, meaning Indiana has now only played one Quad 2 game this year vs. Washington.
With only eight games left in league play, what must Indiana do to ensure that it will make the field?
Indiana Hoosiers continue to rise after the latest Bracketology update
Looking ahead to what is still on Indiana's schedule, the Hoosiers have four Quad 1 games, two Quad 2 games, and two Quad 3 games. Five of their eight remaining games are at home, but only one of them falls into the Quad 1 bucket. That would be vs. Michigan State on March 1. Simply put, as long as Indiana wins its four other home games vs. Quad 2 or 3 opponents, the Hoosiers should make it in.
Of course, if Indiana were to drop one of the following four games, they would need to counter with either a Quad 1 win, or secure a victory in the Big Ten tournament. Right now, home vs. Wisconsin (Feb. 7), home vs. Oregon (Feb. 9), home vs. Northwestern (Feb. 24), and home vs. Minnesota (March 4), all feel like must-wins. The Minnesota game may be the one that decides Indiana's fate in all this.
Overall, Indiana needs to focus and win all of the remaining games it should. DeVries should not expect to see any of the Hoosiers' upcoming opponents move up a great deal in NET rating. Most of the home games will be manageable, while every remaining road game will be challenging. Should Indiana get to 19 regular-season wins, that should be more than enough to merit making the tourney.
For now, Indiana must protect home court vs. Wisconsin to prevent any of its momentum going away.