The Indiana Hoosiers head into the regular season final against Ohio State with everything on the line. The Hoosiers are tentatively slated in the "Last Four In" category in Joe Lunardi's latest bracket projection, and road win over the Buckeyes would drastically help their tournament resume.
Post-NFL Combine Indiana Mock Draft: Where every Hoosier will end up
As Darian DeVries prepares his team for a pivotal Big Ten matchup in Columbus, the latest injury update regarding one of Ohio State's key players has IU fans sweating.
Ohio State's Brandon Noel could possibly play on Saturday vs Indiana
Ohio State senior forward Brandon Noel sustained a foot injury against Nebraska back on January 5, and he has not played since. He's missed 16 straight games, but he appears to be nearing a return to the hardwood.
According to CBS Sports College Basketball Insider Jon Rothstein, Noel is now considered day-to-day and there seems to be a possibility that he suits up on Saturday.
Ohio State's Brandon Noel (foot) is now being listed as day-to-day, per Jake Diebler.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 6, 2026
Has not played since 1/5.
Averages 7.4 PPG and 4.1 RPG.
Buckeyes host Indiana on Saturday in Columbus.
Noel spent three seasons as a starter at Wright State before transferring to Columbus to play for the Buckeyes for his senior season. He averaged 19.0 points and 7.7 rebounds for the Raiders last season, and while his role is a bit different at Ohio State, he has still been impressive when healthy.
Through 14 games, he's been in the starting lineup 10 times and is averaging 7.4 points and 4.1 rebounds while seeing just over 20 minutes of action per game. In addition, he leads Ohio State with an impressive shooting percentage of 64.3%.
Noel's status of day-to-day leaves his status for Saturday's tilt up in the air. If he is able to go, it gives the Hoosiers one more thing to worry about.
Indiana needs a win in the worst way possible, as a four-game losing streak in February severley hindered IU's NCAA Tournament hopes. After getting back on track with a monster 30-point win over Minnesota earlier this week, picking up a road win over the Buckeyes would move the Hoosiers to 10-10 in Big Ten play and give them another Q1 road win to boost their resume. That could be the difference in making the big dance and missing out on the tournament for a third straight year.