Indiana basketball is starting to heat up at just the right time. Winners of five of their last seven, the Hoosiers are making a late-season push that’s giving their NCAA tournament hopes a serious lift. And while their résumé still has some rough edges, there’s no question they’re trending in the right direction.
Let’s break it down.
Where Indiana Stands Right Now
At 17-9 overall and 8-7 in Big Ten play, Indiana sits 10th in a conference that’s expected to send a large contingent to the Big Dance. The Big Ten has been a grinder all season, and even teams in the middle of the standings have a legitimate shot at hearing their name called on Selection Sunday.
The Hoosiers are currently ranked 34th in the NCAA’s NET Rankings - a key metric the selection committee leans on when evaluating and seeding teams. That’s a solid spot, but it comes with a caveat: Indiana is just 2-8 against Quad 1 opponents.
Those are the top-tier games - the kind that separate the contenders from the bubble teams. On the bright side, Indiana hasn’t stumbled against any Quad 3 or Quad 4 opponents, which means they’ve avoided the kind of bad losses that can sink a tournament résumé.
The Road Ahead
The good news for Indiana? Opportunity is knocking.
The remaining schedule is packed with chances to pick up quality wins. That includes a high-stakes road trip to face Purdue, one of the top teams in the country.
A win there would be a massive résumé boost. After that, Indiana hosts Northwestern, Michigan State, and Minnesota before closing the regular season on the road at Ohio State.
That’s a stretch that offers a mix of winnable games and statement opportunities - exactly what a bubble team needs.
And then comes the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago. That’s where teams like Indiana can really change the narrative. A deep run there could not only lock up a spot in the field but also improve their seeding.
What the Bracketologists Are Saying
Right now, Indiana is sitting in a relatively safe - but still fluid - position in most projections:
- ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has Indiana outside the “last four in,” which is a good sign, though he hasn’t assigned them a specific seed in his latest update.
- Hoops HQ’s Brad Wachtel places IU among the “last four byes,” slating them as a No. 11 seed in the East Region.
- CBS Sports projects a No. 9 seed, also in the East.
- On3’s James Fletcher III bumps them up to a No. 8 seed in the South Region.
- TeamRankings.com gives Indiana a 98% chance of making the field, pegging them as a No. 10 seed.
- College Football News also has them at a No.
So, while there’s still work to be done, Indiana is firmly in the conversation - and not just as a fringe team.
Key Dates to Watch
Here’s what’s left on the regular-season calendar:
- Feb. 20 (Fri) - at Purdue, 8 p.m.
ET, Fox
- **Feb.
24 (Tues)** - vs. Northwestern, 7 p.m.
ET, FS1
- March 1 (Sun) - vs.
Michigan State, 3:45 p.m. ET, CBS
- March 4 (Wed) - vs. Minnesota, 6:30 p.m.
ET, BTN
- March 7 (Sat) - at Ohio State, 5:30 p.m.
ET, Fox
Then it’s on to the Big Ten Tournament from March 10-15 in Chicago - a final proving ground before the bracket is revealed.
Looking Ahead to March
Selection Sunday is set for March 15, when the 68-team NCAA Tournament field will be officially announced. For Indiana, the goal is clear: keep stacking wins and avoid any slip-ups. Do that, and they’ll not only secure a spot in the Big Dance - they might even climb a few seed lines.
And for Hoosier fans dreaming big? The Final Four lands in familiar territory this year - Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, April 4 and 6. There’s a long road between now and then, but Indiana’s recent surge has at least put them back on the map.
One thing’s for sure: the next few weeks are going to be fun.