Indiana fans are buying into Darian DeVries’ reset in a big way.
The Hoosiers have gone without an NCAA Tournament bid since 2023, and by the time the next bracket is set, that drought would stretch to four years. That’s the latest chapter in a problem that has followed Indiana through multiple seasons and multiple coaching changes.
Mike Woodson’s run started with back-to-back tournament trips, then ended with back-to-back misses. Before him, Archie Miller never got Indiana into the field in four seasons, with the cancelled 2020 event carrying an asterisk.
DeVries was hired to change that story, but his first season didn’t solve it. A late-season slide knocked Indiana out of tournament contention. Even so, the fanbase appears convinced this new version of the Hoosiers can get the job done.
Last week, we asked Hoosier fans whether they believe Indiana will make the NCAA Tournament this season, and 95% answered “yes”.
That’s a strong show of faith in DeVries and the roster rebuild he put together. It also suggests the fanbase sees enough promise in the new look to believe the program can finally get back where it wants to be.
There’s even a little more optimism in the betting market. Indiana is listed at +6500 to win the national championship next April at FanDuel Sportsbook, sitting just behind LSU, Miami, Gonzaga, Louisville and UCLA.
Those are still long odds, no question. But for a program trying to get back to the tournament in the first place, simply being mentioned in the championship conversation is a step in the right direction.
In Other News...
Indiana Faces A Huge USC Test With National Respect On The Line
Indiana gets another chance to prove its rise is for real when USC comes to Memorial Stadium for a top-20 matchup in Bloomington. The Hoosiers are sitting at No. 4 with an 8-1 record, and the Trojans arrive ranked No. 20 at 7-2, giving this one the kind of national-stage feel Indiana has spent all season trying to earn.
It is also the first meeting since USC joined the Big Ten, which adds a little extra intrigue to a game that already has plenty riding on it. The betting line has Indiana favored by about a touchdown, but rankings and odds only matter so much when a program is trying to protect its place in the national conversation and keep building momentum in November. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Faces An Early Test Against A Team That Keeps Pushing Back
Indianas first real measuring-stick game of the season arrives quickly, with Syracuse bringing a 2-0 record into Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for a matchup that should tell a lot about both teams. The Orange are already under the direction of first-year coach Gerry McNamara, a familiar name in Syracuse circles after a decorated playing career there and a run of school records that still hangs over the program.
For Indiana, the challenge is less about the venue than the style of opponent. Syracuse has already shown it can keep games moving in its direction early in the year, and the historical backdrop between these programs only adds a little more edge to a nonconference meeting that has enough intrigue to feel bigger than a routine November date. The Hoosiers get a chance to answer some early questions, while Syracuse gets another shot to show McNamaras version of the Orange can travel and compete with a high-major team on a neutral floor. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Just Gave Indiana A Huge New Big Ten Opening
Ohio States slide in the AP Top 25 has created a fresh opening in the Big Ten race, and Indiana has every reason to pay attention. The Buckeyes landed at No. 21 after their third loss of the season, their lowest ranking since 2014, a drop that reflects how much ground they have lost in a conference picture they once seemed to control.
For Indiana, the bigger takeaway is what this does to the leagues path to the College Football Playoff. Ohio States hopes now appear to hinge on winning the Big Ten Championship, and even then the Buckeyes no longer control their own fate. It is a notable shift for a program that has been a regular playoff presence under Ryan Day, and it opens the door a little wider for everyone else in the conference. [Read more 🡒]