Indiana basketball fans are feeling the sting of another missed March Madness. The Hoosiers have now fallen short of the NCAA Tournament in eight of the last ten years, marking three consecutive years without a ticket to the dance.
The first year under coach Darian DeVries ended in frustration, with the Hoosiers stumbling to a 1-6 finish and an early exit against 15th-seeded Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament. This loss dashed any hopes of a March Madness appearance.
Adding salt to the wound, Hoosier fans watch as other Big Ten teams shine on the big stage.
Big Ten Dominance in March Madness
The Sweet Sixteen lineup is locked, and the Big Ten is making waves. With nine teams initially in the tournament, six have advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, more than any other conference. The SEC trails with four teams.
The Big Ten boasts a stellar 13-3 record in the tournament, leading all conferences with a .813 win percentage. Their Round of 32 performance was nearly flawless, with only UCLA's loss to UConn marring an otherwise perfect round.
Pressure Mounts on DeVries for Year 2
DeVries wrapped up his debut season in Bloomington with an 18-14 record, including a 9-11 mark in conference play. Despite being on the tournament bubble, the Hoosiers failed to seize their opportunities to impress the selection committee.
As DeVries heads into his second year, the pressure is mounting. IU fans are eager for a return to March glory, and other Big Ten coaches have shown quick success. Ben McCollum has led Iowa to their first Sweet Sixteen since 1999, Dusty May has Michigan as a No. 1 seed and national title favorite, and Fred Hoiberg has guided Nebraska to its first-ever NCAA Tournament win and a Sweet Sixteen spot.
With the Hoosiers once again on the sidelines, the success of their conference rivals only heightens the urgency for improvement in the 2026-27 season.