Indiana basketball fans got a reason to squint a little harder at preseason bracketology, and this time it comes with a number that matters.
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has Indiana in his initial NCAA Tournament projections as a No. 9 seed, a placement that would send the Hoosiers into a Round of 64 matchup with No. 8 Auburn. Auburn, of course, is coming off an NIT title last season, which makes that opener one worth circling right away.
Lunardi’s bracket has Indiana sitting in the South Region, where the path only gets sharper from there. The Hoosiers would be lined up in the same region as No. 1 overall seed Florida, with Central Arkansas and Howard projected to meet for the No. 16 seed. If Indiana advanced, a meeting with Florida in the Round of 32 would be waiting, and that would be a difficult draw for Darian DeVries’ team.
For a program that has missed the NCAA Tournament in eight of the last 10 years, simply being in the mix at this stage matters. Indiana spent much of last season on the bubble before a 1-6 finish slammed the door on its March Madness hopes. With the tournament expanding again, this year’s 76-team field leaves less room for excuses and more room for clean work.
That reality puts even more pressure on DeVries as he enters Year 2 in Bloomington. Missing the tournament again in 2026-27 would not sit well, especially with expectations rising in a larger bracket. In this setup, reaching March Madness feels less like a nice step forward and more like the baseline.
Indiana clearly tried to give itself a better shot. The Hoosiers added a transfer portal class with multiple players who bring high-major experience, a major shift from last year’s additions.
The frontcourt, in particular, looks upgraded with 6'11" power forward Aiden Sherrell from Alabama and 7'2" center Samet Yigitoglu from SMU. That area was a clear weakness a season ago, and both newcomers have the size and profile to change that quickly.
The freshmen group also carries some promise. Prince-Alexander Moody and Trevor Manhertz could both work their way into steady minutes right away. Add in returners Trent Sisley and Sam Alexis, and the roster looks more solid than it did at this point last year.
The pieces are there. Now it comes down to DeVries and his staff turning that talent into results. Indiana opens the season Monday, November 2 against Eastern Illinois at Assembly Hall.
In Other News...
Indiana Fans Have One Big Week 9 Concern As Playoff Push Continues
Indianas playoff push has been helped by one of the quieter themes of the season: the Hoosiers have stayed relatively healthy under Curt Cignetti, and that stability has given the roster a chance to settle in as the schedule has tightened. Even now, the Week 9 Big Ten injury report does not present a long list of concerns, with receiver Davion Chandler and defensive lineman Kellan Wyatt ruled out, while defensive back Quan Sanks is listed as questionable.
Josh Hoover is the name Hoosier fans are watching most closely, though, after he played through an injury in last weeks loss to Michigan and struggled to find his usual rhythm. He is expected to be available against Minnesota, which matters plenty for a team trying to keep its momentum intact, but the bigger question is whether he can look like himself as Indiana tries to keep its postseason path on track. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Sudden QB Problem Could Matter To Indiana Fans
Ohio State heads into its matchup with USC in an unfamiliar spot, preparing to play without starting quarterback Julian Sayin, who is out indefinitely with a throwing-arm injury. Ryan Day has not named a replacement, leaving freshmen Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair in the mix as the Buckeyes try to sort out a position that usually does not invite much drama this late in the season.
For Indiana fans, the ripple effect is obvious enough. A quarterback change in Columbus can alter the feel of the game for the Big Ten race, even if ESPNs College Football Power Index still sees Ohio State as a 13.4-point favorite. Whether the Buckeyes can lean on their defense and whether the next man up settles in quickly will go a long way toward determining how much this matchup shifts the leagues landscape. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Fans Just Got Another Reason To Believe In Aiden Sherrell
Aiden Sherrells move to Indiana already gave Hoosier fans a reason to track his next step, and now he has landed on the preseason watchlist for the 2027 Karl Malone Award. The honor goes to the top power forward in Division I mens basketball, so being included among the 20 candidates before the season even starts is a decent early sign of the respect he brings with him from Alabama, where he put together a notable college career and broke out as a sophomore.
The watchlist is just the first stage in a process that will tighten as the season unfolds, with the selection committee trimming the field along the way. Fans will get their turn soon enough, too, since voting opens on October 30, giving Indiana supporters another chance to put Sherrell on the radar as he begins his run in Bloomington. [Read more 🡒]