Indiana Hoosiers Building March Momentum with Key Wins, Bracketology Boost
Don’t look now, but the Indiana Hoosiers are starting to hit their stride-and the timing couldn’t be better. After struggling early in the season against top-tier competition, Indiana has flipped the script with back-to-back statement wins over Big Ten rivals that carry real weight in the eyes of the selection committee.
The first of those came in a five-point home win over archrival Purdue-a game that didn’t just light up Assembly Hall, it sent ripples across the entire Big Ten. That was followed by an even gutsier performance: a road win in overtime against UCLA.
Winning on the road in college basketball is never easy, but doing it against a team with tournament pedigree? That’s the kind of win that sticks in the minds of bracketologists.
And speaking of brackets, Indiana is now trending firmly in the right direction. In the latest update from ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, the Hoosiers are no longer sitting on the bubble-they’re in the field, and they’re not just sneaking in.
Indiana currently holds a spot in the “Last Four Byes” category, a sign that they’re on solid footing, at least for now. They’re slotted as a No. 10 seed, projected to face No.
7 Auburn in the Portland quadrant of the West Region.
That’s a significant turnaround for a team that had been just 0-6 in Quad 1 games not long ago. Now, at 15-7 overall and 6-5 in Big Ten play, Indiana has improved to 2-6 in those crucial Quad 1 matchups. Add in a 1-1 mark in Quad 2 games and a perfect 12-0 record against Quad 3 and Quad 4 opponents, and the résumé is starting to take shape.
It’s also a testament to what head coach Darian DeVries is building in Bloomington. His team is beginning to show signs of cohesion and confidence, and with nine regular-season conference games left before the Big Ten Tournament, the opportunity is there to keep climbing.
Here’s what’s ahead: five more games against Quad 1 opponents, two against Quad 2, and two more against Quad 3. The math to 20 wins won’t be easy-it likely requires Indiana to sweep their remaining Quad 2 and Quad 3 games and steal at least one more Quad 1 win. But the blueprint is clear, and the Hoosiers have already shown they can execute it.
That overtime win at UCLA? It wasn’t just gutsy-it proved Indiana can win in tough environments.
That should give them confidence heading into another road test against USC. If they can grab that one, or any additional Quad 1 win, they’ll be sitting pretty come Selection Sunday-especially if they avoid any slip-ups against lower-tier teams.
The home stretch includes matchups with Wisconsin, Oregon, Northwestern, and Minnesota-all at Assembly Hall. Those are must-win games now.
The lone remaining Quad 1 home game is a March 1 showdown with Michigan State. Holding serve at home is non-negotiable at this point.
Anything extra they can pick up on the road? That’s house money.
Bottom line: Indiana is trending up at the right time. With a few more key wins and no bad losses, this team has a real shot to not just make the tournament, but enter it with momentum. The pieces are coming together-and if the Hoosiers keep playing like this, they won’t just be in the dance, they’ll be a team no one wants to see in March.