After another tough loss to Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament, Indiana's NCAA Tournament dreams are hanging by a thread. With a 1-6 record in their last seven outings, the Hoosiers are out of chances to bolster their tournament resume. Now, all they can do is hope that other bubble teams stumble, leaving a crack in the door for Indiana to slip into the dance.
Adding to Indiana's woes, Thursday brought a surprising twist in the MAC Tournament. UMass pulled off a stunning upset, defeating Miami 87-83 in the quarterfinals. This marked Miami's first loss of the season, dropping them to 31-1.
The upset has significant implications for Indiana. Previously, the MAC was expected to be a one-bid league, according to ESPN's Joe Lunardi.
But with Miami's loss, Lunardi's latest Bracketology now projects the MAC as a two-bid league. This scenario pushes Indiana further down the bubble, with Miami landing in the "Last Four In" and Indiana in the "First Four Out."
Indiana's journey to this precarious position has been marked by missed opportunities. Darian DeVries' squad had multiple chances to make their case to the selection committee but faltered when it mattered most. Back on February 9, the Hoosiers were sitting at 17-8 overall and 8-6 in Big Ten play, seemingly on a smooth path to the tournament.
However, a four-game losing streak, including heavy defeats to Illinois, Purdue, Northwestern, and Michigan State, derailed their momentum. A brief respite came with a win over Minnesota on Senior Night, but subsequent losses to Ohio State and Northwestern again in the Big Ten Tournament have left their hopes in tatters.
The Hoosiers' record in Quad 1 (3-10) and Quad 2 (4-4) games reflects their struggles. While the faltering of other bubble teams has kept Indiana's hopes alive, the shift in the MAC's bid status could be the final blow to their tournament aspirations.