Are the Indiana Hoosiers Going to Make the NCAA Tournament?

Mar 2, 2014; Bloomington, IN, USA; Championship banners hang above the crowd during the game between Indiana Hoosiers and Ohio State Buckeyes at Assembly Hall. Indiana won 72-64. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

Over the past week, the Indiana Hoosiers have posted a 2-1 record against ranked teams. Their effort on the court has vaulted them back into the NCAA Tournament conversation.

IU isn’t a bubble team quite yet. Or even a near bubble team.

They still have work to do, but the fact that we are even having this conversation is staggering. Just two weeks ago I proclaimed the Hoosiers Tournament hopes to be dead following an ugly home loss to Penn State.

A week after that we were discussing coach Tom Crean’s future at Indiana. We talked about whether or not Noah Vonleh should stick around for a second season.

Then the sky started to literally fall on the program.

Looks like we spoke too soon.

For all the ups and downs this season, IU still has an outside shot at making the Tournament. To do so, Indiana will have to win its final two regular season games and probably one or two in the Big Ten Tournament.

The Hoosiers are 17-12, and a 19-win team rarely makes the post season. They host Nebraska on Wednesday and will close out the regular season at No. 12 Michigan. IU dropped the game at Nebraska earlier in the year, but hammered Michigan at home.

IU’s Tournament resume isn’t all that stellar. One of the things holding the Hoosiers back is their less than impressive non-conference schedule. IU faced three, at the time, quality opponents: No. 18 UConn, No. 4 Syracuse, and a recently dropped from the Top 25 Notre Dame. All three were losses. IU was 10-3 before the Big Ten season but they lacked a signature win.

But for every signature win, there is an embarrassing loss with this team.

IU beats No. 3 and undefeated Wisconsin only to lose at home against Northwestern.

Beat No. 10 Michigan and then drops three straight to Minnesota, Penn State, and Purdue. IU then goes 2-1 versus Wisconsin, Iowa, and Ohio State.

These big wins have done a lot to lift fans spirits, but it might all be too little too late. If the Hoosiers fall at Michigan, they will likely have to win the Big Ten Tournament (something they have never done) to make the NCAA Tournament.

Questions Going Forward

• What is the health of Noah Vonleh? He sat out against Ohio State with a foot injury, which makes that win all that more impressive. Vonleh is the Hoosiers best player, and having him on the court gives them the best shot at winning. I don’t like IU’s chances this week if he is out for more than the Nebraska game.
• Can Will Sheehey keep leading this team? In the past week, Sheehey has shown more leadership than he has all season. He was named Big Ten Player of the Week for his two outstanding games against Iowa and Ohio State. He also stepped in to answer questions for Hanner Mosquera-Pera about the latter’s DUI issue. He apparently understands what it takes to be a leader, so where has this been all season?
• Can they maintain this pace? IU has played remarkably well from top to bottom in the past two games. The bench has really stepped up and the seniors are finally leading the team. Even the coaching has been better. But is this a trend or just a flash in the pan? This is the sort of improvement we should have seen weeks ago when IU was losing to inferior opponents.

With a lot on the line, this final week will test the players and coaches. The late rally has been great, but how will fans react if it doesn’t pay off? Two more wins and the discussion gets really interesting.

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