Indiana's Road to March Madness

[IU Hoosier41 14,465]

Outside of winning the entire Big Ten Tournament and getting the automatic qualifier, I think there is another way for Indiana to stumble into the big dance.  This year's bubble is WEAK.  That being said, with Indiana's big wins this season, coupled with a 20 win season, I could see Indiana getting the nod to the First 4.  (I think this is not likely we win these games, just showing the outcome).  If we are going for the 20 wins, we really want Michigan to LOSE to Nebraska on Sunday.  This would allow Indiana to open up the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday vs Rutgers and then have a MUCH easier path to get to 20 wins.   Again, this isn't at all likely, but here is the potential paths.  I went ahead and filled in Indiana's record assuming they won each of their future matchups.  

3 wins away... Rutgers, Northwestern & Maryland is very doable in my opinion.  Indiana can also beat themselves and lose in the first game to Rutgers lol.

[Uspshoosier 45,366]

It would also depend on what the other teams on the bubble do in their respective conferences. It would definitely make things interesting if they would beat northwestern and Maryland again. 2 more top 50 (neutral) wins which would give them 6 total top 50 wins


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[yogisballin 2,305]

Why the thread? Won't be any "madness" for us dude, Just let go of it


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[incrediboy 922]

for starters, go Michigan, beat Nebraska and get us off the Wednesday game

[bleedhoosier 3,627]

It's still entirely possible.. which is insane to us hardcore fans. Since the Kansas and UNC wins are still considered to carry just as much weight as if they happened THIS WEEK (to the committee), IU could do this. I would personally LOVE it, and laugh at it. IU is going to bring major viewership to the tournament as opposed to any other team in the bubble. That's not fair but it is what it is. "A troubled blue blood trying to rise from the ashes". It's a story ESPN and NCAA can really sell. I guarantee you, we win these 3, NCAA is going to find a way, then slap us in the same bracket with UK

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[Trish 11,524]

Honestly at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if we made it while losing next Thursday or whatever m. NCAA hates IU, I imagine they hear Crean is on the hot seat. They will probably give us a 12 seed in hopes of an upset and Crean somehow keeping his job.


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[BGleas 7,880]

I'm by no means expecting it, but it's not out of the realm that IU could make a run to the semis or even title game of the BTT. It's been a weird season with our guards. Newkirk was awful early in the season. Just when Newkirk started coming on JBJ got hurt. Then once JBJ came back RoJo went into a major month long funk. 

If RoJo has his game back after the OSU performance, then even though the year has been awful, IU is still one of the top 2-3 most talented teams in the conference. Again in not expecting it, and we'd still have to overcome the coach, but if our guards are all finally clicking it wouldn't be crazy. 

[johnsoniu 6,317]

15 minutes ago, BGleas said:

I'm by no means expecting it, but it's not out of the realm that IU could make a run to the semis or even title game of the BTT. It's been a weird season with our guards. Newkirk was awful early in the season. Just when Newkirk started coming on JBJ got hurt. Then once JBJ came back RoJo went into a major month long funk. 

If RoJo has his game back after the OSU performance, then even though the year has been awful, IU is still one of the top 2-3 most talented teams in the conference. Again in not expecting it, and we'd still have to overcome the coach, but if our guards are all finally clicking it wouldn't be crazy. 

It would be must see theater. A team makes a miracle run to the BTT title and a fan base has a complete meltdown.

[SteelerHoosier 2,586]

I hope we lose on Wednesday so our season can end on the same day as Missouri's. Just get this over with. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,189]

I don't think this team has the mental toughness to go on a run through the BTT let alone NCAA or NIT.  Also, we live and die by the 3, and we simply won't be able to shoot that well over multiple games especially road games.  I previously read that Ohio St. has one of the worst 3-point defenses in the B1G (and maybe entire country) and that was made to order for IU.  

[Uspshoosier 45,366]

Why the thread? Won't be any "madness" for us dude, Just let go of it


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Why not the thread? Others might want to discuss the possibility of it on a discussion board There might not be "madness" for the team this year but not sure anyone has to let go of anything.


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[LIHoosier 26,001]

If the NCAA committee are still in love with the RPI as their main metric, it would be better to get the 10 seed and beat a bubble team on Thursday then Wisconsin on Friday. The small bump in winning % for playing an extra game wouldn't account for having to put another sub .500 team on our schedule. Also, I don't trust our conditioning to play for 3 days straight to get back in the conversation. With 2 days there's at least a sliver of hope.

[recker222000 1,010]

I'm by no means expecting it, but it's not out of the realm that IU could make a run to the semis or even title game of the BTT. It's been a weird season with our guards. Newkirk was awful early in the season. Just when Newkirk started coming on JBJ got hurt. Then once JBJ came back RoJo went into a major month long funk. 

If RoJo has his game back after the OSU performance, then even though the year has been awful, IU is still one of the top 2-3 most talented teams in the conference. Again in not expecting it, and we'd still have to overcome the coach, but if our guards are all finally clicking it wouldn't be crazy. 

Dream on this is the btt. If we win one game i would be surprised. We arent making the ncaa guys.

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[Yogi's Picnic Basket 5,004]

I don't think this team has the mental toughness to go on a run through the BTT let alone NCAA or NIT.  Also, we live and die by the 3, and we simply won't be able to shoot that well over multiple games especially road games.  I previously read that Ohio St. has one of the worst 3-point defenses in the B1G (and maybe entire country) and that was made to order for IU.  

This x100!! Talent isn't just physical it is mental as well. The OSU game probably pumped some blood in the team and they will wanna go out fighting but that route has led us to our bad losses as well. I hope we get the 10 and play Iowa then Wisky. If we win those games were probably in honestly but it is not likely. Beating Northwestern and Maryland wont help us as much if we went that route so even a title game loss still makes us a questionable at large team.

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[BGleas 7,880]

29 minutes ago, recker222000 said:

Dream on this is the btt. If we win one game i would be surprised. We arent making the ncaa guys.

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Like I said, I'm not expecting it. I'm not predicting it. I don't even think I want it to happen, I want this all over and a new coach named. But, if our guards all play well at the same time, a run in the BTT is possible. It would be the most Crean thing for it to happen. 

[IU Hoosier41 14,465]

Why the thread? Won't be any "madness" for us dude, Just let go of it


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The path to 20 wins isn't that difficult. Indiana can beat every team in our path, we've seen it. We aren't as bad as the record shows.


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[Brass Cannon 24,342]

3 hours ago, BGleas said:

Like I said, I'm not expecting it. I'm not predicting it. I don't even think I want it to happen, I want this all over and a new coach named. But, if our guards all play well at the same time, a run in the BTT is possible. It would be the most Crean thing for it to happen. 

Which is why now that Mizzou is open I want Crean to resign tomorrow and let anybody else coach the BTT. 

[Brass Cannon 24,342]

1 minute ago, IU Hoosier41 said:

 

The path to 20 wins isn't that difficult. Indiana can beat every team in our path, we've seen it. We aren't as bad as the record shows.


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True I still think we are the most talented team in conference tbh which is why I just want this season to be over. 

[cthomas 6,357]

I said before the NW game that I thought we would win three, maybe four more games depending on the BTT draw. I think that is still in play. Other than Purdue, we are not overmatched talent wise by anyone. I don't think we make a deep run, but I wouldn't be shocked by one either.

[WayneFleekHoosier 48,088]

I could see it but our team has no defensive mentality or intensity. Won't win games this time of year unless O$U type hot.

Zero faith in W's but we out talent most so it could be an interesting tourney.


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