If Indiana men’s basketball has made any key statements in Darian DeVries’ first season as head coach it’s that the NCAA absolutely should not expand the Division-I men’s basketball tournament.
The Hoosiers entered the second half of February pretty firmly in most projections, with a bye even. They proceeded to lose six of their final seven games, with just one of those losses coming by less than double digits. The team that loss came from just beat Indiana by 13 points in the Hoosiers’ first, and only, game of Big Ten Tournament play.
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There’s really only one way this could’ve gone worse for Indiana, which is by losing to Minnesota, which already happened way back in December. Small comfort. Ultimately, Indiana finished at 10th in the Big Ten standings. That’s exactly where this team was predicted to land in the preseason, which is more small comfort.
The Hoosiers lost to four NCAA Tournament teams once and one team far outside the March Madness picture twice. Even if the bubble collapses around Indiana like it’s been doing, there’s absolutely no real reason this program should receive a bid, we’ve seen enough evidence of how it plays against tournament-caliber competition lately. If sheer dumb luck tilts in Indiana’s favor just give the nod to a mid-major team that’s winning right now instead. One that’s earned it.
It’s a bummer, truly, that a guy like Lamar Wilkerson probably won’t be playing with an NCAA Tournament patch on his jersey. Wilkerson lit up opposing defenses after pledging his final season of eligibility to a rebuilding program last Spring. Said program failed to put the right pieces together to make good on that final year.
There’s a lot to digest from this, certainly. But for now, do not allow a bad bubble let an equally bad, or worse, Indiana team to slink into the tournament. That’s earned, not given.