What’s the outlook for the 2026-27 IU basketball season in the eyes of the national media, polls and computer models?
How about somewhere between the 24th-best team…and the 47th? A fairly clear NCAA Tournament team…but not an Elite Eight-caliber squad.
That’s the range from 11 different projections by a selection of individuals, polls and computers.
The rankings we found are, well….ranked, from the most to least optimistic.
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FIELD OF 68 — No. 24
The Field of 68, led by Jeff Goodman and Rob Dauster, has the most optimistic views of Indiana right now. They like Indiana’s transfer portal haul.
“The Hoosiers were also big spenders this offseason, grabbing a transfer starting five of Markus Burton (Notre Dame), Bryce Lindsay (Villanova), Darren Harris (Duke), Aiden Sherrell (Alabama) and Samet Yigitoglu (SMU).”
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED — No. 25
National college basketball analyst Kevin Sweeney ranked all 365 teams in Division I.
Here’s what he said about IU after slotting them in the No. 25 spot overall, and No. 6 in the Big Ten.
“The Hoosiers beefed up their front line after getting pummeled in the paint in Darian DeVries’s first season. Alabama transfer Aiden Sherrell headlines a loaded portal class that should help the Hoosiers get back to relevance.”
CBS SPORTS (Parrish) — No. 26
CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish squeezed IU into his top-25 and-1 rankings
“This ranking is based on the Hoosiers returning two of the top eight scorers — specifically Sam Alexis and Trent Sisley — from a team that finished 18-14 and missed the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Notre Dame transfer Markus Burton, Villanova transfer Bryce Lindsay, Alabama transfer Aiden Sherrell, SMU transfer Samet Yigitoglu, Duke transfer Darren Harris, Georgia Tech transfer Jaeden Mustaf, Maryland Eastern Shore transfer Justin Monden, and four-star prospects Vaugn Karvala, Prince-Alexander Moody and Trevor Manhertz.”
JON ROTHSTEIN — No. 31
The CBS Sports reporter currently has IU ranked No. 31 in his top-45 he updates daily.
COACHES POLL — Not Ranked
Receiving votes (effectively No. 33).
AP TOP-25 — Not Ranked
Receiving votes (effectively No. 36).
CBS SPORTS (Matt Norlander) — No. 37
Matt Norlander ranked his top-100 and-1 teams.
Here’s what he said about IU while plugging them into the No. 37 spot:
The Hoosiers were one of the final bubble victims in the 68-team tournament era. Indiana lost six of its last seven to finish with just 18 wins and come up short in Darian DeVries’ opening tour. IU’s NCAA Tournament drought (last trip was in 2023) should end in March of 2027, though. DeVries was given a big budget to go and bulk up the Hoosiers’ bona fides. Two crucial frontcourt adds were Alabama PF Aiden Sherrell (11.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and SMU C Samet Yigitoglu (10.7 ppg, 7.9 rpg). IU made 60.3% of its 2s last season; I’d bank on DeVries keeping his team near that clip.
The 3-point shot needs a shot in the arm, though. Indiana was a middle-of-the-pack shooting team from 22 feet-plus. Notre Dame transfer Markus Burton, Nova transfer Bryce Lindsay and Georgia Tech transfer Jaeden Mustaf aren’t knock-down distance shooters, but all can create offense and don’t clog the second level. Up the defensive intensity, tinker with the rotations and Indiana will be somewhere between fifth and eighth in a Big Ten that’s going to send at least 10 to the NCAAs.
ANDY KATZ’s POWER 44 — No. 37
Katz has the Hoosiers at No. 37 in his annual preseason prognostication for the NCAA.
ESPN’s TOP-25 — Not Ranked
Jeff Borzello did not include IU in his top-25 or his “next five” after that.
THE ATHLETIC’s TOP-25 — Not Ranked
C.J. Moore did not rank Indiana in his top-25.
COMPUTER MODELS:
- KenPom — No. 47
- Torvik — No. 26
- Evan Miya — No. 45
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