Yes, it is definitely still way too early to look at preseason rankings for the 2024-25 college basketball season.
But it does seem like a useful exercise to compare what we think we see happening in Bloomington against the national perspective.
Since Indiana added Myles Rice, Kanaan Carlyle, Oumar Ballo and Bryson Tucker over the last few weeks, at least four national outlets have said the Hoosiers are a top-20 team next season.
Although the transfer portal closes next week, rosters are still very much in a state of flux.
And that includes Indiana, as they are still looking to fill three more open spots. IU’s outlook could improve further, perhaps even as soon as late this week or into the weekend as Illinois transfer wing Luke Goode visits.
But things should start to calm down in the coming weeks, so let’s check in on what they’re saying about IU.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello says Indiana is the biggest riser in his top-25. He ranks them No. 16 and says this about the Hoosiers:
The winners of the first wave of portal season. The Hoosiers landed Arizona transfer Oumar Ballo, the top-ranked player in the portal, as well as top-15 guard transfers Myles Rice (Washington State) and Kanaan Carlyle (Stanford). Three starters also return: Malik Reneau, Mackenzie Mgbako and Trey Galloway. Without adding more shooting, though, Indiana could run into some of the same offensive issues as last season.
CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish says IU is the No. 20 team as things stand at the moment, and he adds this commentary:
This ranking is based on Mike Woodson’s Hoosiers returning three of the top four scorers — specifically Malik Reneau, Mackenzie Mgbako and Trey Galloway — from a team that finished tied for sixth in the Big Ten. The additions of Myles Rice (Washington State), Oumar Ballo (Arizona) and Kanaan Carlyle (Stanford) from the transfer portal means Indiana is adding three experienced starters from the Pac-12.
Jon Rothstein of CBS and College Hoops Today also says Indiana is No. 20. He added this comment on his X page:
Mike Woodson has now added Kanaan Carlyle (Stanford), Oumar Ballo (Arizona), and Myles Rice (Washington State) via Portal Kombat.
Add Trey Galloway, Mackenzie Mgbako, and Malik Reneau and Indiana is a consensus Top 25 team entering 2024-25. https://t.co/qRl99jEnBn
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 20, 2024
If analytics are your thing, Bart Torvik has updated his outlook for the 2024-25 season. Based on efficiency measures, Torvik’s algorithim projects IU’s new roster is the No. 20 team in the country. They ended the 2023-24 season at No. 83. You can use Torvik’s roster projection tool to add Goode, at which point the Hoosiers move up three spots to No. 17.
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