A late season surge including wins in four of their last five games has put IU basketball comfortably in the Big Ten Tournament.
Their 78-62 win at Washington on Saturday sealed the deal.
With the addition of four new teams in 2024, the Big Ten Tournament moved to an 15-team field, meaning three teams will not participate in the event that runs March 12-16 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
When IU fell to 5-8 in the league following a home loss to Michigan, the Hoosiers appeared to be in jeopardy of missing the Big Ten Tournament. But they’ve gone 4-1 since, and now also have a strong chance to make the NCAA Tournament field.
IU currently sits alone in ninth place in the Big Ten with a 9-9 record, and it’s important that they don’t fall any further in the standings.
The top nine teams will get a bye in the first round, and four teams will earn a double bye. Teams seeded No. 10-15 will play on Wednesday, and those teams will advance to play teams seeded No. 5-7 on Thursday, along with a No. 8 vs. No. 9 game.
Based on the current standings, IU would face No. 8 Oregon in the 8/9 game Thursday. But those teams meet in Eugene, Ore. on Tuesday, and that could shake up the current projections.
Indiana cannot earn a double bye at this point, but they are still at risk for having to play in the first round Wednesday games. The best spot IU could earn in the Big Ten would be the No. 7 seed. The worst appears to be No. 12.
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