In 49 states, it’s just a game. In the state of Indiana, we need our own power rankings. Every week we’ll help settle the ongoing debate regarding who are the best of the ten Division One college basketball teams in the basketball crazed state of Indiana.
We are now two weeks into the men’s college basketball season, and we are starting to get clarity on the teams that are contenders and pretenders in the Hoosier state.
Here are the state of Indiana NCAA Division One men’s college basketball power rankings after two weeks.
Let the debate begin.
Current Indiana teams in Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology through 11/18 (Based on his latest Tweets): Purdue (4), Indiana (5) Butler (8).
1. Indiana Hoosiers (B1G) (3-1) – A very impressive win over Marquette, and despite a tough road loss at Arkansas, it continues to be clear that when at full strength, this team leads the way in-state. Now the question is, with four regulars on the mend, when are they going to get healthy?
2. Purdue Boilermakers (B1G) (4-1) – Better than expected, and yet still with the shortcomings that seemed apparent before the season. Purdue still looks like Carsen Edwards and a bunch of role players, and as we saw down the stretch against Virginia Tech, that will make it challenging as the schedule gets more difficult.
3. Butler Bulldogs (Big East) (3-0) – A good start for the Bulldogs. We won’t learn much about this team until December contests against Indiana and Florida, although they look like they will once again be a high quality power five school and a tough out for just about anyone.
4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (ACC) (3-1) – The Irish haven’t played anyone yet, but they have a loss after an embarrassing home defeat at the hands of Radford. Yes, Radford. A tough stretch in early December will likely tell us all we need to know.
5. Ball State Cardinals (MAC) (2-3) – It’s a tough start for the Cardinals, but they are playing a difficult schedule that will prepare them for the MAC. With a much more manageable stretch of games until conference play begins, look for this team to start rolling.
6. Valparaiso Crusaders (MVC) (2-2) – Valpo gave Wake Forest a good run and appears to have a good, balanced roster this year that will keep them in most games.
7. Indiana State Sycamores (MVC) (2-1) – The Sycamores have a legit dual threat in Jordan Barnes and Tyreke Key, who are both averaging more than 20 a game and shooting above 50% from long range. The question is what can they get out of their front court?
8. Fort Wayne Mastodons (Summit) (2-3) – With games at UCLA, Ohio State and Dayton thus far, no one can accuse Fort Wayne of playing a soft schedule (although the two wins were not Division One opponents). The Mastodons led at the half at Dayton before collapsing. We’ll learn a lot more about this team now as they play a more competitively matched schedule going forward.
9. IUPUI Jaguars (Horizon) (2-2)- The Jags! What an impressive road win at Boston College. We just had to move them up a spot. They accounted for themselves well at Xavier and Richmond as well. They are a little live or die with Cameron Justice, but IUPUI looks better than expected.
10. Evansville Purple Aces (MVC) (2-2) – Blown out at Illinois, competitive at Xavier — who is this team under new head coach Walter McCarty? We’ll find out at Ball State this week, with a chance to move out of the cellar.
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