Indiana Basketball Fights for NCAA Spot

0:00On March 9, Indiana's men's basketball team is fighting for an NCAA tournament spot after a tough late-season slide under first-year coach Darian DeVries. They finish the regular season at 18 wins and 13 losses with a NET ranking of number 37, but most bracket experts have left. Them out right now heading into the Big 10 tournament, the Hoosiers open against the winner of Northwestern and Penn State on Wednesday night. A win there sets up a Thursday clash with number 7 C Purdue, which could deliver a key victory against top competition. They've dropped five of their last six games, including a recent loss to Ohio State. Coach DeVries remains optimistic, stressing that his team will keep battling despite the disappointments. Fans and analysts point to Indiana's strong showings against weaker opponents, going 15 wins and two losses outside the top tier. Though there, record against elite teams sits at three wins and 11 losses. Deeper metrics give them a solid case, ranking number 41 in Kenpom,

1:02ahead of several projected tournament teams with a top 35 strength. Of schedule and impressive wins over Purdue, UCLA and Wisconsin, they're in about half of bracket projections as an 11 seed and other bubble teams stumbled over the weekend too, keeping Indiana steady on the edge. As the Big 10 tournament heats up, eyes will be on rivals like SMU, Missouri, and others in their conference runs. Indiana needs to match or beat them to punch their ticket when the selection committee decides this weekend.