If this year’s Sweet 16 feels extra tough to watch, it’s probably because there are a lot of familiar faces. Six of the Big Ten’s 18 teams made it to the second weekend of this year’s March Madness, a testament to just how much talent there was at the top of the league this year.
The Hoosiers saw all six of these teams over the course of the 20-game Big Ten season, with mixed results that tends toward the bad. It’s no surprise that Indiana was not selected for this year’s NCAA Tournament, having gone
1-7 against these teams.
In case you, like me, have done your best to forget this past season, here’s a quick recap of how Indiana did against the teams it saw in conference play that have won two games in the Tournament so far.
Nebraska (Home Loss)
For most of this game, it looked like Darian DeVries was well on his way to his first signature win of the season, leading No. 10 Nebraska 65-59 with under ten minutes to play. Instead, it became the first of many games that Indiana simply did not have the conditioning or composure to finish, and the Hoosiers lost 83-77.
Michigan State (Road Loss)
The very next game, Indiana got a crack at then No. 12 Michigan State, resulting in Indiana’s worst loss to that point of the season, as the Hoosiers fell 81-60 in East Lansing. The Hoosiers actually tied the game with a little over 12 minutes left in the second half, but once again collapsed down the stretch.
Iowa (Home Loss)
A three game Hawkeye losing streak kept Iowa from being the third consecutive ranked opponent on Indiana’s schedule, but it didn’t stop Iowa from beating Indiana like Nebraska and Michigan State had. Unlike the prior two games, Indiana was never really in this one, losing 74-57 by the final buzzer.
Michigan (Road Loss)
Michigan, currently No.1 in KenPom’s overall efficiency rating, took care of Indiana as you’d expect, winning 86-72. Again, Indiana was not in this game at any point.
Purdue (Home Win)
I’d like to be happier about this, but developments over the rest of the season make this win seem more like a product of Purdue’s recent struggles at Assembly Hall than Indiana’s improvement. Anyway, Hoosiers win 72-67, staving off a late-game collapse.
Illinois (Road Loss)
Another game like the Michigan game that went exactly as you’d expect, with a team in KenPom’s top 10 dominating a struggling Indiana team from start to finish. Another 20 point loss for Indiana, as the Hoosiers fell 71-51.
Purdue (Road Loss)
This was the game that made it hard for me to believe Indiana was actually good enough to hang with this Purdue game, with one of the most lopsided results in the history of the rivalry. Indiana loses 94-64.
Michigan State (Home Loss)
Indiana’s last chance at a resume win that would allow the Hoosiers to feel comfortable without a deep Big Ten Tournament Run ended in yet another Quad 1 loss for DeVries and company. Indiana fell behind early and never got truly within striking range, falling 77-64 for a fourth straight loss.
