Indiana men’s basketball has taken part in just two of the last ten NCAA Tournaments. The Hoosiers are firmly on the bubble when March rolls around most of the time and, far more often than not, are left out of the field. Their only two appearances came under Mike Woodson, in the First Four in 2022 and as a 4-seed in 2023.
In case you missed it, the NCAA Tournament is almost certainly set to expand to 76 teams starting in 2027, an increase of eight from the current 68-team field. That means the First
Four Out and Next Four Out? Probably all tournament teams under this new format.
Indiana was in the First Four Out in 2019, 2025 and 2026. Under this new field, Indiana would’ve made the tournament in those years, adding three appearances to make five out of ten. Still not good enough, but better than two.
But, with the way Indiana spends money between the program itself and NIL funding, the Hoosiers couldn’t afford to be missing the tournament the way they did this past decade. Four different head coaches have led Indiana during this span, which shows how unacceptable it is.
Now? Indiana truly cannot, at all, afford to be missing the tournament barring incredible circumstances.
This past season, for instance, Indiana didn’t need to be all that good to receive a bid. All the Hoosiers had to do was beat Northwestern, maybe even just once, and it would’ve given them that extra win they needed. Most teams don’t need to be good to receive those last few bids, just passable. You’ve gotta get to 68 teams somehow!
The way Indiana spends money, the program should be great, not middling. There’s a level of grace to be applied to DeVries first year, especially given the fact that he seems to have made several corrections from his roster construction to hiring Ryan Carr to a general manager-type role. Carr and the assistant coaching staff are compensated highly and held up their end this past offseason in putting together a talented roster.
Missing the tournament just became a lot more of a black mark on a resume. The powers that be at Indiana need to be able to see a return on the substantial investment into the men’s basketball program and missing the tournament from here on out will be a significantly harsher indictment on the program and its leadership.
Archie Miller was given four chances to make a 68-team field and, aside from the would-be 2020 tournament, failed in three. Mike Woodson was given two after last making the tournament in 2023. You probably won’t see the patience Miller received again anytime soon around college basketball, let alone Indiana.
