Busting Brackets
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Bracketology: 10 key storylines for Championship Week in 2019

By Tristan Freeman

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 27: Mamadi Diakite #25 and the Virginia Cavaliers bench cheers in the second half during a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at John Paul Jones Arena on February 27, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 27: Mamadi Diakite #25 and the Virginia Cavaliers bench cheers in the second half during a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at John Paul Jones Arena on February 27, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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BLOOMINGTON, IN – NOVEMBER 09: Head coach Archie Miller of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts in the first half of the game against the Montana State Bobcats at Assembly Hall on November 9, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. The Hoosiers won 80-35. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN – NOVEMBER 09: Head coach Archie Miller of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts in the first half of the game against the Montana State Bobcats at Assembly Hall on November 9, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. The Hoosiers won 80-35. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

8. How the Hoosiers will be viewed this week

At 17-14 overall and just 8-12 in Big Ten play, Indiana really shouldn’t even be on the bubble. They went through a stretch where they lost 12 of their last 14 games and is 8-14 against Quad-1 and 2 opponents. As for their NET ranking, they’re at 55, around 20 points worse than other bubble programs.

With all of that said, the Hoosiers are currently projected as a “First Four Out” team. That’s because of their six Quad-1 wins, something only 11 teams have more of. The Hoosiers also don’t have either a Quad-3 or Quad-4 loss which other at-large candidates can’t say either. Massive victories over Marquette, Louisville, Wisconsin and Michigan State twice are keeping the Hoosiers afloat before the Big Ten Tournament.

What truly has helped Indiana has been their four straight wins to end the regular season. It also allows them to get that “15th” loss in the conference tournament, which has been done before by Vanderbilt to still go dancing.

Indiana faces Ohio State in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. The Buckeyes are listed on the last 4 byes and have been reeling, so they can’t afford a defeat themselves. Similar to NC State vs. Clemson in the ACC, this may end up being an elimination game of sorts on the bubble.

Many people don’t like Indiana for all their losses and how bad they looked in January and February. But the bubble is very weak and the Hoosiers great wins can’t be discounted. But if they sneak into the NCAA Tournament, you can thank the Michigan State Spartans for that.

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