Big Ten Basketball: 3 big surpises of 2019-20 season so far

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 15: Zavier Simpson #3 and Eli Brooks #55 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrate in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 15, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

3 of 4

BLOOMINGTON, IN – DECEMBER 22: Archie Miller the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers gives instructions to his team against the Jacksonville Dolphins at Assembly Hall on December 22, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

2. Hoosiers undefeated

Perhaps the biggest surprise so far has been what is going on in Bloomington. After beginning the season with seven games against lesser opponents, the Hoosiers welcomed in #17 Florida State for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Tuesday night.

At the end of the night, the ranked team went home with a loss as Indiana won their first true test of the year 80-64. Their resurgence so far this year may signal that the Hoosiers are back. This comes after finishing with no more than three wins over .500 the past three seasons.

When asked about how the Hoosiers played in Tuesday night’s matchup, Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton had nothing but praise for the top team record-wise in the Big Ten.

"I thought they showed Indiana’s on its way back, I thought they had an exceptional amount of energy and focus. – Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton via Associated Press/ESPN"

No one person is doing it all either. In each of the main stat categories (Points, Rebounds, Assists, Steals) there is a different player leading the team on a per-game basis. Four players are averaging double figures and freshman big man Trayce Jackson-Davis is almost averaging a double-double on the year.

If this team continues to play the way they did Tuesday night, then look for Indiana to make a run to finish in the upper-tier of the Big Ten.

Home/Big Ten