Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball: 2020-21 power rankings heading into league play

By Ryan Kay

ANN ARBOR, MI - FEBRUARY 08: Marcus Bingham Jr. #30 of the Michigan State Spartans battle for position against Austin Davis #51 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first half of the game at Crisler Arena on February 8, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - FEBRUARY 08: Marcus Bingham Jr. #30 of the Michigan State Spartans battle for position against Austin Davis #51 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first half of the game at Crisler Arena on February 8, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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Rob Phinisee Indiana Hoosiers (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Rob Phinisee Indiana Hoosiers (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

9. team. 482. . 5-2. . Hoosiers

Wins

Tennessee Tech
Providence (Neutral site)
Stanford (Neutral site)
North Alabama
Butler (Neutral site)

Losses

No. 17 Texas (Neutral site)
@ No. 20 Florida State OT

KenPom ranking: 17

Reasons for Hope: The Hoosiers have quality wins against Providence, Butler, and Stanford and all three were away from their home court and they beat both Providence and Stanford by 16 or more points. Their two losses were against top 20 opponents in Texas and the game against Florida State went into overtime. Both of the losses were away from home. Indiana has only played two games on their home court this season.

Reasons to be Pessimistic: Indiana on a neutral court lost to Texas by 22 points. They should have pulled the upset against Florida State but couldn’t close it out in overtime. Their scoring is top-heavy and if Trayce Jackson-Davis doesn’t score 15 or more points in a game, the Hoosiers struggle on the offensive end.

Brief Overview of the Season

Indiana has won three of their last five games and much of the mini resurgence is due to the play of sophomore Trayce Jackson-Davis who is Indiana’s leading scorer this season averaging 21 points a game to go along with over eight rebounds and just under two blocks a game. He has been the main bright spot offensively for the Hoosiers this season but two of his teammates Race Thompson and Armaan Franklin are averaging double digits in scoring this season as well.

As said earlier, teams in the Big Ten conference have been so competitive night in and night out this year that teams like Indiana may not be getting the credit they deserve. Jackson-Davis may win the player of the year award in the Big Ten as he could make the Hoosiers a team to be feared come, Big Ten play. Indiana if they can score near 70 points or higher, could finish in the upper echelon of the Big Ten standings.

Hoosier nation, for the most part, has not been thrilled by the overall job performance of head coach Archie Miller these past seasons who is in year four as the head coach of the Indiana program. However, there have been gains this season at least in optics in comparison to last season and it is not how his team is doing currently that really matters, it is how well they finish out the season which really counts.

The Indiana basketball program may sooner than later especially if they can somehow make the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament this season, see the progress that they desperately desire among a die-hard fanbase.

Jackson-Davis could easily make the Hoosiers a team to be feared in Big Ten play. Head coach Archie Miller and the Indiana program expect big things sooner than later. The Hoosiers will be a team to keep an eye on this season as they may shock the Big Ten. Indiana next hosts Northwestern on Wednesday.

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