Big Ten Basketball: Buy or sell Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan State?

Indiana Hoosiers: Buy – Day trade

Regardless of when this article is read, Indiana Basketball will be a top 40 team in the NET, as the Hoosiers will benefit from a favorable Big Ten schedule. With just 11 votes in week 14’s AP Poll, the market capitalization is much too low and the moving average over the next month will be profitable.

Although they will not be mistaken as a blue-chip stock, the Hoosiers already hold impressive home victories over Ohio State and Purdue, with road games against those two teams and Michigan State being the most difficult that remain on their schedule. With Wisconsin, Maryland, Minnesota, and Rutgers making up the rest of the schedule, the smart move would be to buy the Hoosiers but monitor them closely to maximize your yield.

By season’s end, there is every reason to believe the Hoosiers will be in the AP Poll – whatever that is worth- and will make it into the quarter-finals of the Big Ten Tournament. The way the Hoosiers will achieve this is through the defensive intensity they displayed in their 74-57 loss to Illinois.

Scoring on the Hoosiers is not an easy feat, as opponents average fewer than 64 points while shooting just 38 percent from the field. The Hoosiers may have a prototypical rim protector, but 6’9 Trayce Jackson-Davis averages over two blocks per game.

The Hoosiers will not be putting together any extended winning streaks, but their defensive intensity will continue to make it difficult for opponents to get good looks, even if it does not result in a significant amount of turnovers. This defense will be the foundation as they enter the Big Ten Tournament as a No. 6 or No. 7 seed as they make it to the quarter-finals of the Big Ten Tournament and get invited to join the Madness.