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Indiana Basketball: What Hoosiers needs to do to make NCAA Tournament

By Jonathan Lurensky

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - JANUARY 20: Trayce Jackson-Davis #23 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates during the 68-65 win against the Purdue Boilermakers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on January 20, 2022 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - JANUARY 20: Trayce Jackson-Davis #23 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates during the 68-65 win against the Purdue Boilermakers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on January 20, 2022 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Indiana Basketball couldn’t do enough to make the tournament for the first time in seven years in the regular season. Can the Hoosiers do what they need to do in the Big Ten Tournament to get to the Big Dance? 

Indiana Basketball is 18-12 on the season. Their best win on the season has been against Purdue. Their worst loss on the season has been against Penn State. The Hoosiers face the Michigan Wolverines on Thursday. This game is a must-win for the program if they want to make the tournament.

This game became a must-win for them after they blew losses against Rutgers and Purdue. While Purdue was heavily favored to beat Indiana, Indiana had a slight edge on Rutgers. Quite simply Indiana should have beaten Rutgers.

The Hoosiers are in this position because of multiple losses this season. If Indiana did not blow a 22 point lead to Wisconsin, they would be in the tournament. If Indiana did not lose to Penn State or Northwestern, they would have a very good case for the tournament. Finally, if Indiana did not blow a late lead to Ohio State, they would be in the tournament.

Indiana needs a win against Michigan to even be considered for the tournament. That will require them being able to stop Hunter Dickinson. In the only regular-season match between the two squads, the Hoosiers were unable to stop Dickinson, with him going for 25 points on 75 percent shooting.

If Indiana is able to beat Michigan, they will need to beat Illinois to fully secure a large bid. In the one game they played against the fighting Illini, they could not stop Kofi Cockburn. While this game was close at half, they could not stop Kofi. Tim Frazier had a solid game because Indiana could not stop Cockburn without helping.

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If Indiana wants to make the tournament, Trayce Jackson-Davis will need to play to his all-American abilities. While he will be undersized in both matches, he will need to find a way to stop these two offensive big men. It is possible for Indiana to win both of these games if Trayce Jackson Davis does what is needed defensively.

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