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

By Tristan Freeman

Dec 6, 2022; New York, New York, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Matthew Mayer (24) celebrates his three point shot against the Texas Longhorns during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2022; New York, New York, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Matthew Mayer (24) celebrates his three point shot against the Texas Longhorns during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Big Ten Basketball Indiana Hoosiers guard Jalen Hood-Schifino Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Indiana Hoosiers – 10-6 (1-4)

The Hoosiers were the preseason favorite in Big Ten Basketball by a majority of observers, including myself. They returned their top four scorers, while also adding a pair of five-star freshmen in Jalen Hood-Schifino and Malik Reneau. With all of this depth, including an All-American caliber forward in Trayce Jackson-Davis, there’s no reason why the team should be anywhere near the bubble.

Of course, then the injuries happened. First, Hood-Schifino was out for four games, with the team losing three of them. And once he returned, starting guard and veteran Xavier Johnson suffered a lower leg injury and could be out for the rest of the season. Making matters worse, starting forward Race Thompson is also out for an indefinite period of time.

Indiana has fallen on hard times with the missing starters, currently on a three-game losing streak. With the latest, a 19-point loss at Penn State this week has put their backs against the wall. They still have Jackson-Davis, who is averaging around 18 and 8 on the season, while Hood-Schifino had a recent 33-point performance.

But the supporting cast outside of them has been inconsistent, mainly the guards. Guys like Tamar Bates, Trey Galloway, and Jordan Geronimo seem to go for either 15+ or five or fewer on a nightly basis, with it being the ladder more often.

This was a team that barely made the NCAA Tournament last season and is missing two key pieces. They may find a way to get to the Field of 68 thanks to the strength of the Big Ten but I want nothing to do with them after.

Sell

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