Indiana University Athletics
DIPRIMIO: Will IU Get One Last Shot?
3/15/2019 7:45:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio, IUHoosiers.com
CHICAGO -- Postseason control is over.
The NCAA Selection Committee will decide what Indiana couldn't.
You'd better believe the Hoosiers know that.
Welcome to the harsh reality following their 79-75 Big Ten tourney-opening loss to Ohio State, which followed a regular season in which, at one point, they lost 12 of 13 games.
The Hoosiers tried to do with Thursday words what they couldn't do with Thursday action -- make the case that, with a 17-15 record, they are NCAA tourney worthy.
They talked about hoping for the best, mentioned the number of NCAA tourney teams they've beaten and believing they've done enough to warrant a bid, even if no bracketologist agrees.
What does history say about this?
Let's take a look.
The most losses by any team to receive an at-large NCAA tourney bid is 14. The poster child for this is the 1987 LSU team, which received a bid with a 21-14 record, then reached the regional finals before losing to Indiana, which went on to win its fifth and last national championship.
The teams with the worst records to receive at-large bids are the 1991 Villanova team and the 2001 Georgia squad. Both were 16-14, a .533 winning percentage.
IU comes in at .531.
Then consider that in NCAA tourney history, which began in 1939, only 44 teams have earned at-large berths without a conference record of .500 or better.
The Hoosiers finished 8-12 in the Big Ten.
Of course, records aren't the only factors the Selection Committee considers. There's the number of Quad 1 victories (IU has six), strength of schedule (the Hoosiers come in at No. 11 nationally according to kenpom.com), quality wins (Indiana has beaten Michigan State twice, Wisconsin and Marquette once each) and more.
IU has plenty of bubble competition. At least nine teams will sweat out the weekend, including Belmont, Clemson, North Carolina State, Creighton, Clemson, Texas and Ohio State.
Hoosier coach Archie Miller made his Cream 'n Crimson case after the Ohio State loss, saying, "Our resume at the end of the day, if you put it there with a blank sketch, I'm sure it compares favorably to some other teams.
"We've played a ridiculous schedule, and we've beaten teams (that will make) the NCAA Tournament."
Miller then upped the ante.
"I think the one thing at this stage when you're comparing everybody is, Can you beat a team in the tournament? Can you win a game?
"This team can win a game. It's played good ball lately, and played good ball early.
"When you're able to beat a Marquette or a Louisville, when you're able to get Michigan State twice, when you're able to beat Wisconsin. Those teams are all highly seeded (NCAA tourney) teams.
"So are we capable?
"Yes.
"Did we do enough?
"I'm not sure."
It didn't have to be this way. IU could have won its way into NCAA tourney certainty. It did not. January and February misery ripped away the momentum from a 12-2 start.
Thursday's Ohio State loss ripped away more.
Is there anything else left to rip? We won't know that until Sunday night.
"It will be tough," IU guard Romeo Langford said about the wait. "I know all of us will be thinking about this one game, but it's not really for us to worry about. It's for the committee to decide whether or not we're worthy to get in the tournament."
Or, as Hoosier sophomore forward Justin Smith put it, "It wasn't for sure if we're going to get in. We don't know. It's out of our hands."
As for the NIT, if officials invite the Hoosiers, they'll almost certainly take it. If a home game is offered, they'll accept it.
On Thursday senior forward Juwan Morgan said he wasn't ready for the season to end. Junior guard Devonte Green, who nearly shot the Hoosiers out of a 20-point, second-half hole, tweeted that, "I wanted it so bad."
With 26 points and 8-for-10 three-point shooting, Green certainly played like it.
One way or the other, the Hoosiers will get one last chance to decide how their story will end.
Maybe this time, happy will win out.
CHICAGO -- Postseason control is over.
The NCAA Selection Committee will decide what Indiana couldn't.
You'd better believe the Hoosiers know that.
Welcome to the harsh reality following their 79-75 Big Ten tourney-opening loss to Ohio State, which followed a regular season in which, at one point, they lost 12 of 13 games.
The Hoosiers tried to do with Thursday words what they couldn't do with Thursday action -- make the case that, with a 17-15 record, they are NCAA tourney worthy.
They talked about hoping for the best, mentioned the number of NCAA tourney teams they've beaten and believing they've done enough to warrant a bid, even if no bracketologist agrees.
What does history say about this?
Let's take a look.
The most losses by any team to receive an at-large NCAA tourney bid is 14. The poster child for this is the 1987 LSU team, which received a bid with a 21-14 record, then reached the regional finals before losing to Indiana, which went on to win its fifth and last national championship.
The teams with the worst records to receive at-large bids are the 1991 Villanova team and the 2001 Georgia squad. Both were 16-14, a .533 winning percentage.
IU comes in at .531.
Then consider that in NCAA tourney history, which began in 1939, only 44 teams have earned at-large berths without a conference record of .500 or better.
The Hoosiers finished 8-12 in the Big Ten.
Of course, records aren't the only factors the Selection Committee considers. There's the number of Quad 1 victories (IU has six), strength of schedule (the Hoosiers come in at No. 11 nationally according to kenpom.com), quality wins (Indiana has beaten Michigan State twice, Wisconsin and Marquette once each) and more.
IU has plenty of bubble competition. At least nine teams will sweat out the weekend, including Belmont, Clemson, North Carolina State, Creighton, Clemson, Texas and Ohio State.
Hoosier coach Archie Miller made his Cream 'n Crimson case after the Ohio State loss, saying, "Our resume at the end of the day, if you put it there with a blank sketch, I'm sure it compares favorably to some other teams.
"We've played a ridiculous schedule, and we've beaten teams (that will make) the NCAA Tournament."
Miller then upped the ante.
"I think the one thing at this stage when you're comparing everybody is, Can you beat a team in the tournament? Can you win a game?
"This team can win a game. It's played good ball lately, and played good ball early.
"When you're able to beat a Marquette or a Louisville, when you're able to get Michigan State twice, when you're able to beat Wisconsin. Those teams are all highly seeded (NCAA tourney) teams.
"So are we capable?
"Yes.
"Did we do enough?
"I'm not sure."
It didn't have to be this way. IU could have won its way into NCAA tourney certainty. It did not. January and February misery ripped away the momentum from a 12-2 start.
Thursday's Ohio State loss ripped away more.
Is there anything else left to rip? We won't know that until Sunday night.
"It will be tough," IU guard Romeo Langford said about the wait. "I know all of us will be thinking about this one game, but it's not really for us to worry about. It's for the committee to decide whether or not we're worthy to get in the tournament."
Or, as Hoosier sophomore forward Justin Smith put it, "It wasn't for sure if we're going to get in. We don't know. It's out of our hands."
As for the NIT, if officials invite the Hoosiers, they'll almost certainly take it. If a home game is offered, they'll accept it.
On Thursday senior forward Juwan Morgan said he wasn't ready for the season to end. Junior guard Devonte Green, who nearly shot the Hoosiers out of a 20-point, second-half hole, tweeted that, "I wanted it so bad."
With 26 points and 8-for-10 three-point shooting, Green certainly played like it.
One way or the other, the Hoosiers will get one last chance to decide how their story will end.
Maybe this time, happy will win out.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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