Indiana Basketball NCAA Tournament Bracketology Update After Latest Loss

The Hoosiers are on the NCAA Tournament bubble in coach Darian DeVries' first season.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Indiana's losses to No. 8 Illinois and No. 7 Purdue have put the Hoosiers on the NCAA Tournament bubble, with projections ranging from a No. 9 seed to being one of the 'first four out'. The team's NET ranking of 36 is still the best among bubble teams, but they only have two Quad 1 wins, which is hurting their resume. Indiana has four regular season games remaining and will need to go at least 3-1 to feel safe on Selection Sunday.

Why it matters

Indiana is trying to make the NCAA Tournament in coach Darian DeVries' first season, but their recent losses have put them squarely on the bubble. Their performance down the stretch and in the Big Ten Tournament will be crucial in determining if they earn an at-large bid.

The details

Indiana suffered blowout losses to No. 8 Illinois (71-51) and No. 7 Purdue (93-64), which have hurt their NCAA Tournament chances. Prior to these games, the Hoosiers were on the right side of the bubble, but now they are hanging on by a thread. Despite the lopsided defeats, Indiana's NET ranking of 36 is still the best among bubble teams. However, the Hoosiers only have two Quad 1 wins, which is hurting their resume compared to other bubble teams.

  • Indiana fell to 17-10 overall and 8-8 in Big Ten play after the losses.
  • The Hoosiers have four regular season games remaining, followed by the Big Ten Tournament.

The players

Darian DeVries

The head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers basketball team, in his first season.

Lamar Wilkerson

An Indiana Hoosiers guard.

Tucker DeVries

An Indiana Hoosiers forward.

Conor Enright

An Indiana Hoosiers player.

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What they’re saying

“Losing by 29 points at Purdue was ugly, but it didn't hurt the Hoosiers as much as one may think. Following the loss, Indiana's NET ranking remained at 36. So it was more of a missed opportunity than a detrimental loss.”

— Joe Lunardi, ESPN Bracketologist (ESPN)

“Losses to Illinois and Purdue "shaved about 10% off the Hoosiers' conditional at-large probability, which still sits at 73% but is no longer making them look anywhere near as solid as before.”

— Joe Lunardi, ESPN Bracketologist (ESPN)

What’s next

To feel safe on Selection Sunday, the Hoosiers would likely have to go 3-1 in their final four regular season games, with a loss to either Michigan State or Ohio State. A strong finish and a couple wins in the Big Ten Tournament would likely punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Indiana's NCAA Tournament hopes are hanging in the balance after their recent losses, but they still have a path to make the Big Dance if they can finish the regular season strong and pick up a couple wins in the conference tournament. The Hoosiers' NET ranking and lack of 'bad losses' keep them in the mix, but they need to improve their Quad 1 record to solidify their at-large case.