IU Basketball’s NCAA Tournament Odds: Six Weeks to Selection Sunday
As Indiana University’s basketball season progresses, the Hoosiers find themselves once again on the NCAA Tournament bubble. With Selection Sunday merely six weeks away, it becomes crucial to assess their chances of reaching the prestigious tournament. IU aims for a standout performance in their upcoming game against Purdue, a rival match that could significantly affect their chances of qualification.
Understanding NCAA Tournament Odds
The NCAA Selection Committee primarily utilizes the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings, now in its eighth year. This ranking system replaced the RPI in the 2018-19 season and is essential for evaluating teams’ performance. There are two vital components within the NET:
- Team Value Index (TVI): Rewards teams for victories over strong opponents, especially in away games.
- Adjusted Net Efficiency: Evaluates team performance, accounting for the opponent’s strength and game location.
The NET rankings categorize wins and losses using a quadrant system:
| Quadrant | Home | Neutral | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quadrant 1 | 1-30 | 1-50 | 1-75 |
| Quadrant 2 | 31-75 | 51-100 | 76-135 |
| Quadrant 3 | 76-160 | 101-200 | 135-240 |
| Quadrant 4 | 161-353 | 201-353 | 241-353 |
As of January 27, Indiana’s performance has yielded the following record by quadrant:
- Quadrant 1: 0-6
- Quadrant 2: 1-1
- Quadrant 3: 5-0
- Quadrant 4: 7-0
Currently, IU holds a NET ranking of 35, a significant drop from their early December position of 11. For context, last year, teams ranked 34 and 36 on Selection Sunday received No. 8 and No. 11 seeds, respectively.
Current Projections and Importance of Wins
Despite a relatively positive NET outlook, IU is only included in 13 out of 96 Bracket Matrix projections. Their average seeding in these projections stands at approximately 10.92. Thus, the Hoosiers must secure notable victories in upcoming games to bolster their tournament chances.
The NCAA Selection Committee utilizes seven key metrics for evaluation. Here’s where Indiana ranks in each:
- NET – 35
- Torvik – 26 (with a 75.1% chance of making the tournament)
- Wins Above Bubble (WAB) – 43
- KenPom – 37
- Basketball Power Index (BPI) – 27
- KPI – 68
- Strength of Record – 55
Upcoming Challenges
With seven Quadrant 1 games left on their schedule, Indiana has ample opportunities to improve their NCAA Tournament resume:
- vs. Purdue (Q1)
- at UCLA (Q1)
- at USC (Q1)
- vs. Wisconsin (Q2)
- vs. Oregon (Q3)
- at Illinois (Q1)
- at Purdue (Q1)
- vs. Northwestern (Q2)
- vs. Michigan State (Q1)
- vs. Minnesota (Q3)
- at Ohio State (Q1)
To stay updated on Indiana University’s basketball journey and complete coverage, visit Filmogaz.com.
