As we embark on another season of college basketball, it is always instructive to check in the with the national media for their take on the Hoosiers.
While they can often be detached from the details of individual programs, the national pundits are a helpful reality check when it comes to excessively optimistic fan bases.
Below are several national college basketball analyst opinions on the Big Ten and Indiana.
CBS Sports
The CBS contingent of Gary Parrish, Matt Norlander, Jerry Palm and Kyle Boone have the Hoosiers anywhere from No. 6 to No. 10 in the Big Ten.
They wrote this about the Hoosiers:
“Archie Miller made an incremental jump in the win column from his first to second year at IU, but 19 wins and an NIT appearance is underwhelming any way you slice it at Indiana. Between all the injuries the team suffered, perhaps he gets a hall pass. No such exception will be given this year though. IU has the most talented incoming freshman in Trayce Jackson-Davis to add to a nucleus of Devonte Green, Al Durham, Justin Smith and Rob Phinisee. While the loss of lottery pick Romeo Langford is, indeed, a big one, his supporting cast last season should all be prepared to take on bigger roles.”
Molly Geary / Sports Illustrated
Geary has IU finishing ninth in the Big Ten and seems to have a pretty good understanding of where the Hoosiers stand.
“Indiana won’t enter 2019–20 with the same optimistic buzz it had nationally before last season, and maybe that’s a good thing. The Hoosiers have talent but were far too inconsistent in 2018–19, going on a roller coaster, injury-plagued year that ended in the NIT. Romeo Langford and Juwan Morgan are gone, but a solid core remains with seniors De’Ron Davis and Devonte Green, juniors Al Durham and Justin Smith and sophomores Rob Phinisee, Race Thompson and Damezi Anderson. Former top-60 recruit Jerome Hunter is finally healthy and should bring versatile scoring on the wing, while incoming No. 30 recruit Trayce Jackson-Davis and Butler transfer center Joey Brunk will help make up for the loss of Morgan. The Hoosiers were hurt offensively last season due to some awful three-point shooting (they ranked 311th at 31.2%), but two of the biggest culprits were the departed Langford and Morgan. Green led the team at 41% and returns, but the rest of the roster must step up as well on the perimeter to see meaningful improvement.”
Jon Rothstein
CBS’s college basketball insider provided these Big Ten preseason power rankings:
1. Michigan State
2. Maryland
3. Purdue
4. Ohio State
5. Penn State
6. Wisconsin
7. Illinois
8. Iowa
9. Michigan
10. Indiana
11. Rutgers
12. Nebraska
13. Minnesota
14. Northwestern
ESPN / Jeff Borzello
Borzello provides some hope for IU fans of going to the NCAA Tournament.
“Trayce Jackson-Davis is a five-star big man, and Butler graduate transfer Joey Brunk has two years of eligibility left. Justin Smith, Robert Phinisee (assuming he’s healthy) and Al Durham are all back as starters, and Devonte Green brings scoring pop. Archie Miller’s team had massive problems shooting the ball last season, especially in January and February, but if it can improve in that area, I think Indiana can go dancing for the first time in Miller’s tenure.”
Athlon Sports
Athlon has the Hoosiers picked to finish ninth in the Big Ten.
“The Hoosiers are staring at a fourth straight season outside the NCAA Tournament if Archie Miller can’t fix his team’s shooting issues from the 3-point and free throw lines.”
Lindy’s Sports
The magazine predicts the Hoosiers to finish tenth in the Big Ten.
KenPom
This is how the advanced analytical site projects the Big Ten (national ranking in parenthesis) —
1. Michigan State
7. Purdue
11. Ohio State
16. Maryland
21. Michigan
34. Indiana (No. 44 Adj. Offense / No. 28 Adj. Defense)
35. Illinois
41. Iowa
43. Penn State
45. Wisconsin
63. Rutgers
80. Minnesota
86. Northwestern
86. Nebraska
Polls
Indiana is not included in the preseason AP or coaches poll top 25 and they did not receive any votes in these rankings.
Bracketology
Joe Lunardi (as of November 4, 2019) – First Four Out
Delphi Bracketology (2019-2020 Initial Bracket) – 10 Seed
Andy Bottoms (Out)
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