With each waning season comes excitement for college basketball fans. As the season progresses, some fans are eager for it to end, while others look forward to their teams competing for a shot at a championship. Thanks to NIL, teams with strong transfer classes are fully expected to make a run at the tournament and potentially claim a national title.
However, programs like North Carolina, Arkansas, UCLA, Rutgers, and several others have failed to live up to the hype. Arkansas has struggled in conference play, losing six of their first seven games, while Rutgers’ promising young squad has faltered after a strong start.
The Indiana Hoosiers entered the season with high expectations. Many analysts projected the Big Ten team to not only win their conference but also make a deep run in March. However, at this point, it seems unlikely the Hoosiers will make it to the tournament. After their loss to Maryland earlier today, analyst Jeff Goodman didn’t mince words.
“Indiana has been one of the most disappointing teams in the country this season,” Goodman posted.
That loss marked their fourth in the last five games.
The Hoosiers boasted one of the best incoming portal classes in the country, including the top center, Oumar Ballo, Myles Rice, Luke Goode, and others. Reports indicated that Indiana’s roster was worth close to $5 million.
Mike Woodson’s team is currently 5-5 in conference play, with the five victories coming against some of the bottom-tier teams in the Big Ten.
With another disappointing season on the horizon, Woodson’s tenure at Assembly Hall could be in jeopardy. When he was hired, his main goal was clear: to restore Indiana basketball to national prominence.
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier for the Hoosiers, as five of their next six games are against top-25 ranked teams.