2008 Woodie Awards
Which Indiana teams have the best chance this March?
Ryan Palencer
Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: Sports
With conference tournaments soon to be underway and the NCAA tournament coming later in the month, the entire state of Indiana should feel proud of their regional college teams, regardless of their affiliation.
The best team in the state is likely Purdue. Though the Boilers lack flair, they make it up in fundamental play. Purdue has a good chance to win the Big Ten tournament and go into the dance as a two or three seed. Lacking a true center, the downfall of the Boilers will be when they run into a quality big man.
Purdue has the capability to be a sweet sixteen team depending on their match-up, but no further. The Boilers have taken advantage of a down year for the Big Ten to accumulate some easy conference victories. However, Purdue will return most of their key players next season with experience, so the future is bright in West Lafayette.
The most gifted team in the state also lies in the Big Ten. Despite all of the controversy, Indiana University has hands down the most talent in the state. Freshman phenom Eric Gordon and conference player of the year candidate D.J. White provide the Hoosiers with the inside-out attack that is needed to make a March run. IU has the talent to be a Final Four team, but with all of the distractions, look for the Hoosiers to loose in the first two rounds.
The question for Notre Dame is: How far can rags-to-riches sophomore Luke Harangody take them? Harangody, a former walk-on, is averaging a double-double (21.0 ppg and 10.6 rpg). The Big East is arguably, top-to-bottom, the best conference in the country and Notre Dame is among the elite. The Irish will be the last team in the state to be playing, making a run to the elite eight, but falling there.
The former Cinderella, Butler, now finds itself on the National radar. The Bulldogs have four players averaging double digits in scoring-Mike Green (14.5 ppg), A.J. Graves (13.5), Matt Howard (12.6) and Pete Campbell (11.3). Look for the Bulldogs to land a top three seed and be the victim of an early upset. Butler is 27-3, but has a strength of schedule of 118. Their only wins inside of the RPI top-50 are over Ohio State and Southern Illinois.
IUPUI will likely enter the NCAA tournament for only the second time in school history. In order to do this, the Jaguars will need star guard George Hill to lead them to a Summit League tournament title and the automatic bid. The Jaguars finished the regular season with a 15-3 conference record, so a tournament run is easily within reach.
The only shot of Valparaiso to be playing deep into March is a Horizon League tournament championship. Coach Homer Drew has the Crusaders back on the map, but they lack any quality wins and will be sitting at home watching the NCAA tournament.
Though the state has a limited chance of having a National Champion this season, the amount of teams playing in March speaks to the resurgence of Indiana college hoops.
The best team in the state is likely Purdue. Though the Boilers lack flair, they make it up in fundamental play. Purdue has a good chance to win the Big Ten tournament and go into the dance as a two or three seed. Lacking a true center, the downfall of the Boilers will be when they run into a quality big man.
Purdue has the capability to be a sweet sixteen team depending on their match-up, but no further. The Boilers have taken advantage of a down year for the Big Ten to accumulate some easy conference victories. However, Purdue will return most of their key players next season with experience, so the future is bright in West Lafayette.
The most gifted team in the state also lies in the Big Ten. Despite all of the controversy, Indiana University has hands down the most talent in the state. Freshman phenom Eric Gordon and conference player of the year candidate D.J. White provide the Hoosiers with the inside-out attack that is needed to make a March run. IU has the talent to be a Final Four team, but with all of the distractions, look for the Hoosiers to loose in the first two rounds.
The question for Notre Dame is: How far can rags-to-riches sophomore Luke Harangody take them? Harangody, a former walk-on, is averaging a double-double (21.0 ppg and 10.6 rpg). The Big East is arguably, top-to-bottom, the best conference in the country and Notre Dame is among the elite. The Irish will be the last team in the state to be playing, making a run to the elite eight, but falling there.
The former Cinderella, Butler, now finds itself on the National radar. The Bulldogs have four players averaging double digits in scoring-Mike Green (14.5 ppg), A.J. Graves (13.5), Matt Howard (12.6) and Pete Campbell (11.3). Look for the Bulldogs to land a top three seed and be the victim of an early upset. Butler is 27-3, but has a strength of schedule of 118. Their only wins inside of the RPI top-50 are over Ohio State and Southern Illinois.
IUPUI will likely enter the NCAA tournament for only the second time in school history. In order to do this, the Jaguars will need star guard George Hill to lead them to a Summit League tournament title and the automatic bid. The Jaguars finished the regular season with a 15-3 conference record, so a tournament run is easily within reach.
The only shot of Valparaiso to be playing deep into March is a Horizon League tournament championship. Coach Homer Drew has the Crusaders back on the map, but they lack any quality wins and will be sitting at home watching the NCAA tournament.
Though the state has a limited chance of having a National Champion this season, the amount of teams playing in March speaks to the resurgence of Indiana college hoops.
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