No. 13 Michigan State | No. 15 NC State | Full List
No. 14: INDIANA HOOSIERS
Last season: 27-8, 15-3 Big Ten
The Yogi Ferrell era is over, and now it'll be up to Tom Crean to find a point guard situation that works in Bloomington. The Hoosiers have plenty of offense still with James Blackmon Jr. and Robert Johnson on the perimeter and Thomas Bryant in the post. OG Anunoby could have a breakout season and gives IU that defensive toughness. -- Jeff Goodman
Best case: Tom Crean has taken a program in crisis to a program that can be expected to contend. Indiana lost a program pillar in Yogi Ferrell, and that leadership and steady presence is difficult to duplicate. But Indiana has talent and the Hoosiers are very well coached. They were left for dead last season and declared the worst defensive team in Indiana history. But the Hoosiers kept plugging, limited turnovers (which automatically improved the defense) and won the Big Ten for the second time in five years. This season, James Blackmon is back to add scoring, OG Anunoby is among the nation's best defenders and Thomas Bryant should be among the nation's very best big men.
Worst case: First-weekend casualty. Without a natural point guard to replace Ferrell, Crean will be relying upon Robert Johnson and Josh Newkirk to take over. While that won't be the same, Indiana will still be good. This is a tournament team, but the "worst case" is an early exit. Just don't expect the worst case. Indiana has proved to be much tougher than that.
