For the first time since 2016, both the Indiana men’s and women's basketball teams have made the NCAA Tournament.
The Hoosier women were a lock to get in the field, the men not so much.
But when the tournament pairings were announced Sunday night, the Hoosiers found themselves in the field for the first time in six years.
Just barely.
IU was one of the “last four” teams in the field and will face Wyoming in a First Four play-in game Tuesday at 9:10 p.m. in Dayton, Ohio.
“I think it's a beautiful thing,” first-year coach Mike Woodson said of making the tournament. “I'm so thrilled because these guys have worked their butts off to get to this point, and I want to see them move on. I want to see us continue to win. That's what it's all about.”
IU’s strong performance in the Big Ten Tournament was likely the difference in being one of the last four in vs. one of the last four out of the field of 68. IU rallied to beat Michigan in its opening game Thursday, then upset top-seed Illinois in the quarterfinals Friday, before losing to Iowa on a buzzer-beater in the semifinals Saturday.
Now it’s going to be a quick turnaround for the Hoosiers, who finished the season 20-13.
“We've got to go and start studying, getting ready for Wyoming, and get our guys ready to go tomorrow in practice and get on a plane and head to Dayton,” Woodson said.
IU and Wyoming are 12 seeds with the winner advancing to play fifth-seeded St. Mary’s Thursday night in Portland.
Just making the tournament was a long time coming for IU, whose last appearance came in 2016 under Tom Crean. The Hoosiers reached the Sweet 16 that year.
“A lot of these guys have been sitting on the sideline for some years watching NCAA basketball being played in March and never really knowing what it's about,” Woodson said. “Now they get an opportunity come Tuesday to play in the tournament and win and perhaps move on to Portland.”
The Hoosier women won’t have to go far to play their NCAA Tournament opener. IU earned a No. 3 seed – it’s highest seed ever – and will host first and second round games at Simon Skodjt Assemby Hall on Saturday and Monday.
It’s the third straight NCAA appearance for the women, who reached the Elite Eight last season and returned all five starters.
IU will face No. 14 seed Charlotte at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the first round. No. 6 seed Kentucky will play No. 11 seed Princeton in the second game. The winners will play Monday.
Indiana was ranked near the top 5 in the country for much of the season, but the Hoosiers stumbled down the stretch, losing four of their final five games to finish fifth in the Big Ten.
But the Hoosiers reeled off three straight wins in the conference tournament, including a 70-62 win over top-seed Ohio State to reach the championship game. There, the Hoosiers fell to No. 2 seed Iowa in the final to finish with a 22-8 record.
