Smith: Saturday isn’t just for bragging rights for the Hoosiers
By TYLER SMITH
ISL Editor 
For a team that prides itself on being a storied program nationally, the Hoosiers haven’t handled business in their own state very well the last few seasons. They have dropped two straight Crossroads Classic games against Butler, and Notre Dame the last two years. Saturday’s game against the Butler Bulldogs will give them another chance to defeat an in-state rival. But this game has much bigger implications than just bragging rights.
When all is said and done, I believe this will be one of Indiana’s make-or-break games for their NCAA tournament hopes this March. Assuming the Hoosiers are a middle of the pack team in the Big Ten, they will need a strong non-conference resume to put them over the top. They have decent wins over SMU and Pittsburgh, to go along with losses to Louisville and Eastern Washington. A victory over a ranked Butler team would give them a quality win, something they desperately need. And with only one more chance at a quality non-conference win (Georgetown), the importance of getting it done Saturday cannot be overstated.
You also have to consider the final record the Hoosiers may be looking at by the time the regular season concludes. A 19-12 overall record would put them on the bubble. It may take a 20-11 type season to get them to the big dance. I can’t imagine an 18-13 season would do the trick. A third non-conference loss would put even more pressure on the Hoosiers to have a solid conference season. They would have to go 10-8 in conference play to reach the 20-win season previously mentioned. Ideally, if the Hoosiers can knock off Butler and/or Georgetown, they would only need to go 8-10 or 9-9 in the conference season to have a good shot of playing in March.
A lot can happen from now until the end of the season. A non-conference game in December rarely determines a team’s tournament hopes. But if you like to look at the big picture for this team, the stakes are pretty high for this one. Not to mention, the Hoosiers don’t want to drop a third straight Crossroads Classic game.
This game will have big implications for the Butler Bulldogs as well. After losing to Tennessee on Sunday, they’re hoping to bounce back and show their early season success wasn’t a fluke.
Keys to the game: Rebounding, Turnovers, and 3-point shooting. Despite not having any player over 6’9, the Bulldogs crash the glass hard (just ask UNC). They also have done a decent job at forcing turnovers, while protecting the ball themselves. However, they have not faced even a top 100 rated 3-point shooting team this season, which happens to be Indiana’s strength. If the Hoosiers can shoot well without getting manhandled on the boards, they should put themselves in a position to win. I expect this game to come down to the wire, with a few big plays being the difference.
Both teams hope to be in the tournament conversation this March. Saturday’s winner will feel a lot better about those chances.
Follow Tyler on Twitter: @TylerSmith_ISL
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