Hoos' Returning to the Dance?

  The Hoos-iers, that's who.

After a thrilling and well played game in Raleigh, Mark Crean's squad moved to a perfect 7-0 that also includes a win over Butler.  The Big Ten is solid this year, and IU is not in the class of Ohio State and Wisconsin; but Indiana is a legit contender for an at-large tourney bid this year.

Freshman Cody Zeller gives them an offensive interior presence that they have lacked for several years, and Verdell Jones is a legitimate All Big Ten caliber performer.  They have more strength (evidence of Tom Crean's off-season weight room challenge paying dividends) and depth than they have since the coach's arrival.  Now that they have a per-conference schedule that finally includes some quality (though granted nothing eye-popping yet) wins, if they can battle to 8-10 or 9-9 in a very balanced Big Ten, it should be enough to get Indiana back where Hoosier faithful expect them to be; the NCAA Tournament.

The Maniac's Big Ten Early Bracketeering Glance:

LOCKS:  Ohio State, Wisconsin
IN:  Michigan State
GOOD SHOT:  Michigan, Purdue, Northwestern (yes, seriously this time), Indiana
GREAT SO FAR... BUT INJURY CONCERNS:  Minnesota
POSSIBLE:  Illinois,
Uh... NO:  Penn State, Nebraska, Iowa