What to know for March about Indiana teams and players

1. How are institutions in Indiana faring? For Indiana schools, the men’s and the women’s programs have some universities that are projected to make both. Some only have one of either the women’s or men’s teams making it.

For example, the Indiana Hoosiers and Purdue Boilermakers Sunday have both their men’s and women’s basketball teams in the NCAA Tournament.

Indiana in the women’s tournament finished with a number one seed. In fact, they are the second ranked team overall in the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, the Indiana men’s team on Sunday found themselves as a four seed.

The men’s team will play Friday at 8:55 p.m. central time. Indiana will be playing Kent State who won the Mid American Conference as a 13 seed. Furthermore, if Indiana wins that contest they will play Sunday against either Miami as a five seed or Drake as a 12 seed. Indiana is in the Midwest Region.

The women’s team will be playing Saturday in their first round match. They will be awaiting a play in game between Tennessee Tech and Monmouth. If Indiana were to win their game against the 16 seed, they would face Oklahoma State or Miami who are the eight and nine seeds respectively. They are in the Greenville Two Regional.

Purdue like Indiana have both their men’s and women’s teams in the tournament. The Men’s team for Purdue is a one seed in the East Region. Purdue will be awaiting who they play similar to the Indiana women’s team. They will either face Texas Southern or Fairleigh Dickinson. Meanwhile the women’s team for Purdue is considered a first four team. That means they will have a play in game in order to play a six seed in the NCAA Tournament. Purdue as an 11 seed will take on St. John’s. That tip will begin at 6:00 p.m. If Purdue wins, then Saturday they will face North Carolina. Purdue is in the Seattle Three Region.

Notre Dame’s Women’s Basketball Team on Selection Sunday found out they are a three seed in the NCAA Tournament. They will play Southern Utah on Friday. If Notre Dame were to win, they would face Creighton, Illinois, or Mississippi. They are in the Greenville One Region.

2. What players could stand out from the state of Indiana?

For the women’s side of the tournament, Indiana is led by Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year MacKenzie Holmes and fifth year senior Grace Berger. Holmes is averaging 22 points while also getting seven rebounds per contest. Berger is averaging 12.5 points while also having six assists a game. The Hoosiers also have a transfer from Fishers, Indiana, Sydney Parrish who came from Oregon. She is averaging 12 points and five rebounds each contest.

Purdue is led by senior Lasha Petree who is scoring 14.5 points a contest for the Boilermakers. She along with her fellow senior teammate Jeanae Terry who is averaging the most rebounds and assists on the team (eight and six) are players who could help Purdue win games in the tournament.

Notre Dame is led by their version of a “Big Three”. Sonia Citron leads the team in points with 15 per contest. Her teammate Olivia Miles who is also a sophomore leads the team in rebounds and assists with seven in both categories. However, she is dealing with injury and might not be available for the Irish. Maddy Westbeld averages 11 points as well to give Notre Dame three players who average double figures.

Flipping to the men’s side, the men’s teams for Indiana and Purdue are led by players who could be argued as the best in their positions.

Purdue will be led by Zach Edey. Edey is a front runner to win the National Player of the Year. He is averaging close to 22 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks per game. Purdue is also led by two backcourt players who are from Indiana in Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer. The two of them average 10 and 11 points respectively.

Trayce Jackson Davis is the leader for Indiana. In his senior year he is averaging 21 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists. Jackson Davis is a name who is also in contention for National Player of the Year. His teammate Jalen Hood-Schifino is also one to keep an eye on. He is averaging 13 points a contest, four rebounds, and three assists. Hood-Schifino could also be a player who makes the NBA as he is projected to go in the first round.

3. Getting to know the coaches

The players make the baskets and create the plays. However, what can help the players make the plays is through the coaching.

For the women’s side, Purdue is led by Katie Gearlds. She has now coached Purdue for two seasons and helped them make the NCAA Tournament last season. Overall in her coaching career prior to the 2022-2023 season, she has 245 career wins with 65 losses. By percentage, she has won 79% of the games she has head coached in her career.

Notre Dame is led by Niele Ivey. Ivey might be a name basketball fans are familiar with as her son is Jaden Ivey who played at Purdue last year and is a current member of the Detroit Pistons NBA team. Niele Ivey has coached Notre Dame for three seasons and in each year they have increased their win total. She was an assistant under Muffet McGraw at Notre Dame before officially becoming the head coach.

Indiana’s head coach is Teri Moren. Moren coached at Indiana State before becoming the coach of the Hoosiers. Her overall record as a coach is 268-149. She has won 64% of the games she has been a head coach in.

For the men’s side, Matt Painter and Mike Woodson are the head coaches of Purdue and Indiana respectively.

Painter will be gearing up for what will likely be his 15th NCAA Tournament as a head coach for Purdue. His coaching career has a record of 437-402. By percentage, he has won 68% of the games he has coached. This season he will look to help Purdue win a National Championship as they look to have a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.

For Indiana, Mike Woodson, a former player at Indiana, is in his second year as the coach for the Hoosiers. He has a 43-25 record as the coach of Indiana and he also was a head coach and assistant coach in the NBA prior to his job at Indiana.