Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Indiana Receives No. 4 Seed in NCAA Tournament Midwest Region
Indiana is the No. 4 seed in the Midwest Region of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
The Hoosiers will play No. 13 seed Kent State in the Round of 64 on Friday at 9:55 p.m. ET at MVP Arena in Albany, N.Y. Kent State went 28-6 overall and 15-3 in Mid-American Conference play.
"I just went in and told our team I couldn't be more proud of a group of guys," Indiana coach Mike Woodson said. "This is so new to me, again, you know being over a year and a half into this job. These guys from last season made a major jump this year where we had to play in a game to get to the tournament and now you're a four-seed. So I couldn't be more proud of a group of guys, but with that being said, we still got a lot of basketball left."
Kent State finished second in the MAC regular season, but won the MAC Conference Tournament to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. With a win, Indiana would advance to play the winner of No. 5 seed Miami (FL) and No. 12 seed Drake.
"We drew a great team in Kent State, who's had a hell of as season, as well, that's well-coached," Woodson said. "So I don't know a whole lot about them, but I'll start today my process in terms of trying to put a game plan together to play those guys."
Here's the full Midwest Region.
Indiana finished year two under Mike Woodson with a 22-11 record overall, and earned the No. 3 seed the Big Ten Tournament, where they lost to Penn State in the semifinals. The Hoosiers were ranked in 15 of 18 AP top-25 polls, led by first-team All-Big Ten forward Trayce Jackson-Davis and Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jalen Hood-Schifino.
Indiana will look to build on a Round of 64 exit last season, when they lost 82-53 to Saint Mary's after defeating Wyoming 66-58 in the First Four round.
"This is what it's all about," Race Thompson said. "In the past in my time here, we haven't really had this opportunity besides last year. So I mean it's almost like a new thing for all of us. And for me and Trayce going out like this, being one-and-done, there's no doubt in my mind that every single game I'm leaving it out on the court, and I don't doubt that everybody else will do the same. So yeah, just really excited overall."
Tickets for the 2023 NCAA Tournament are available here.
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