My Two Cents: With Two Exceptions, Selection Sunday Works Out Well for Hoosiers

Outside of very late nights in Albany, New York, of all places, there's a lot to like about Indiana's draw in the 2023 NCAA basketball tournament. They got the best seed possible, and a potential long run in the tournament seems very realistic.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The pairings came flying fast and furious, just like they always do on Selection Sunday in mid-March. And up pops Indiana, No. 4 in the Midwest Region, and then you anxiously sit on the end of your couch waiting for all the other details.

We talked about optimism and realism last week, and it's the same deal again. And I can tell you this much: I loved all the news on Sunday night, with just two exceptions.

Let's dispense with the negative first, so I can get on with my giddiness. There are eight sites that are hosting first- and second-round games this week, and I had my pecking order.

I was hoping for Columbus or Des Moines, easy drives for most Indiana-based fans. I liked the idea of Orlando, Birmingham and Denver, too. Great cities, with friends and family clossre. Greensboro I could have handled, because that's a good hoops city. I was hoping to avoid Sacramento, just because of the long flights, and expenses.

Of the eight sites, my wish for a trip to Albany, N.Y. ranked about .... well, 12th. And sure enough, that's where the Hoosiers are heading, getting a matchup with No. 13 seed Kent State, the Mid-American Conference champions, on Friday in the first round.

Ugghh.

And then, an hour later, the game times were announced. Indiana is a the fourth and final game in Albany on Friday, and they're calling the start time 9:55 p.m. ET. My personal experience on those starts, which are totally reliant on how long the first night game between No. 5 seed Miami and No. 12 Drake drags on, is that it will start well past 10 p.m. and won't be over until well past midnight.

Double Ugghh.

You always worry about energy in those late starts, and you worry about the quick turnaround for a potential round-two game on Sunday. But it is what it is, and in March you only worry about controlling the controllables. Indiana practices at night all the time anyway, so hopefully that won't be an issue.

Other than that, man, I'm all good. Indiana got the seed I wanted, the No. 5 seed I wanted to potentially face and the No. 1 seed I want to see in the second week, if it comes to that.

We have no idea how many good games Indiana can play in a row, but I'm telling you right now, this draw sets up for a nice postseason run for the Hoosiers.

Let's look at what I like:

Holding on to the No. 4 seed

I wasn't sure Indiana would remain a No. 4 seed after losing to Penn State on Saturday, but as it turned out, it didn't make a difference. Being No. 4 after their 22-11 season is about as high as they could be seeded. It's a good spot.

Kent State is the No. 13 seed in the Midwest and Indiana's first-round opponent. The Golden Flashes are 28-6 and went 15-3 in the Mid-American Conference, finishing a game behind Toledo. I am certainly not taking them lightly because. they are a very good mid-major team. But still, they are a mid-major that doesn't have much size and no one player who can even think to single-cover Indiana's All-American, Trayce Jackson-Davis. It's a big mismatch in the post, for sure.

So even though Indiana has been very inconsistent at times, I do like their chances in the opener. The Hoosiers have been established as a 4.5-point favorite, according to the Fanduel.com gambling website. Being a No. 4 seed gives you a 13-seed for an opponent, which I think is really good because there are a lot of tough teams on the No. 12 line. 

There are two 30-win teams with No. 12 seeds, College of Charleston and Oral Roberts, and both could make noise. (VCU and Drake are the others.) So I like where Indiana sits.

Getting the best 5-seed matchup

I think Indiana has the best matchup possible too with their potential second-round matchup. If the seeds hold, Indiana would get Miami, a team that has some concerns right now. They're a much better matchup than Duke, the No. 5 seed in the East that's won nine in a row, including a win over Miami on the way to winning the ACC Tournament this weekend. It's also better than playing Saint Mary's again, the 5-seed in the West who crushed Indiana in the first round a year ago in Portland, Ore.

Miami lost starting forward Norchad Omier to an ankle injury in the first minute of Friday's loss to Duke in the ACC Tournament. The 6-foot-7 sophomore from Nicarauga is third in scoring (13.7), first in rebounding (9.7) and blocked shots (1.3) for the Hurricanes. Miami coach Jim Larranaga said Sunday night that he was grateful for the Friday-Sunday slot ''because every day will give us another chance to see if we can get him back out on the floor.'' 

He'll be day-to-day all week, for sure. 

Miami, like Kent State, is a good team, very deep around the perimeter, too. They've got a lot of three-point shooters, and Indiana's guards will have to be at their best, but I'm guessing Indiana will be favored in that game, too.

Houston is the No. 1 in the region

I did not want to see Kansas in Indiana's bracket, only because I've already seen them toy with Indiana in December. Alabama, despite its off-court issues, is crazy good, too. We know all about Purdue, the No. 1 seed in the East, and even though Indiana has beaten them twice, I'd just as soon avoid them for as long as possible.

I'm burying the lede here, but my point is that I think Houston is the most beatable No. 1 seed, and that's who is at the top of the Hoosiers' regional. Get through the first week and, if the seeds hold, it would be Houston in the regional semifinals in Kansas City. 

I'll take that. 

The Cougars, who are led by former Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson, are talented and athletic, but I also think Kansas, Alabama and Purdue are better. They've handled the big stage well in the past couple of years with good postseason runs, but Indiana is still far more experienced in dealing with big-time games like this.

So, yes, outside of flying to Albany and having some late nights, I was cautiously — but enthusiastically — excited about what might transpire here. Can Indiana make a run? Absolutely, and I'm expecting that.

What we do know about this Indiana group, though, is that they also could get knocked out quickly. They've been too up and down for my liking this year, but at their best, they have been very good. I can see them getting through the first weekend and making some noise in Kansas City.

Cautious, of course. But enthusiastic? You betcha. 

Welcome to the madness of March. 

"Nobody wants to go home in March Madness and I get it,'' Indiana coach Mike Woodson said. "That's why you've got to be ready to play every minute, every second of every game that you get an opportunity to play.

"We do have three days (to prepare in Bloomington). We don't play until Friday, so we'll have four days, really, to get ready for our opponent, and that's enough time, I think. So we've just got to come committed (Monday). We'll let them sleep in and then we'll have a late practice tomorrow, and then we'll get going on Kent State.''

Related stories on Indiana basketball 

• INDIANA GETS KENT STATE: After a 22-11 season in year two under coach Mike Woodson, Indiana received a No. 4 seed in the Midwest Region of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers play No. 13 seed Kent State in the Round of 64. CLICK HERE
• NCAA TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE: The 2023 NCAA Tournament appears to be wide open this season. The field of 68 will be announced on Sunday night. Here's everything you need to know about the field so far, and locations for all games played between March 14 and April 3, when a champion will be decided in Houston, Texas. CLICK HERE
• GAME STORY: Indiana came up short in the Big Ten Tournament, falling to Penn State 77-73 in the semifinals. Now the Hoosiers, still a flawed team at 22-11, await their NCAA Tournament fate on Sunday, with one last shot at making this a memorable season. CLICK HERE
• WHAT WOODSON SAID: Indiana got knocked out of the Big Ten Tournament on Saturday, falling to Penn State 77-73 in the semifinals. Now it's on to the NCAA Tournament. Here's what Indiana coach Mike Woodson said when he met with the media after the game, with the full video and transcript. CLICK HERE
• PHOTO GALLERY: Indiana lost to Penn State on Saturday in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament, falling 77-73. Here are the best photos from the game. CLICK HERE