Indiana Ceremony Provides Fodder for Big Ten Foes

Just when it looked like the Big Ten men’s basketball title race was settling into finality, another Tuesday night surprise rocked the boat as Indiana fell at home on Senior night to a suddenly surging Ohio State. Instead of locking up an out-right claim to the Big Ten title, the Hoosiers now must win in Ann Arbor Sunday afternoon to avoid settling into what could very well be a four-way tie atop the final standings.

But while the news of the night undoubtedly will the game itself, the postgame festivities in Indiana’s Assembly Hall also managed to make the headlines. In addition to the customary senior video and speeches, the Hoosiers went a step further: they cut down the nets.

Before you even ask the question, yes, Indiana did clinch at least a share of the title so they will be considered “Big Ten Champions” regardless of the outcome in Ann Arbor. That certainly entitles them to the trophy, the hats, and a celebration.

Tuesday night, however, was not the night.

I realized that 99% of Indiana’s residents and fans nationwide were convinced Senior night would be nothing more than a coronation of the new champs and a celebration of IU’s first out-right title since 1993. Unfortunately for Hoosier nation, the Buckeyes had other plans, completely out-toughing the nation’s 2^nd ranked team en route to a 67-58 victory.

In other words, Tuesday was not a good night for Hoosier basketball.

While that shouldn’t take away from the accomplishment of winning a conference title, it did necessitate that the champagne (metaphoric of course) be put on ice for the time being. As much as they wanted to be able to celebrate in their last opportunity in front of a full house at Assembly Hall, losing should have put an end to those hopes. You just don’t cut down nets after a losing effort.

Except, apparently, if you are in Tom Crean’s program. The same program that gave out “Sweet 16” rings after last season’s two-game run in the NCAA Tournament further cemented its image as being the Big Ten basketball equivalent of a modern little league baseball team (“You get a trophy and you get a trophy, even you, you too get a trophy!”).

More importantly for Indiana, the celebration provided a nice ounce of motivation for the four teams now back in the Big Ten title picture heading into the last few days of the regular season. Given just about the best locker room material they could possibly be provided with, Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan, and yes, even Wisconsin now head into their final games smelling the blood of a rival who seems already content with its accomplishment. You think Michigan doesn’t want to cut down the nets in front of this same Indiana team now?

The video of the Hoosiers taking pictures in their Big Ten Championship hats with the trophy and of cutting down the nets in front of a fairly empty Assembly Hall will no doubt find a place in locker rooms from Madison to Columbus, from East Lansing to Ann Arbor.

Indiana has clinched just one thing: a first-round bye in next week’s Big Ten Tournament. They will at least share the regular season title, but could end up with as low as a three seed in the tournament and after losing in Bloomington, a loss Sunday in Ann Arbor might cost the Hoosiers a chance to play in Indianapolis during the regional rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

Again, not much to celebrate.

This is why Tom Crean and the Hoosiers are the program everyone in the Big Ten loves to hate. Are they fun to watch at their best? Sure. But when they fall short and still celebrate the accomplishments of yesteryear as if the game never happened, the ire of the Big Ten falls squarely on the IU program.