The Indiana Hoosiers (20-13) take on the Wyoming Cowboys (25-8) in a battle between a pair of 12-seeds in the NCAA Tournament First Four round. Indiana’s run to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals punched its ticket to the Big Dance, while the Cowboys captured an at-large bid after losing in the Mountain West semifinal game.
Tuesday’s tip-off is at 9:10 p.m. EST inside UD Arena in Dayton, OH. The game will be televised on truTV. Indiana is a 4-point favorite, and the over-under total is at 132.5 points.
What to Know – Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016 and the 40th appearance in school history. The Hoosiers dropped their final two games of the regular season, but wins over Michigan and Illinois in the conference tournament were enough to get Indiana in as one of the last teams. Indiana ranks 36th in the KenPom and 38th in the NCAA NET rankings.
On offense, the Hoosiers average 71.5 points per game, hitting 45.9% of their shots from the field and 33.9% of their shots from the 3-point line. Indiana’s defense limits opponents to 65.9 points per game, 39.1% shooting from the floor, and 32.6% shooting from the arc.
Trayce Jackson-Davis is Indiana’s leading scorer, pouring in 18.1 points per game. Jackson-Davis was unstoppable in the conference tournament, averaging 25.3 points per game over three contests. Xavier Johnson is second on the team scoring 12.3 ppg, and Race Thompson is the only Hoosier averaging double-figures with 11.5 ppg.
Indiana was 19-14 against the spread during the regular season and 4-0 ATS on a neutral floor. The Hoosiers 5-1 ATS over their last six games against teams from the Mountain West.
What to Know – Wyoming Cowboys
The Cowboys are back in March Madness for the first time since 2015 and the first time since 2002 Wyoming received an at-large bid. Wyoming finished fourth in the Mountain West Conference. The Cowboys rank 58th according to KenPom and 50th in the NCAA NET rankings.
Wyoming scored 73.0 points per game on offense thanks to 45.8% shooting from the floor and 34.3% shooting from deep. The Cowboys’ defense held teams to 65.5 points per game, 41.4% shooting from the field, and 30.5% from three.
Graham Ike (19.6 ppg) and Hunter Maldonado (18.4 ppg) pace the Cowboys’ offensive attack. Ike also averages 9.6 rebounds per game, just short of averaging a double-double. Drake Jeffries gives the Cowboys an outside presence, connecting on 42.0% of his attempts from the arc.
Wyoming is 17-13-2 ATS and 1-3 ATS at a neutral site. The Cowboys are 8-3 ATS over their previous 11 contests played in March.
The Pick is In
Wyoming put together an impressive season to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in seven years. One of the most storied programs in NCAA men’s basketball history, Indiana is also back in the postseason hiatus after a six-year absence.
The Hoosiers picked up some key wins this season, leaning on their strong defense to take down some of the top teams in the conference. Indiana’s talent and depth push the Hoosiers to a comfortable victory over the Cowboys and a date with Saint Mary’s.
Betting Pick: Indiana Hoosiers -4
