Editor's Note: Indiana Daily Student Senior Writer Rick Newkirk interviewed ESPN "bracketologist" Joe Lunardi via e-mail, asking him five questions about IU's NCAA Tournament fate. Lunardi is a weekly columnist on ESPN.com and regularly contributes to ESPN broadcasts regarding college basketball.
RN -- How important was the last-second layup by Wisconsin's Alondo Tucker? Given a win against Northwestern, what does IU need to do in the Big Ten tourney to have a chance for an NCAA tournament bid?\nJL -- In my view, Indiana needs to defeat at least one (and probably more than one) NCAA-level team to be a realistic at-large candidate. A chance to do that was lost Tuesday night at Wisconsin, so the Hoosiers must hope for other chances at the Big Ten tournament.
RN -- What will the selection committee like and dislike about IU's profile come selection Sunday?\nJL -- IU's strength of schedule, both non-conference and overall, is obviously impressive. The Hoosiers were also willing to play big games away from home. Of course, the object of the game is to win, and IU simply hasn't done enough winning. And their two best wins (Wisconsin and Michigan State) both came at Assembly Hall. This is not a good road team.
RN -- In your mind, what is the single most important statistic for the committee, and how does that affect IU?\nJL -- Who have you beaten and where? Indiana is so-so on the first part of the question, and its road record is just not good enough to comply with the second.
RN -- Will the committee consider IU's two last-second losses against Charlotte and Wisconsin as near-wins? \nJL -- No. Are they "good losses" to NCAA-bound teams? Yes.
RN -- I'm only going to ask you for one more word. Yes or no, will Indiana get into the NCAA Tournament if the Hoosiers don't win the Big Ten?\nJL -- Two words: Probably not.
