Gottlieb likes Hoosiers' chances for national title

Indiana Daily Student reporter Max McCombs spoke with ESPN college basketball analyst Doug Gottlieb on Friday.

Gottlieb said that, on paper, IU and Louisville look like the two best teams in the country.

“There’s a little cluster there of Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Ohio State, all kind of the same,” Gottlieb said. “I think Indiana and Louisville will be two of the five favorites, maybe, to win the national title.”

Gottlieb went on to talk about the effect of incoming freshman such as Kevin
“Yogi” Ferrell.

“Indiana, for example, is adding a kid named Yogi Ferrell who’s a point guard, incredibly talented,” Gotlieb said. “But they have everybody back. So, how do the egos handle that? You’re more talented than you were last year, but now you spend an entire offseason with everyone telling you how great you are and then how great you’re going to be, and then you added a point guard, so everybody else’s minutes become a little more limited.

“On paper, Louisville, if they stay healthy, Indiana should be better and should compete for a national title. But games aren’t played on paper, they’re played inside television sets.”

The Hoosiers are ranked No. 1 in the nation by numerous preseason polls, including Sports Illustrated and ESPN, among others.

— Alex McCarthy