INDIANAPOLIS — It may be hard to believe, but the college basketball regular season is winding down, and the "madness" is almost upon us.
As we enter the final week of the season, some teams are working to secure their seeding, others are still trying to land a spot in the field of 68, while most are left hoping to grab a spot with a run through the conference tournament.
Here's a look at where Indiana's Division I men's basketball teams stand heading into March Madness (updated March 15):
In
Purdue - The outright Big Ten champions have been one of the best teams in the nation all season and, despite three road losses to Big Ten opponents, figure to be one of the four No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament. Securing the top seed should guarantee the Boilermakers the short drive to Indianapolis for the opening rounds of the tournament.
Purdue will face Michigan State on Friday, March 15 in Minneapolis.
Sweating it out
Indiana State - The Sycamores reached heights this season not seen since Larry Bird roamed campus in 1979.
Even after a late-season swoon, Indiana State had righted the ship and appeared to be NCAA-bound. ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi had the Sycamores in the tournament as the automatic qualifier from the Missouri Valley Conference, playing a virtual home game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Then Drake got in the way.
The Bulldogs, who split the season series with the Sycamores, jumped out to a big lead in the MVC title game, then held off Indiana State for an 84-80 win and the automatic entry into the Big Dance.
So where does that leave the Sycamores?
While Indiana State's NET ranking of 28 (which rose two spots after Wednesday's games, then dropped one following Thursday night's action) seems to put them firmly in the conversation for the field of 68, Lunardi's rankings on Monday, March 11 put the Sycamores on the bubble as one of the last four teams in the tournament field.
By Friday, however, Lunardi had Indiana State as the second team out of the tournament, making the situation seem a bit more bleak for Sycamore fans.
NCAA hopes dashed
Indiana - The Hoosiers' beat Penn State to open the Big Ten Tournament and start a run toward an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament, but fell to Nebraska 93-66 in the quarterfinals, ending their hopes.
Ball State - The Cardinals' fate was sealed before their must-win game at Bowling Green on the final day of the regular season was done Friday night. Western Michigan upset Akron 90-84, clinching the last spot in the MAC Tournament for the Broncos. The Cardinals ended up losing to the Falcons, 80-70, ending their season.
Butler - In a few short weeks, the Bulldogs went from a bubble team to an also-ran in Lunardi's projected bracket. With a 76-72 loss to Xavier in the opening game of the Big East Tournament, Butler's shot at an NCAA bid is over.
Notre Dame - The Fighting Irish finished 12th in the ACC standings and have a NET ranking of 126. That means having to win five straight games in the conference tournament, starting March 12 in Washington, D.C.
Notre Dame defeated Georgia Tech, 84-80, in the first round of the ACC Tournament, but fell to Wake Forest on Wednesday, ending their NCAA chances.
IUPUI - The Jaguars' season officially ended with an 85-66 loss to Cleveland State in the opening round of the Horizon League tournament. IUPUI has a NET ranking of 361 out of 362 teams in NCAA Division I.
Evansville - The Purple Aces picked up a win over Illinois State to open the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, but fell to second-seeded Drake 79-58 Friday, ending their season.
Purdue Fort Wayne - The Mastodons lost to top-seeded Oakland 75-65 in the second round of the Horizon League Tournament.
Valparaiso - The Beacons were beaten by Belmont, 86-61, in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament dates
This year's NCAA Tournament bracket will be set on Sunday, March 17.
First- and second-round games of this year's tournament will be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The first round is scheduled to be played on Friday, March 22, with the second round games on Sunday, March 24, with a bid to the Sweet 16 on the line.
Regional sites this year are in Boston, Dallas, Detroit and Los Angeles, with the Final Four taking place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The national championship game is scheduled for Monday, April 8.
The Final Four and national championship return to Indianapolis in 2026.