As the NCAA Tournament nears, every game holds weight for Indiana men’s basketball if it wishes to hear its name called on Selection Sunday on March 15.  

After going on a four-game losing skid in January, the Hoosiers’ future looked uncertain, as the losses piled up and the absence of quality wins was apparent.  

But since that losing streak, the Cream and Crimson appeared to turn a new leaf, winning four of their next five games and picking up multiple Quadrant 1 victories to strengthen their NCAA Tournament resume. 

Ahead of their matchup with a struggling Oregon team that sits at the bottom of the conference standings, all the Hoosiers needed to do was come away with a win. A victory wouldn’t enhance the resume, while a loss could have prevailed as detrimental.  

So, against the Ducks inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Monday night, the Hoosiers took care of business and did exactly what it needed to do to come away with their 92-74 victory over Oregon.  

“Even through that four-game stretch, I thought we came in every day at practice and continued to really work at what we needed to work on, and it’s kind of resulting in this run that we been on a little bit so far.” redshirt senior forward Tucker DeVries said postgame.  

Against the Ducks, Indiana saw production from all facets of the roster, as four of the five players in the starting rotation finished in double-digit scoring. Fifth year senior guard Lamar Wilkerson led the way with 41 points off 13-for-20 shooting from the field and six made shots from beyond the arc. While Wilkerson’s performance stood out, his effective shot making created opportunities for his teammates.  

Senior forward Sam Alexis was one Hoosier who benefited.  

Throughout the night, Alexis tallied 16 points on a perfect 8-for-8 shooting from the field. The University of Florida transfer also notched five boards and two assists in his 25 minutes on the floor. The 16-point performance marked his second consecutive game in double figure scoring.  

“He (Alexis) kind of is our motor and enthusiasm every day,” Tucker DeVries said. “I think that leads to the success he’s had as of late, too. He’s so versatile at that position.”  

After the game, Indiana head coach Darian DeVries said Indiana has not utilized Alexis enough and will continue to make use of him as the season progresses.  

In addition to individual performances, the Hoosiers as a whole played together and efficiently. The Cream and Crimson limited turnovers and won the rebounding battle — two statistics Darian DeVries has emphasized all season long. Indiana had nine turnovers and outrebounded Oregon 29-25  

Indiana also did not let up in the second half. At times this season, the Hoosiers were accustomed to crumbling in the second half and letting wins slip away. But recently, and against the Ducks, Indiana has broken that habit.  

Darian DeVries attributed this change to his team finding an “identity at both ends of the floor.” He said that at other points this season they only played 30 minutes of a game, instead of sustaining for the full 40 

“That’s a problem, you can’t be that team,” he said postgame. 

But against Oregon, they weren’t “that team.” The Hoosiers played the game efficiently and secured a victory they needed.  

And while the win was crucial to Indiana’s NCAA Tournament hopes, the victory carried importance beyond the Hoosiers’ resume. The win added to the Cream and Crimson’s momentum, which they will likely need ahead of its upcoming gauntlet stretch of games.  

Of Indiana’s next four games, three are against top-15 opponents. The Hoosiers will be tasked with facing No. 10 Michigan State at home and No. 8 Illinois and No. 13 Purdue on the road.  

And with the NCAA Tournament hopes on the line, each game carries weight for the Hoosiers. But now having won five of it’s last six games, Indiana looks to be on the right path.  

“Basketball is a game of runs,” Wilkerson said. “I just feel like it’s our run right now. You’d rather be playing your best basketball in March than January.”