NCAA Tournament Predictions: South Region: 4. Indiana vs. 13 New Mexico State

By: Kels Dayton

 4 Indiana (25-8, 11-7 Big Ten)-Tom Crean has revitalized Indiana basketball. The Hoosiers spent the better part of the last five seasons at the bottom of the Big Ten, but have rebounded in a big way this season. Indiana handed No. 1 overall seed Kentucky its only loss of the regular season on December 10, and may have a chance to end the Wildcats’ season if both teams advance to the Sweet 16.

6-11 Freshman forward Cody Zeller has been a major reason for the Hoosiers’ turnaround, averaging 15.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

Christian Watford, who hit the game-winning three that gave the Hoosiers the win over Kentucky and sent Assembly Hall into a state of pandaemonium, averages 12 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest.

Point guard Jordan Hulls is a local kid with a typical Indiana shot– he strokes it at 50 percent from the field and a blistering 49 percent from three-point range.

KEY STATS:

9th Field Goal Percentage (.487)

19th Points per game (77.3)

Team stats courtesy www.espn.com.

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 13 New Mexico State (26-9, 10-4 WAC)-The Aggies won the WAC by hammering Louisiana Tech in the tournament championship game, 82-57. The Aggies have a nice win at New Mexico, and have some nice post players who can provide a challenge for Indiana’s Cody Zeller inside.

The Aggies are a good rebounding team, ranking 6th in the nation with boards per game.

Senior forward Wendell McKines leads New Mexico St. with 18.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.

6-4 guard Christian Kabongo is an excellent facilitator and score a little bit if he has to. Kabongo is averaging 14.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.

KEY STATS: 

11th Points per game (75.4)

6th Rebounds per game (48.3)

31st Field goal percentage (.472)

PREDICTION: Indiana 

 

Stats courtesy www.espn.com.