National Media Perspective: Indiana Lands in Top 10 After Winning Eight of Last Nine Games

Indiana has won eight of its last nine games, drawing praise from college basketball analysts throughout the country. Here's where the Hoosiers stack up in various power rankings released on Monday, as well as comments from the national media on Indiana.

It was another successful week for Indiana, claiming wins over Rutgers and Michigan. Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers have now won eight of their last nine games, and moved into a tie for second place in the Big Ten with Northwestern. Indiana climbed  to No. 14 in this week's AP top-25 poll ahead of matchups at Northwestern on Wednesday and at home against Illinois on Saturday.

Following Indiana's two-win week, here's what the national media said about the Hoosiers.

Andy Katz ranked Indiana No. 5 in his Power 36 for NCAA.com on Monday, behind No. 1 Houston, Alabama, Purdue and UCLA.

• "The Hoosiers followed up the Purdue win by beating Rutgers and winning at Michigan."

Seth Davis of The Athletic ranked Indiana No. 6 in his top 25 for Monday, Feb. 13, behind No. 1 Houston, Alabama, Purdue, Texas and Virginia. 

• "Indiana is the only team in my top 10 that’s underwater in Quad 1 games (5-6). But I’m ranking the Hoosiers there based on who they are right now more than their overall resume. (Again, the difference between doing an AP ballot and a tourney bracket.) The Hoosiers have won eight of their last nine following a 1-4 start in the Big Ten. They’re still not 100 percent healthy, either, as Race Thompson sat out Saturday’s win at Michigan, and senior point guard Xavier Johnson still isn’t recovered from foot surgery."

Jeff Borzello of ESPN tabbed Indiana at No. 12 in Monday's power rankings.

• "Outside of Trayce Jackson-Davis' dominance and Jalen Hood-Schifino generally playing Robin to his Batman, Indiana's stretch of eight wins in nine games has seen a variety of different ways to win. Four of the first five wins in the run came by at least 15 points, but the last three have come by a combined 12 points. The Hoosiers made nine 3s in a win over Michigan State and 10 3s in a win over Ohio State -- but made five or fewer in the other six wins. Race Thompson essentially missed four of the wins (three DNPs, and one game with four minutes) and played in four. As long as Mike Woodson has the likely runner-up for National Player of the Year, though, that might be all that matters."

Jon Rothstein slotted Indiana at No. 16 in his Rothstein 45 rankings on Sunday night. 

• "Indiana: Starting to separate itself as the second-best team in the Big Ten."

Gary Parrish of CBS placed Indiana at No. 20 in his Top 25 And 1 rankings on Monday.

• "Trayce Jackson-Davis finished with 28 points and 11 rebounds in Saturday's 62-61 win at Michigan. The Hoosiers' next game is Wednesday at Northwestern."

David Cobb of CBS included Michigan in the "Losers" section of his Winners and Losers column on Sunday after the Wolverines 62-61 loss to Indiana.

• "Michigan and Indiana combined to go scoreless for the final 2:58 as the No. 18 Hoosiers squeaked out a 62-61 victory in a game the Wolverines sorely needed. Michigan led No. 18 Indiana by 11 in the first half and by seven with under 11 minutes while trying to add some meat to its weak NCAA Tournament resume. But when the game was on the line, the Wolverines went cold. IU held Michigan scoreless for the final 5:12, and it was a good thing since the Hoosiers couldn't score either. Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino combined for 49, and no one else had more than four for the Hoosiers."

Matt Norlander of CBS Sports shared his thoughts on Indiana's win via Twitter.

• Indiana survives 62-61 at Michigan. That would've been a major addition to the Wolverines' flailing NCAAT résumé. Hoosiers have something about them, man. I don't know what March will bring, but it should include Xavier Johnson. Compelling team.

Riley Davis of the Field of 68 commented on the dominance of Purdue's Zach Edey this season and included his thoughts on Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis.

• "Two hours south, down I-65, you'll find perhaps the country's second-best player. Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis has improved in almost every statistical category in his senior season, as the Hoosiers sit behind only Purdue in the Big Ten standings. The high-flying athleticism that distinguished him as an underclassman is still there. But more impressively, TJD has refined himself as a passer. Most teams have no choice but to double him in the post, and he routinely makes them pay. After posting a 13.4 assist rate in Big Ten play last season, Jackson-Davis has nearly doubled that number (26.1 percent.)"

Related stories on Indiana basketball

• AP TOP 25: Indiana basketball climbed four spots in this week's Associated Press Top-25 poll, coming in at No. 14. Purdue dropped to No. 3 after Sunday's loss at Northwestern, and Alabama claimed its first No. 1 ranking of the season. Indiana and Purdue are the only Big Ten team's in this week's rankings. CLICK HERE
• BIG TEN RACE ALIVE: No. 1-ranked Purdue got beat again on Sunday, losing at Northwestern, and suddenly Indiana is just two games out of first in the Big Ten race. Can winning a title really be a real thing? CLICK HERE
• GAME STORY: Indiana didn't allow a point in the final 5:12 and stole a huge road win at Michigan on Saturday night, winning 62-61 with a great defensive effort and 28 points from Trayce Jackson-Davis and 21 from Jalen Hood-Schifino. CLICK HERE
• WHAT WOODSON SAID: Indiana held Michigan scoreless for the final 5:12 of the game on Saturday and got a huge Big Ten road win to move into second place. Hoosiers coach Mike Woodson was thrilled with the win and talked all about it after the game. Here's the full video of his postgame press conference, plus the transcript. CLICK HERE
• WHAT PLAYERS SAID: Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino were a two-man wrecking crew on Saturday night, helping No 18 beat Michigan 62-61. The two Hoosiers stars met with the media after the game. Here's the video of their press conference, plus the full transcript. CLICK HERE
• PHOTO GALLERY: Indiana traveled to Ann Arbor for a critical Big Ten matchup with Michigan on Saturday, and came away with a 62-61 victory to move into second place in the league standings. Here's our photo gallery, with nearly two dozen great images. CLICK HERE
• WATCH INDIANA DEFENSE ON FINAL PLAY: Michigan had the ball with a chance to secure a much-needed win, but the Indiana defense stood strong to escape with a 62-61 win. Here's the video highlight. CLICK HERE
• WATCH JACKSON-DAVIS DUNKS ON DICKINSON: Trayce Jackson-Davis caught an alley-oop from Jalen Hood-Schifino and dunked the ball through a foul from Hunter Dickinson. Here's the video highlight. CLICK HERE
• WATCH JACKSON-DAVIS OPEN GAME WITH DUNK: Trayce Jackson-Davis continued his strong play on Indiana's first possession of the game with a two-handed slam dunk. Here's the video highlight. CLICK HERE