UPDATE: ESPN has confirmed the validity of the bracket in a statement.
Now ESPN says that the bracket will be broadcast at 5 p.m. on ESPN2 as well as the regularly-schedule Selection Show on ESPN at 7 p.m.
Per a bracket that was seemingly accidentally leaked by ESPN, an Indiana Hoosiers basketball squad will play in the NCAA Tournament after all. After a disappointing Selection Sunday in Bloomington, it seems that Teri Moren’s team came through by earning its first NCAA bid since the 2015-16 season. This of course has not been confirmed yet.
According to the bracket, the Hoosiers will play in the Portland Regional, slotting into the field of 64 as a 10-seed. In the round of 64 they’ll take on 7-seed Texas, who went 23-9 on the season and finished third in the Big 12. The Longhorns also reached the semifinal of the Big 12 Tournament before bowing out against 2-seed Iowa State. The most recent AP poll has the Longhorns ranked as the No. 23 team in the country. The matchup between the Hoosiers and Horns would be set for Friday in Eugene, Oregon.
If confirmed, this is an impressive feat for the Hoosiers. Of course last season they won the WNIT, but it seemed as if it would be hard for them to take the next step and return to the NCAA Tournament following the graduation of program legends Tyra Buss and Amanda Cahill.