Hoosiers receive No. 4 seed, draw VCU in NCAA Tournament opener

A record-breaking season for Teri Moren’s women’s basketball program will continue with the highest seeding in Hoosier history.

On Selection Monday, Indiana received a No. 4 seed in the Mercado Region of next week’s NCAA Tournament, drawing a matchup against No. 13 VCU. Prior to this season, IU’s highest placement in the NCAA bracket was a No. 8 seed in 2002. This is only the seventh time in program history that IU has received an invitation to the women’s dance.

While exciting, Monday’s news came with a slight tinge of disappointment. When the NCAA selection committee revealed its top 16 seeds two weeks ago, the Hoosiers were on the No. 3 line. Last week, with the Hoosiers closing the regular season with nine consecutive wins, the belief was that a fruitful run at the Big Ten Tournament might have even bumped the Hoosiers up to a No. 2 seed. Instead, IU couldn’t hold off Michigan State in a 69-61 loss in its conference tournament opener and dropped a line.

Ultimately, though, it may all work out for IU, which avoided No. 1 seeds such as UConn, Stanford and South Carolina, and landed in the region anchored by No. 1 NC State. A win over VCU would pit the Hoosiers against the winner between No. 5 Gonzaga and No. 12 Belmont.

VCU landed in the field after beating UMass in the Atlantic 10 Tournament title game on Sunday. The Rams (16-10, 10-5) were a No. 5 seed in their conference event.

IU and VCU will tip off on Monday, March 22 at 2 p.m. Eastern. The game will air on ESPNU.