For the third straight season, the Hoosiers are playing in the NCAA Tournament.
But for the first time on selection day, the Hoosiers were unsure of their fate. So as Dari Nowkhah kept naming teams, the Hoosiers waited, anticipation growing.
But eventually, in the 15th of 18 regionals, IU’s name was displayed across the multiple televisions in IU’s clubhouse, causing an uproar from the Hoosiers, any possibility of being snubbed displaced by feelings of relief.
“It was kind of unfortunate that the two places they were predicting us to go were some of the last places they showed on the selection show,” senior Will Nolden said. “Being a senior, that’s definitely a little nerve-wracking, but we’re just glad to see our name called and have a chance to play.”
The Hoosiers will travel to Nashville, Tenn., where they will be a No. 3 seed in Vanderbilt’s regional. The No. 4 seed is Lipscomb, while the Hoosiers first game will be 3 p.m. Friday against No. 2 seed Radford.
The Hoosiers were certain they would qualify for a regional, with junior pitcher Scott Effross saying the team was confident a No. 3 seed was assured for the Hoosiers.
In the end, Effross said he and his teammates didn’t really care where they ended up, so long as they were playing in a regional somewhere.
“Wherever you put us, we were in the same mentality where if we play our brand of baseball then we’ll be alright,” he said.
But Vanderbilt is not just any regional host. At the end of last season, the Commodores were the team dogpiling at TD Ameritrade Park, celebrating a national championship.
The Hoosiers say they are excited to start their postseason journey in Vanderbilt’s historic stadium and to possibly have to play the Commodores to continue their season.
“What a great place to start,” junior pitcher Kyle Hart said. “That’s the way I look at it.”
IU Coach Chris Lemonis is familiar with Vanderbilt from his time spent at Lousiville as recently as last season. Lemonis was an assistant coach when Lousiville lost to Vanderbilt in the College World Series.
He said he knows the threat Vanderbilt can serve to IU.
“I know Vanderbilt because of my time at Louisville, we played them a lot over the years. (We) played them in the World Series last year, so I know how good they are and they can always pitch and defend. This year they look pretty offensive too.”
The selection show also revealed a record five Big Ten teams qualifying for regionals, breaking the previous record of three.
The five teams is a testament to what the Big Ten has been building for the last couple of years, led by IU’s exploits nationally.
Lemonis said Monday was a huge day for the conference as a whole.
“I think that’s one of the biggest stories with the Big Ten and the five and getting a national seed two years in a row,” Lemonis said. “I think our league’s making big jumps right now, and I think that’s going to be big for the future of our league.”
