Mackenzie Holmes. Indiana Athletics photo.

Indiana has been climbing the last few years, but this season, they have arrived.

Last week they were ranked No. 2 in the AP top 25 poll – the highest in program history. At 22-1 and a Big Ten-leading 13-1, they have beaten five top-ten teams, and eight ranked teams.

By comparison, undefeated No. 1 South Carolina has played just three ranked teams and No. 3 LSU, who was also unbeaten until falling to the Gamecocks yesterday, has played two ranked teams.

So, why aren’t the Hoosiers getting the shine that others in the rankings are getting? It isn’t as though they snuck up on this lofty ranking; their first top-25 win was in December.

But as far as the national media is concerned, the Big 10 has been all about Iowa and Caitlin Clark, or Ohio State and its stellar core. Yet, Indiana has beaten both teams in the last two weeks, by nine and 13 points, respectively.

The Hoosiers are a mature, disciplined, balanced, tough, and calm group of players. Nobody overwhelms opponents more with their outstanding athleticism (which is not to say they aren’t superb athletes). They play an up-tempo but controlled game of basketball, focus on being patient enough to defend as a group for a full 30 seconds, and they will pass up a good shot for two…