Indiana Basketball: Biggest Things We've Learned About Hoosiers in 2014-15

Just like every other team on the fringe of the Top 25, the Indiana Hoosiers have experienced some highs and lows throughout the regular season.

After a loss Wednesday night to Maryland, Tom Crean and Co. sit at 17-8 overall with a 7-5 record in the Big Ten. 

The Hoosiers have struggled on the road this season, but their play at home has kept them afloat in the race for one of the top four seeds in the Big Ten tournament. 

Here's a look at the biggest things we've learned about the Hoosiers so far this season. 

The Strong Guard Combination Has Potential to Take the Hoosiers Far in March

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If we have learned anything over the first 25 games of the season, it is Indiana has a dynamic guard combination that can take it far in March. 

James Blackmon Jr. and Yogi Ferrell both average over 16 points per game, and each brings a different skill set to the table that complements the other's game. 

Blackmon may be a freshman, but he has made a massive impact on the Hoosiers with 16.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. The young guard is more aggressive on the boards than Ferrell, who likes to play the role of provider. 

In his junior season, Ferrell is averaging 4.3 assists per game to go along with his 16 points per contest. He is also shooting 42.3 percent from beyond the arc, which is a few percentage points above Blackmon's total.

If the pair of guards can get hot at the right time in March, the Hoosiers could become a matchup problem for any opponent and make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. 

Hanner Mosquera-Perea's Presence Is Needed Down Low

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The Hoosiers received a major boost ahead of their home game with Michigan last Sunday when Hanner Mosquera-Perea was cleared to play again. 

The return of the big man will help solidify the frontcourt, which has failed to keep up with the success of the backcourt all season. 

During the seven-game span in which Mosquera-Perea was out injured, Indiana went 4-3 and suffered losses to Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin. 

In those three losses against strong frontcourts, the Hoosiers out-rebounded their opponents, but they failed to produce a consistent offensive threat inside. 

If Mosquera-Perea can bring a calming influence to the paint on offense, Indiana should be able to battle down low in close games for the rest of the season. 

On the defensive side of the ball, the junior should be able to take away points in the paint if he can use his height to alter what are supposed to be easy baskets. 

The Hoosiers Need to Develop a Scoring Threat off the Bench

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There is a considerable drop-off between the top four Indiana scorers and the rest of the team, which is something that might cost the Hoosiers in March. 

Behind Blackmon, Ferrell, Troy Williams and Robert Johnson, there are only two players who average over six points per game. 

If Indiana runs into a team that is able to shut down one or two of its stars, it may be in trouble due to the lack of production off the pine.

With six games remaining in Big Ten play, the players on the Indiana bench should work on becoming better contributors in the point department. 

If a player like Nick Zeisloft or Collin Hartman can average close to 10 points per game during the final stretch of the regular season, the Hoosiers could prove to us all they can develop a threat off the pine just in case they need one. 

Indiana Has Failed to Pass a Major Road Test

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All five of Indiana's Big Ten losses have come on the road, including the 68-66 defeat at the hands of Maryland Wednesday night. The other four losses came against Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin. 

The quintet of teams that have defeated Indiana on their respective home courts are also ahead of the Hoosiers in the conference standings. 

All of those key road trips produced an opportunity for the Hoosiers to go into a dangerous road environment and pick up a big win. 

While they don't have a chance to earn a quality win on the road for the rest of the regular season, the Hoosiers should take the five defeats as a learning experience to help them prepare for March. 

The one positive Indiana can take out of its most recent road loss was it was close to taking down Maryland. The other four road losses were of the double-digit variety.

In the postseason, the Hoosiers will run into a volatile neutral environment that will test the team's maturity. If they can learn from their conference road trips, the Hoosiers might be able to stick around in March. 

Second Place Could Easily Belong to Indiana

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Despite suffering several tough losses over the last few weeks, the Hoosiers still have a legitimate chance of finishing in second place in the Big Ten. 

Indiana has one of the most favorable schedules in the conference over the next few weeks, as it only has to go on the road twice to Rutgers and Northwestern. 

Tom Crean's team also contains the power to eliminate Iowa and Michigan State from the race for the coveted No. 2 seed at the Big Ten tournament. The Hoosiers close out the season with games against the Hawkeyes and Spartans in Bloomington. 

The biggest contenders for the spot opposite Wisconsin in the conference tournament bracket are Ohio State and Maryland. But both of those teams will have to face Wisconsin in the coming weeks, which should lead to them losing ground in the standings. 

If the Hoosiers can put everything together at once with Mosquera-Perea back in the fold, they could easily cruise through the final six games of the regular season and jump on to the national radar. 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. 

All statistics obtained from ESPN.com.