If you’ve spent any time at Nick’s English Hut lately, the vibe probably feels a little tense. Honestly, that’s just life as a Hoosier fan. One minute we're hanging a hundred on Marquette, and the next we're watching a 19-0 run by Michigan State turn a competitive game into a total blowout.
The raw indiana men's basketball stats tell a story of two different teams living in the same jerseys. On paper, Darian DeVries has this group humming offensively. They are averaging 83.1 points per game. That’s top-tier production. But the record stands at 12-5 overall and a mediocre 3-3 in the Big Ten as of mid-January 2026.
It's weird.
You look at the box scores and see Lamar Wilkerson playing like an absolute superstar. The guy is putting up 20.2 points a night. He even dropped 44 in a single game earlier this year. But then you look at the rebounding margins against physical teams, and it's like the team hits a brick wall.
The Numbers Behind the DeVries Era
The transition from Mike Woodson to Darian DeVries wasn't just a coaching change; it was a total identity transplant. We went from a team that lived in the paint to a squad that actually understands what a three-pointer is for.
Currently, Indiana is hitting 10.5 threes per game.
Think about that. For years, Assembly Hall was where spacing went to die. Now, they're ranked 26th in the country in three-pointers made. They’re shooting 36.1% from deep, which isn't world-beating, but it's enough to keep defenses from packing the lane.
The effective field goal percentage is sitting at a healthy 57.1%.
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When they aren't turning the ball over, this offense is actually beautiful to watch. The problem? The turnovers are backbreaking. In the recent 81-60 loss to Michigan State, they coughed it up 14 times. The Spartans turned those mistakes into 29 points. You simply cannot win in the Big Ten when you're gifting the other team nearly a third of their points.
Breaking Down the Primary Rotation
Lamar Wilkerson is clearly "The Guy." He’s a senior guard who can create his own shot from basically anywhere on the floor.
- Lamar Wilkerson: 20.2 PPG, 3.1 REB, 2.6 AST
- Tucker DeVries: 14.6 PPG, 4.9 REB, 2.8 AST
- Tayton Conerway: 11.9 PPG, 3.7 REB, 4.5 AST
- Reed Bailey: 10.1 PPG, 4.6 REB, 1.5 AST
Tucker DeVries—the coach's son—has been solid, though maybe not as dominant as some expected after his transfer. He’s the team's leading rebounder at just 4.9 per game.
Wait. Read that again.
The leading rebounder for a major Big Ten program is a 6'7" wing averaging less than five boards. That is a glaring red flag in the indiana men's basketball stats that explains why they’ve struggled against the "bruiser" teams of the conference.
The Glass is Half Empty (Literally)
If you want to know why Indiana lost to Nebraska and Michigan State back-to-back, look at the glass. Against the Spartans, IU was out-rebounded 37 to 19. Nineteen rebounds! Total! For the whole game!
That’s basically impossible at this level.
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Michigan State grabbed 13 offensive rebounds. Indiana only had five. It’s hard to run a high-octane offense when you never have the ball. The Hoosiers are currently ranked 319th in the nation in offensive rebounding. They are essentially a "one-and-done" offense. If the first shot doesn't go in, the possession is over.
Sam Alexis and Reed Bailey are the bigs, but they haven't been the "force" in the middle that Oumar Ballo was (before he graduated) or Malik Reneau was (before he transferred to Miami).
Reed Bailey is a 6'11" senior, and he’s giving you 4.6 rebounds. Sam Alexis is 6'9" and giving you the same. They are getting out-muscled by smaller, hungrier teams.
Where the Hoosiers Stand Right Now
Despite the rebounding woes, the predictive metrics still kind of like this team. KenPom and other systems have Indiana hovering around the top 30-35 range.
The NET ranking is sitting at 32.
That’s firmly in "at-large bid" territory for the NCAA Tournament. But the schedule isn't getting any easier. With Purdue, UCLA, and Illinois looming on the horizon, the Hoosiers need to find a way to toughen up inside.
One bright spot is the free throw shooting.
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Usually, Indiana fans are used to cringing at the charity stripe. Not this year. The team is shooting 78% from the line. In close games, that's going to be the difference between a March Madness berth and a Tuesday night in the NIT.
Actionable Insights for the Second Half
If Indiana wants to stop the slide and climb back into the top half of the Big Ten standings, a few things have to change immediately.
First off, the bench has to provide more than just a breather for the starters. Trent Sisley, the freshman from Santa Claus, Indiana, is showing flashes. He’s averaging 6.5 points and 4.2 boards in limited minutes. Honestly, he might need to start seeing 25+ minutes just to help with the physical deficiency on the wings.
Secondly, the transition defense is a mess. When they miss those three-pointers, they are getting beat down the floor constantly.
What to watch for in the next five games:
- Rebound Margin: If IU is -10 or worse on the boards, they will likely lose, regardless of how well Wilkerson scores.
- Turnover Rate: They need to keep the giveaways under 11 per game to allow their 83 PPG offense to actually function.
- The "Third Option": Beyond Wilkerson and DeVries, someone like Tayton Conerway needs to consistently get to the rim to create gravity.
The indiana men's basketball stats suggest a team that is dangerous but fragile. They can score with anyone in the country, but they can also get bullied by anyone in the conference. The road to the tournament is still open, but the margin for error just got a whole lot thinner. Keep an eye on the rebounding numbers in the Iowa and Michigan games—they’ll tell you everything you need to know about where this season is headed.