You’ve heard it before. "Indiana is back." It’s the phrase that has haunted Bloomington since the mid-90s, usually followed by a crushing loss to a mid-major or a coach getting a massive buyout. But honestly, this year feels different. Not because the IU Hoosiers mens basketball team is undefeated—they definitely aren’t—but because the vibe at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall has shifted from "desperate for the past" to "building for the future."
The Mike Woodson era is over. Darian DeVries is the man in charge now. If you haven't been paying attention, the 2025-26 season has been a wild, somewhat chaotic experiment in the "portal-first" era of college hoops.
The DeVries Revolution: It’s Not Just About His Son
When IU hired Darian DeVries away from Drake, everyone assumed the team would just be "The Tucker DeVries Show." And yeah, Tucker is here. He’s a redshirt senior, he's 6'7", and when he's hot, he’s one of the most dangerous players in the Big Ten.
But here is what most people get wrong about this squad: Tucker isn't the one carrying the scoring load right now.
🔗 Read more: Liverpool FC Chelsea FC: Why This Grudge Match Still Hits Different
That honor belongs to Lamar Wilkerson. The transfer from Sam Houston has been absolutely lights out. He recently dropped 32 points in a tough loss against Nebraska and is currently hovering around 20 points per game. He’s the spark plug this program hasn’t had since the days of Devonte Green, but with way more consistency. Honestly, it’s been a relief to see someone else step up while Tucker DeVries works through a massive shooting slump.
Speaking of that slump, it’s been rough. Tucker is shooting about 20% from three over his last seven games. That’s not a typo. Darian DeVries recently told the media that Tucker just needs to "find his way back," but for a guy who was a career 43% shooter, this is uncharted territory.
Reality Check: The 12-5 Record
Let's look at the numbers because they tell a story of a team that is great at home and kinda shaky on the road. As of mid-January 2026, the Hoosiers sit at 12-5 overall and 3-3 in the Big Ten.
💡 You might also like: NFL Football Teams in Order: Why Most Fans Get the Hierarchy Wrong
- Home Wins: They’ve handled business against teams like Washington (90-80) and absolutely demolished Penn State (113-72).
- The Road Woes: Losses at Minnesota, Kentucky, and most recently, a brutal 81-60 thumping at Michigan State.
That Michigan State game was a reality check. The Hoosiers hung around for a while, even tying it up at 53 in the second half after a Wilkerson dunk, but then they just... stopped. Michigan State went on a 19-0 run. In a stadium like the Breslin Center, you can't survive a drought like that.
The Big Ten is a meat grinder this year. Nebraska is surprisingly 17-0 and ranked in the top 10. Purdue is still Purdue. Michigan is resurgent. For IU Hoosiers mens basketball to finish in the top half of the conference, they have to figure out how to win when the crowd isn't screaming for them.
The Roster Mix: Transfers and True Freshmen
This isn't your older brother's IU team. It’s basically a mercenary squad, but in a good way.
📖 Related: Why Your 1 Arm Pull Up Progression Isn't Working (And How to Fix It)
The lineup features guys like Tayton Conerway at point guard, who just dished out nine assists against Michigan State, and Sam Alexis, a 6'9" forward who provides the muscle inside. Then you have Trent Sisley, the freshman from Santa Claus, Indiana. Seeing an in-state kid actually stay home and play at Montverde levels of talent is a breath of fresh air for fans who were tired of seeing Indiana Mr. Basketball winners head to East Lansing or West Lafayette.
What Needs to Happen Next
If you’re a fan or just someone betting on the Big Ten, here is the actionable truth: The next four games will define whether this season ends in a high seed in the Big Dance or another "First Four" anxiety attack.
- Get Tucker Right: The offense is designed for Tucker DeVries to be a gravity-well that opens up lanes for Wilkerson. If he keeps shooting 1-for-7 from deep, defenses will just sag and clog the paint.
- Bench Consistency: Guys like Nick Dorn and Jasai Miles need to provide more than just "minutes." They need to provide points. In the MSU loss, the bench was almost non-existent.
- Defend the Transition: Michigan State scored 25 fast-break points against IU. You can’t win at this level if you don’t get back on defense.
The Hoosiers host Iowa this Saturday. It’s a "must-win" in the sense that you cannot drop home games in this league if you want to stay relevant. After that, it’s a road trip to Ann Arbor to face a top-5 Michigan team.
Basically, the "honeymoon phase" for Darian DeVries is over. The system works, the talent is there, but the execution is still catching up to the expectations. If you're looking to follow the team's progress, keep an eye on the turnover margin in the first ten minutes of games—it’s been the biggest indicator of whether they'll win or collapse.
Check the official IU Athletics site for the updated broadcast schedule, as several upcoming games, including the Purdue matchup on January 27, are exclusively on Peacock.