Indiana University Athletics
Thursday, November 20
Bloomington, Ind.
6:00 PM
Indiana University
vs
Lindenwood
‘Keep Fighting’ – Hoosiers Seek 40 Minutes of Basketball Physicality
11/20/2025 1:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Adversity finally found Indiana in this early part of the basketball season and the Hoosiers (4-0) found a way, just as they did for two August exhibitions against a Serbian pro team in Puerto Rico, and again in an October exhibition against Baylor.
Baylor, by the way, has opened 3-0, including a 78-69 home win against Washington.
In other words, IU has yet to lose in any setting with Darian DeVries as head coach, winning sometimes with ruthless execution, sometimes with tough-minded resilience.
What will this mean Thursday night against Lindenwood (2-3) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, and then Kansas State (4-0) on Tuesday, also at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall? How will it affect intriguing non-conference games against Louisville (4-0) and Kentucky (3-2) coming in December, plus the beginning of Big Ten play?
As forward Tucker DeVries says, "At the end of the day, it's finding a way to win once you get into those (close) situations."
Tucker DeVries sets the tone, which is what you'd expect given no active men's player in America has scored as many career points as DeVries, who is at 2,057 and counting in stops at Drake, West Virginia and now IU. He averages 17.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals this season while shooting 47.1% from the field, 45.5% on 3-pointers and 72.7% from the line.
The result -- he's already won one Big Ten Co-Player of the Week award and made the John R. Wooden preseason Top 50 Watchlist.
As for the Hoosiers, their opening three-game shooting clinic crashed against the reality that -- whether by good opposing defense or the whims of the game -- shots sometimes don't fall.
During Sunday night's 69-61 victory over Incarnate Word, IU shot 43.3% from the field and was just 5-for-24 on 3-pointers. Even the free throw shooting slipped to 69.2%.
This is why Darian DeVries puts so much emphasis on defense, rebounding, and effort.
"Everything we talk about the offense," he says, "we almost let them just kind of go. Keep doing what you do best. Our whole focus is on the defense and the rebounding piece.
"We know if we can get stops and limit people to one chance and get in transition, now we get to go do what we do best."
What the Hoosiers do best reflects the talent Darian DeVries has brought in, much of it from the transfer portal. He talks about the "intentionality" of his players and their willingness to be part of the culture and approach.
"We talk to them a lot about this is how we can win," he says. "If we all stay true to that, we're going to have a lot of fun and success. That is the path.
"From the summer, the first day they got on campus to us starting to play games, they bought into it. They enjoy it. They embrace it. These guys genuinely love playing basketball. They're a lot of fun to watch."
Fun includes an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.53, the third-best mark in the country. IU has recorded 91 assists (on 126 made field goals) compared to 36 turnovers.
In the end, though, Darian DeVries wants the Hoosiers fully dialed into the process.
"Sometimes with teams, even veteran teams, when you're not making shots, your energy isn't where you want it to be. That's fighting human nature and that's what we can't be.
"That's where the learning comes in if it's not going perfectly for us as an offense. If we are missing shots we normally make, you've got to continue to fight.
"We've got to be a very spirited, physical, tough-minded group for 40 minutes every night. That's how we're going to win."
Lindenwood, a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, lost to Alabama A&M, which the Hoosiers decisively beat to open the season, 74-65. It's led by guard Jadis Jones (17.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 82.4% shooting), guard Dontrez Williams (18.7 points), center Milos Nenadic (12.4 points, 7.4 rebounds), guard Anias Futrell (11.8, 4.5), and Clayton Jackson (10.8, 4.4 assists).
IU is 27-0 all-time against Ohio Valley Conference teams.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Adversity finally found Indiana in this early part of the basketball season and the Hoosiers (4-0) found a way, just as they did for two August exhibitions against a Serbian pro team in Puerto Rico, and again in an October exhibition against Baylor.
Baylor, by the way, has opened 3-0, including a 78-69 home win against Washington.
In other words, IU has yet to lose in any setting with Darian DeVries as head coach, winning sometimes with ruthless execution, sometimes with tough-minded resilience.
What will this mean Thursday night against Lindenwood (2-3) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, and then Kansas State (4-0) on Tuesday, also at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall? How will it affect intriguing non-conference games against Louisville (4-0) and Kentucky (3-2) coming in December, plus the beginning of Big Ten play?
As forward Tucker DeVries says, "At the end of the day, it's finding a way to win once you get into those (close) situations."
Tucker DeVries sets the tone, which is what you'd expect given no active men's player in America has scored as many career points as DeVries, who is at 2,057 and counting in stops at Drake, West Virginia and now IU. He averages 17.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals this season while shooting 47.1% from the field, 45.5% on 3-pointers and 72.7% from the line.
The result -- he's already won one Big Ten Co-Player of the Week award and made the John R. Wooden preseason Top 50 Watchlist.
As for the Hoosiers, their opening three-game shooting clinic crashed against the reality that -- whether by good opposing defense or the whims of the game -- shots sometimes don't fall.
During Sunday night's 69-61 victory over Incarnate Word, IU shot 43.3% from the field and was just 5-for-24 on 3-pointers. Even the free throw shooting slipped to 69.2%.
This is why Darian DeVries puts so much emphasis on defense, rebounding, and effort.
"Everything we talk about the offense," he says, "we almost let them just kind of go. Keep doing what you do best. Our whole focus is on the defense and the rebounding piece.
"We know if we can get stops and limit people to one chance and get in transition, now we get to go do what we do best."
What the Hoosiers do best reflects the talent Darian DeVries has brought in, much of it from the transfer portal. He talks about the "intentionality" of his players and their willingness to be part of the culture and approach.
"We talk to them a lot about this is how we can win," he says. "If we all stay true to that, we're going to have a lot of fun and success. That is the path.
"From the summer, the first day they got on campus to us starting to play games, they bought into it. They enjoy it. They embrace it. These guys genuinely love playing basketball. They're a lot of fun to watch."
Fun includes an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.53, the third-best mark in the country. IU has recorded 91 assists (on 126 made field goals) compared to 36 turnovers.
In the end, though, Darian DeVries wants the Hoosiers fully dialed into the process.
"Sometimes with teams, even veteran teams, when you're not making shots, your energy isn't where you want it to be. That's fighting human nature and that's what we can't be.
"That's where the learning comes in if it's not going perfectly for us as an offense. If we are missing shots we normally make, you've got to continue to fight.
"We've got to be a very spirited, physical, tough-minded group for 40 minutes every night. That's how we're going to win."
Lindenwood, a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, lost to Alabama A&M, which the Hoosiers decisively beat to open the season, 74-65. It's led by guard Jadis Jones (17.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 82.4% shooting), guard Dontrez Williams (18.7 points), center Milos Nenadic (12.4 points, 7.4 rebounds), guard Anias Futrell (11.8, 4.5), and Clayton Jackson (10.8, 4.4 assists).
IU is 27-0 all-time against Ohio Valley Conference teams.
Players Mentioned
Forward
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