Pumped and Primed – Hoosiers Ready for New Basketball Era

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A new era begins, a new roster officially debuts, and Darian DeVries and the Indiana Hoosiers are pumped.

First up -- tonight's basketball season opener against Alabama A&M (1-0) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall

"I'm really excited," says DeVries about making his IU head coaching debut after previous stops at West Virginia and Drake. "I know our players are excited, but I think myself and our staff would be kidding if you didn't recognize the significance of your first regular season game in Assembly Hall.

"We can't be more pumped up to get out there and showcase what our team's been working on and to have them play the way that we expect them to. We're ready to get rolling."

What should rolling look like with 13 new scholarship players and zero returning points? For starters, don't fall behind by double digits as the Hoosiers did in two Puerto Rico trip games to a Serbian pro team, and then again to Baylor in last month's exhibition in Indianapolis.

The good news – IU rallied to win all three.

"Number One, we want to set the tempo for both sides of the ball for a full 40 minutes," DeVries says. "We've talked about the three games we got behind. You can't put yourselves in those positions over and over again and expect to be successful.

"We've got to put a better full 40 minutes together and specifically a better first half, getting off to a better start. That's going to be huge for us all year, but that's probably No. 1, getting off to a good start.

"Then just play how we've been practicing. Make sure the ball continues to move, that we get good player movement as well as the ball movement on the offensive end. Then, defensively, just being connected and being physical and being tough."

DeVries' roster building hit the mid-major transfer portal hard to bringing in a class that ranks third in the Big Ten and 10th nationally according 247 Sports. Only forwards Sam Alexis from defending national champion Florida and Tucker DeVries from West Virginia came from Power 4 Conference teams.

But what the Hoosiers lack in Power 4 star power, says guard Tayton Conerway, a transfer from Troy, they make up for in determination and quality players such as guards Lamar Wilkerson (Sam Houston), Nick Dorn (Elon) and Jasai Miles (North Florida), and forward Reed Bailey (Davidson).

"Everybody always says can you do it on the biggest stage," Conerway says. "My teammates have that same thing. I feel the brighter the lights the bigger the stage, let's us prove our point, that we can play with anybody. We can do anything anybody else can do."

IU will do that in part with defense. The Hoosiers seek to pressure teams full-court in targeted doses -- specifically the opposing team's point guard -- led by the 6-foot-3 Conerway and 6-foot-1 fellow guard Conor Enright.

"We're smaller guys," Conerway says. "We know what our roles are. We know if we can mess up their offense before they cross half court, then they'll struggle to put the ball in the net.

"When Conor and I change out, it keeps fresh legs out there. That will be trouble for a lot of these point guards."

DeVries doesn't overwhelm players with complex defensive rules. Aggression is expected, unnecessary risk taking is not.

"We have our basic principles which is what (DeVries) follows," Conerway says. "He lets you play a little bit. His big thing is if you're going to do something, make sure it works. If it works, he won't say too much about it. If you give up a dunk, you might get an earful."

Alabama A&M opened its season Monday night with an 80-60 win over Blue Mountain Christian. Guard James Graham III led with 18 points.

In an exhibition win over UAH, 6-7 guard Koran Davis had 24 points and three steals. 6-7 swingman Gabe Kincy had 15 points, six rebounds and two steals.

Alabama A&M is picked to finish sixth in the SWAC. 6-1 Guard Kintavious Dozer was named preseason all-conference first team. A transfer from Grambling State, he's averaged 12.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 69 college games. He had seven points against Blue Mountain. He's one of seven transfers.

Head coach Donte' Jackson is in his first season after spending the previous eight years at Grambling State, a run that included a trip to the 2024 NCAA tourney.

Pumped and Primed – Hoosiers Ready for New Basketball Era

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Players Mentioned

Sam Alexis

Reed Bailey

Tayton Conerway

Tucker DeVries

Nick Dorn

Conor Enright

Jasai Miles

Lamar Wilkerson

Indiana University Athletics