Indiana University Athletics
Sunday, January 4
Bloomington, Ind.
8:00 PM
Indiana University
vs
Washington
Staying Ready -- Early Big Ten Grind Hasn’t Slowed Sisley
1/7/2026 12:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Trent Sisley has no time for long-winded answers or deep dives into the excellence of his off-the-bench play. Indiana's standout freshman forward keeps it short while continuing to build the foundation for what will certainly be an outstanding college career.
"Just stay ready at all times," Sisley says about his reserve role. "I know when I come in, I've got good players around me like Tucker (DeVries) and Lamar (Wilkerson). They have a lot of gravity. I just try to get them open, and do what I do when I can. Just stay ready at all times."
On Sunday night, Sisley was more than ready, and Washington paid the second-half price. All 10 of his points came in the final 20 minutes to help the Hoosiers (11-3 overall, 2-1 in the Big Ten) hold off the Huskies.
On Wednesday night, he'll get another chance to make big plays when IU plays at Maryland (7-7, 0-3).
The 6-foot-8 Sisley, a four-star former Heritage Hills High School prospect from southern Indiana who spent his senior season at Florida's Montverde Academy, says he benefited from IU's nearly two-week holiday break.
"We got some time to ourselves to work on ourselves and then got ready for Washington.
"I think last year (at Montverde Academy) helped me being away from him home, the grind of the season. It hasn't been too bad."
Sisley has played in all 14 games, averaging 7.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in 18.9 minutes. He shoots 50.0% from the field and 32.4% from 3-point range. He's scored as many as 15 points (against Marquette) and grabbed as many as nine rebounds (against Bethune-Cookman).
"He's probably the best cutter on the team," guard Conor Enright says. "He's kind of that lob threat; he can get off some of those finishes.
"It's just his confidence. As a freshman, you don't know where you fit in in this new system. I've seen him really grow into his role. He makes a big impact on both ends of the floor for us."
Sisley's second-half performance against Washington was critical, Enright adds.
"It was awesome. We were all loving it in the locker room after the game. Being a freshman, having that impact in a Big Ten game this early in the season is really cool. I'm proud of him."
Coach Darian DeVries says he has "great faith in Trent."
"He continues to get better. Some nights, there will be more opportunity than others.
"I thought (against Washington) he gave us a huge lift. We rode him for as long as we could there, until I think he got a little gassed. We had to give him a little rest.
"That (performance is) great for him. I think that says a lot about him, too. He's continued to stay confident throughout. He's put in the work, too. During the break, he spent extra time in the gym. A lot of the guys did getting in some of their player development, their shooting and things like that."
The Hoosiers have won three straight games since a loss at Kentucky. Against Washington, one of the nation's best offensive rebounding teams, IU had the edge with 11 offensive rebounds to the Huskies' eight.
"That was a huge emphasis for us going into the game," Sisley says. "It was the bigs doing our jobs, trying to drive our guy out. The guards did a good job rebounding. That was a big thing we focused on and I think we executed it pretty well."
Maryland is led by guard David Coit (13.3 points), guard Darius Adams (12.5), and 6-foot-7 forward Solomon Washington (10.0, team-leading 9.0 rebounds).
Maryland has lost four of its last five games. In Big Ten play, it has lost to Iowa, Michigan and Oregon.
Buzz Williams is in his first season as Terrapins head coach. He previously ran the programs at Marquette, Virginia Tech, and Texas A&M.
IU is 0-2 on the road this season, including last month's 73-64 Big Ten loss at Minnesota.
"Every night's going to be a different game, a different night, different opportunity," Darian DeVries says. "You just focus on that next one.
"Now our focus is on Maryland. We'll get some rest, get a good two days of practice together, get ready to go on the road.
"Every night, it's a rock fight. We know that. We have to be ready for that. I think our guys understand that. The non-conference season I think has gotten us ready. The few conference games we've had have gotten us ready. Now it's about going out and doing it."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Trent Sisley has no time for long-winded answers or deep dives into the excellence of his off-the-bench play. Indiana's standout freshman forward keeps it short while continuing to build the foundation for what will certainly be an outstanding college career.
"Just stay ready at all times," Sisley says about his reserve role. "I know when I come in, I've got good players around me like Tucker (DeVries) and Lamar (Wilkerson). They have a lot of gravity. I just try to get them open, and do what I do when I can. Just stay ready at all times."
On Sunday night, Sisley was more than ready, and Washington paid the second-half price. All 10 of his points came in the final 20 minutes to help the Hoosiers (11-3 overall, 2-1 in the Big Ten) hold off the Huskies.
On Wednesday night, he'll get another chance to make big plays when IU plays at Maryland (7-7, 0-3).
The 6-foot-8 Sisley, a four-star former Heritage Hills High School prospect from southern Indiana who spent his senior season at Florida's Montverde Academy, says he benefited from IU's nearly two-week holiday break.
"We got some time to ourselves to work on ourselves and then got ready for Washington.
"I think last year (at Montverde Academy) helped me being away from him home, the grind of the season. It hasn't been too bad."
Sisley has played in all 14 games, averaging 7.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in 18.9 minutes. He shoots 50.0% from the field and 32.4% from 3-point range. He's scored as many as 15 points (against Marquette) and grabbed as many as nine rebounds (against Bethune-Cookman).
"He's probably the best cutter on the team," guard Conor Enright says. "He's kind of that lob threat; he can get off some of those finishes.
"It's just his confidence. As a freshman, you don't know where you fit in in this new system. I've seen him really grow into his role. He makes a big impact on both ends of the floor for us."
Sisley's second-half performance against Washington was critical, Enright adds.
"It was awesome. We were all loving it in the locker room after the game. Being a freshman, having that impact in a Big Ten game this early in the season is really cool. I'm proud of him."
Coach Darian DeVries says he has "great faith in Trent."
"He continues to get better. Some nights, there will be more opportunity than others.
"I thought (against Washington) he gave us a huge lift. We rode him for as long as we could there, until I think he got a little gassed. We had to give him a little rest.
"That (performance is) great for him. I think that says a lot about him, too. He's continued to stay confident throughout. He's put in the work, too. During the break, he spent extra time in the gym. A lot of the guys did getting in some of their player development, their shooting and things like that."
The Hoosiers have won three straight games since a loss at Kentucky. Against Washington, one of the nation's best offensive rebounding teams, IU had the edge with 11 offensive rebounds to the Huskies' eight.
"That was a huge emphasis for us going into the game," Sisley says. "It was the bigs doing our jobs, trying to drive our guy out. The guards did a good job rebounding. That was a big thing we focused on and I think we executed it pretty well."
Maryland is led by guard David Coit (13.3 points), guard Darius Adams (12.5), and 6-foot-7 forward Solomon Washington (10.0, team-leading 9.0 rebounds).
Maryland has lost four of its last five games. In Big Ten play, it has lost to Iowa, Michigan and Oregon.
Buzz Williams is in his first season as Terrapins head coach. He previously ran the programs at Marquette, Virginia Tech, and Texas A&M.
IU is 0-2 on the road this season, including last month's 73-64 Big Ten loss at Minnesota.
"Every night's going to be a different game, a different night, different opportunity," Darian DeVries says. "You just focus on that next one.
"Now our focus is on Maryland. We'll get some rest, get a good two days of practice together, get ready to go on the road.
"Every night, it's a rock fight. We know that. We have to be ready for that. I think our guys understand that. The non-conference season I think has gotten us ready. The few conference games we've had have gotten us ready. Now it's about going out and doing it."
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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