Indiana University Athletics
Monday, November 2
Bloomington, Ind.
7:00 PM
Indiana University
vs
Eastern Illinois
11/2/2026 9:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Has there ever been an Indiana basketball team better prepared for a season than this one?
Three exhibitions against college teams that followed five summer contests against international squads has the Hoosiers primed for Sunday night's season opener against Eastern Illinois at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Oh. One other thing. The Hoosiers won them all.
"It's been a great advantage for us," coach Darian DeVries says. "We're ready for the opener, but we've got to continue to grow and get better like every team across the country. That never stops until your last game."
All those contests have helped IU fine tune its rebuilt roster that includes eight transfers and four true freshmen.
"I feel like everyone is in a really good space, especially for being all new guys and learning how to play with one another," DeVries says.
"I've been pleased with the progress we've made, and then to see it on game nights. We've had a lot thrown at us that we've been able to learn from. The guys are taking it and applying it to practice. That growth has certainly been noticeable."
IU had decisive exhibition wins over Butler and North Carolina, and a comeback victory over Western Kentucky. It had blowout wins against all five international teams.
"The No. 1 thing I was really pleased with," DeVries says, "was in the three exhibitions, we were at a 40 percent offensive rebound rate, which would have been third in the country. Again, it's a small sample size, but pretty good competition, so that was a good starting point.
"The defensive rebound rate was at a 79 percent clip. That would have put us No. 1 in the country last year. That's a component I was really pleased with."
Pleasure fades when DeVries talks about turnovers. IU committed a total of 41 in the three exhibitions.
"The thing that we got to get better at is the turnovers," DeVries said. "We're around a 17 percent turnover rate, and we've got to get that close to the 12. That led the country last year.
"You're only talking two to three (fewer) turnovers a game to get that percentage, but that's where we've got to get to. That's one area we're really focused on."
The turnovers, DeVries adds, reflect the new players learning to play with each other.
"That's where some of the turnovers come from at times. They're still learning the offense and where guys are going to be and when to cut, when to hold, those types of things."
Veteran guard Markus Burton projects to be the offensive catalyst, although some shooting struggles surfaced in exhibition play. The Notre Dame transfer was 1-for-11 from the field for six points against Western Kentucky. He was 4-for-12 against North Carolina for 11 points, and 5-for-6 for 13 points against Butler.
"I'm not worried about Markus and his ability to score," DeVries says. "He's got plenty of a track record of proving that he can score at this level.
"He had dislocated his finger about a minute and a half into the (Western Kentucky) game. They popped it back in and he continued to play. I'm sure that didn't help him."
DeVries also mentions fellow veteran guard Darren Harris, a Duke transfer who was 0-for-5 for one point against Western Kentucky.
"He's been solid," DeVries says. "He didn't shoot it great in our last one, but I know how well he shoots the ball.
"I like our shooting. I like our depth at shooting. That's going to be something with our interior play and our ability to throw it inside. They're going to connect and play well off with each other."
Hoosier players are earning preseason accolades. Burton is one of 20 watch-list candidates for the 2027 Bob Cousy Award. The award, named after the Boston Celtics Hall of Famer, goes to the nation's best point guard. Two other Big Ten guards made the list, Michigan's Elliot Cadeau and Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr.
Third-year forward Aiden Sherrell is on the top-20 watch list for the 2027 Karl Malone Award. Named after the Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, it honors the nation's top power forward.
Also on the list from the Big Ten are David Mirkovic (Illinois), J.P. Estrella (Michigan), Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (Minnesota), and Caden Pierce (Purdue).
Eastern Illinois is coached by former IU Hoosier Marty Simmons. The Panthers lost all five starters from a 13-20 team. They project to finish eighth in the nine-team Ohio Valley Conference. Guards Markus Blackwell and Jaden Miller earned players to watch status.
IU is 52-3 in home season openers since Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall opened for the 1971-72 season. It has won eight straight home openers.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Has there ever been an Indiana basketball team better prepared for a season than this one?
Three exhibitions against college teams that followed five summer contests against international squads has the Hoosiers primed for Sunday night's season opener against Eastern Illinois at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Oh. One other thing. The Hoosiers won them all.
"It's been a great advantage for us," coach Darian DeVries says. "We're ready for the opener, but we've got to continue to grow and get better like every team across the country. That never stops until your last game."
All those contests have helped IU fine tune its rebuilt roster that includes eight transfers and four true freshmen.
"I feel like everyone is in a really good space, especially for being all new guys and learning how to play with one another," DeVries says.
"I've been pleased with the progress we've made, and then to see it on game nights. We've had a lot thrown at us that we've been able to learn from. The guys are taking it and applying it to practice. That growth has certainly been noticeable."
IU had decisive exhibition wins over Butler and North Carolina, and a comeback victory over Western Kentucky. It had blowout wins against all five international teams.
"The No. 1 thing I was really pleased with," DeVries says, "was in the three exhibitions, we were at a 40 percent offensive rebound rate, which would have been third in the country. Again, it's a small sample size, but pretty good competition, so that was a good starting point.
"The defensive rebound rate was at a 79 percent clip. That would have put us No. 1 in the country last year. That's a component I was really pleased with."
Pleasure fades when DeVries talks about turnovers. IU committed a total of 41 in the three exhibitions.
"The thing that we got to get better at is the turnovers," DeVries said. "We're around a 17 percent turnover rate, and we've got to get that close to the 12. That led the country last year.
"You're only talking two to three (fewer) turnovers a game to get that percentage, but that's where we've got to get to. That's one area we're really focused on."
The turnovers, DeVries adds, reflect the new players learning to play with each other.
"That's where some of the turnovers come from at times. They're still learning the offense and where guys are going to be and when to cut, when to hold, those types of things."
Veteran guard Markus Burton projects to be the offensive catalyst, although some shooting struggles surfaced in exhibition play. The Notre Dame transfer was 1-for-11 from the field for six points against Western Kentucky. He was 4-for-12 against North Carolina for 11 points, and 5-for-6 for 13 points against Butler.
"I'm not worried about Markus and his ability to score," DeVries says. "He's got plenty of a track record of proving that he can score at this level.
"He had dislocated his finger about a minute and a half into the (Western Kentucky) game. They popped it back in and he continued to play. I'm sure that didn't help him."
DeVries also mentions fellow veteran guard Darren Harris, a Duke transfer who was 0-for-5 for one point against Western Kentucky.
"He's been solid," DeVries says. "He didn't shoot it great in our last one, but I know how well he shoots the ball.
"I like our shooting. I like our depth at shooting. That's going to be something with our interior play and our ability to throw it inside. They're going to connect and play well off with each other."
Hoosier players are earning preseason accolades. Burton is one of 20 watch-list candidates for the 2027 Bob Cousy Award. The award, named after the Boston Celtics Hall of Famer, goes to the nation's best point guard. Two other Big Ten guards made the list, Michigan's Elliot Cadeau and Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr.
Third-year forward Aiden Sherrell is on the top-20 watch list for the 2027 Karl Malone Award. Named after the Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, it honors the nation's top power forward.
Also on the list from the Big Ten are David Mirkovic (Illinois), J.P. Estrella (Michigan), Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (Minnesota), and Caden Pierce (Purdue).
Eastern Illinois is coached by former IU Hoosier Marty Simmons. The Panthers lost all five starters from a 13-20 team. They project to finish eighth in the nine-team Ohio Valley Conference. Guards Markus Blackwell and Jaden Miller earned players to watch status.
IU is 52-3 in home season openers since Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall opened for the 1971-72 season. It has won eight straight home openers.
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