Indiana University Athletics
Thursday, November 5
Bloomington, Ind.
6:00 PM
Indiana University
vs
Bellarmine
11/5/2026 9:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Patience has its place, but not when the Indiana Hoosiers seek to assert their will, dictate pace, and break an opponent's spirit.
So, they will push in transition, push after forcing turnovers, push because it is their strength and a big part of coach Darian DeVries's plan for this season.
It was too much for Eastern Illinois on Monday night. It could be again Thursday night when the Hoosiers (1-0) host Bellarmine (0-1) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
"We've got a lot of talent and a lot of speed," veteran guard Markus Burton says. "A lot of the things Coach DeVries preaches is just getting out and going fast. We've got a lot of guys that can get out in transition and push the ball.
"That's what he preaches, but it's something we can continue to keep getting better at. It will get better as the season goes on."
Defensive aggression is also part of DeVries's plan. IU's 13 steals against Eastern Illinois -- the most it's had since getting 13 against Illinois in 2019 -- led to the Panthers' 22 overall turnovers. The Hoosiers converted those into a 29-8 scoring advantage.
"We're athletic," veteran guard Jaeden Mustaf says. "We're fast. We're big. We can run. When we create those turnovers and get out and push and run and try to limit our turnovers, when we get steals and stuff and get out in transition, we're hard to stop. Just keep getting better at that."
Burton and Mustaf are part of a veteran backcourt that also includes Darren Harris and Bryce Lindsay. All are versatile and capable of playing point and shooting guard roles.
Against Eastern Illinois, Lindsay came off the bench for 14 points, two steals, a rebound, and an assist. Harris started and totaled seven points, four rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Mustaf started and had eight points, three rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
With Burton and Lindsay, DeVries says, "They're different in how they attack and what they bring on the offensive end, but they're both incredibly efficient with it.
"I like having both out there, one out there. If you need to sub one, you know there's not going to be a dropoff. I can put the other one in, and we just keep rolling. Those guys are going to be critically important to us all year."
Burton, a Notre Dame transfer, showed no signs of the ankle injury that ended his season last December or rust from the long layoff. He scored a game-high 19 points, went 3-for-3 on 3-pointers and attacked the rim ruthlessly.
"I think just the exhibition games this summer allowed him to work through some of that," DeVries says. "He's gotten better week to week and month to month from June till now.
"He's got his burst back. He's getting to his spots again. And then with the 3-point shooting, he's put a tremendous amount of time into it, to his credit.
"(Assistant coach Kenny Johnson) has been in the gym with him a lot working on it. He's really bought into being an efficient 3-point shooter.
"You can see the time he's put into it. I like the ones he's taken, too. He's aggressive, but he's finding the right ones. That's important."
First-year forward Trevor Manhertz excelled in his college debut with 11 points on 3-for-6 shooting. He added a pair of rebounds and a steal. He's the first Hoosier to score in double figures in his college debut since forward Malik Reneau had 15 points against Morehead State in 2022.
It's a continuation of the 6-foot-9 Manhertz's strong play from the summer, fall, and exhibitions.
"I say every day to some of our coaches that he's a pro," Mustaf says. "To me, he's one of the best freshmen in the country. The more opportunity he gets, the more he's going to show everybody how good he is."
Adds DeVries: "Trevor did some good things. I thought he got comfortable there late. He hit a couple of shots and things. He's very confident, and he's shown that throughout our practices. Like a lot of new guys, he's still learning some things, too.
"He's going to continue to get better and better. That's what I love about him. He has upside, and he's not even close yet to scratching it. He's long, and he's got a great feel and IQ."
Bellarmine lost at Vanderbilt 93-47 in its season opener. The Knights were a former NCAA Division II power and won the national title in 2011.
Former Creighton head coach Greg McDermott is part of the Peacock/NBCSN broadcast crew that will work Thursday night's game. DeVries was an assistant coach under McDermott for eight seasons.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Patience has its place, but not when the Indiana Hoosiers seek to assert their will, dictate pace, and break an opponent's spirit.
So, they will push in transition, push after forcing turnovers, push because it is their strength and a big part of coach Darian DeVries's plan for this season.
It was too much for Eastern Illinois on Monday night. It could be again Thursday night when the Hoosiers (1-0) host Bellarmine (0-1) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
"We've got a lot of talent and a lot of speed," veteran guard Markus Burton says. "A lot of the things Coach DeVries preaches is just getting out and going fast. We've got a lot of guys that can get out in transition and push the ball.
"That's what he preaches, but it's something we can continue to keep getting better at. It will get better as the season goes on."
Defensive aggression is also part of DeVries's plan. IU's 13 steals against Eastern Illinois -- the most it's had since getting 13 against Illinois in 2019 -- led to the Panthers' 22 overall turnovers. The Hoosiers converted those into a 29-8 scoring advantage.
"We're athletic," veteran guard Jaeden Mustaf says. "We're fast. We're big. We can run. When we create those turnovers and get out and push and run and try to limit our turnovers, when we get steals and stuff and get out in transition, we're hard to stop. Just keep getting better at that."
Burton and Mustaf are part of a veteran backcourt that also includes Darren Harris and Bryce Lindsay. All are versatile and capable of playing point and shooting guard roles.
Against Eastern Illinois, Lindsay came off the bench for 14 points, two steals, a rebound, and an assist. Harris started and totaled seven points, four rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Mustaf started and had eight points, three rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
With Burton and Lindsay, DeVries says, "They're different in how they attack and what they bring on the offensive end, but they're both incredibly efficient with it.
"I like having both out there, one out there. If you need to sub one, you know there's not going to be a dropoff. I can put the other one in, and we just keep rolling. Those guys are going to be critically important to us all year."
Burton, a Notre Dame transfer, showed no signs of the ankle injury that ended his season last December or rust from the long layoff. He scored a game-high 19 points, went 3-for-3 on 3-pointers and attacked the rim ruthlessly.
"I think just the exhibition games this summer allowed him to work through some of that," DeVries says. "He's gotten better week to week and month to month from June till now.
"He's got his burst back. He's getting to his spots again. And then with the 3-point shooting, he's put a tremendous amount of time into it, to his credit.
"(Assistant coach Kenny Johnson) has been in the gym with him a lot working on it. He's really bought into being an efficient 3-point shooter.
"You can see the time he's put into it. I like the ones he's taken, too. He's aggressive, but he's finding the right ones. That's important."
First-year forward Trevor Manhertz excelled in his college debut with 11 points on 3-for-6 shooting. He added a pair of rebounds and a steal. He's the first Hoosier to score in double figures in his college debut since forward Malik Reneau had 15 points against Morehead State in 2022.
It's a continuation of the 6-foot-9 Manhertz's strong play from the summer, fall, and exhibitions.
"I say every day to some of our coaches that he's a pro," Mustaf says. "To me, he's one of the best freshmen in the country. The more opportunity he gets, the more he's going to show everybody how good he is."
Adds DeVries: "Trevor did some good things. I thought he got comfortable there late. He hit a couple of shots and things. He's very confident, and he's shown that throughout our practices. Like a lot of new guys, he's still learning some things, too.
"He's going to continue to get better and better. That's what I love about him. He has upside, and he's not even close yet to scratching it. He's long, and he's got a great feel and IQ."
Bellarmine lost at Vanderbilt 93-47 in its season opener. The Knights were a former NCAA Division II power and won the national title in 2011.
Former Creighton head coach Greg McDermott is part of the Peacock/NBCSN broadcast crew that will work Thursday night's game. DeVries was an assistant coach under McDermott for eight seasons.
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