Indiana University Athletics
Saturday, March 7
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Keep Shooting – Dorn’s Offense a Big Hoosier Key
3/7/2026 9:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The shot is back, for one game at least, and for junior guard Nick Dorn and the Indiana Hoosiers, this is big.
If Dorn's shooting form stays true, Indiana (18-12 overall, 9-10 in the Big Ten) could still have a memorable March, starting Saturday at Ohio State (19-11, 11-8) in the regular-season finale.
"Just seeing a couple go down, it especially did a lot for me," Dorn says. He made three 3-pointers for 11 points in Wednesday's victory over Minnesota. "It gives me more confidence to keep shooting. Keep getting them up and thinking every shot's gonna fall."
The 6-foot-7 Dorn joined IU after a successful two-year run at Elon for his shot-making ability, especially beyond the arc. As a Hoosier this season, his 57 made 3-pointers rank third on the team behind Lamar Wilkerson (101) and Tucker DeVries (80). His 37.3% shooting behind the arc is second to Wilkerson's 38.4.
For four consecutive late January games, Dorn wrecked defenses. He was 20-for-43 beyond the arc, scoring 14, 23, 18, and 26 points against Michigan, Rutgers, Purdue and UCLA. IU won three of them, losing only to eventual Big Ten champ Michigan.
Dorn was the much-needed third scoring threat to complement Tucker DeVries and Wilkerson, an outside threat to help open up the paint for forwards Sam Alexis and Reed Bailey.
Overall, he averages 8.4 points, fifth on the team behind Wilkerson (21.1), Tucker DeVries (13.8), Tayton Conerway (9.6), and Alexis (8.7).
Coach Darian DeVries has consistently expressed confidence in Dorn's shot-making ability. It's a big reason why he's started the last 11 games.
"He had a little bit of a shooting slump," Darian DeVries says, "but keep shooting. The numbers can work out at any moment.
"He's a really good shooter. The next time could be the 6-for-8 game. He's done a good job of picking his spots, getting to the rim and driving it. That's something he's added to his game. He'll get better at it.
"He puts in a lot of work. It will pay off."
For the team, returning to the NCAA Tournament after missing out last season is a big motivator. Wednesday's victory snapped a four-game losing streak and boosted postseason prospects.
"It gives us a lot more momentum going into Ohio State," Dorn says, "and on from there, just gives us more motivation to keep pushing. Everything is right in front of us."
Strong practices are the key, Dorn adds.
"We know we had to pay extra attention to detail and keep rolling with the game plan that Coach provides us and trying to execute that to the best of our ability."
During the losing streak, Darian DeVries said the effort never wavered, especially in the 77-64 loss to then No. 13 Michigan State. Beating Minnesota boosted the Hoosiers' confidence.
"Hopefully, it's something that propels you to that next game and next hopefully group of games," Darian DeVries says. "When you lose four games in a row, it does put things in a little different perspective, the importance of this game.
"They fought their tails off against Michigan State. Just came up a little bit short. They continued to stay focused, continued to put in the work like they have all year. Their approach has been terrific. A lot of that is those seniors making sure everyone stays focused on what's next and not looking in the rear view for very long."
IU is 10th in the Big Ten standings and will open Big Ten tourney play next Wednesday at Chicago's United Center. It will need to win five straight games to win the tourney championship and earn an automatic NCAA bid.
March brings constant postseason speculation. Alexis says the Hoosiers are focused on what they can control.
"We see social media, but we focus on what's ahead of us -- getting these wins and whatever happens, happens."
This will be senior night at Ohio State, which has lost five straight games to the Hoosiers, including the last two in Columbus. The last four meetings have been decided by six points or less
The Buckeyes, who have won three straight home games, have big wins over Purdue and Wisconsin, but went 3-4 in February to jeopardize their own NCAA tourney hopes. They will face IU with a two-game winning streak, including a dominating 94-62 victory at Penn State highlighted by 16 made 3-pointers.
Senior guard John Mobley Jr. was 8-for-9 from behind the arc for a career-high 28 points against the Nittany Lions. Senior guard Bruce Thornton added 18 points and five 3-pointers.
Thornton averages a team-leading 19.9 points. He also leads in assists (115) and steals (35), and is second in rebounding (5.2). He shoots 55.2% from the field, 39.4% from 3-point range, and 81.9% from the line.
Thornton is 12 points away from breaking Ohio State's career scoring record. He has 2,085 points. Dennis Hopkins scored 2,096.
Mobley averages 15.8 points. Forward Devin Royal averages 14.0 points and 5.7 rebounds. Christoph Tilly, a 7-foot center, averages 11.1 points and 4.8 rebounds.
Former Hoosier guard Gabe Cupps plays for the Buckeyes. He averages 1.5 points and 1.2 rebounds in 12.9 minutes.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The shot is back, for one game at least, and for junior guard Nick Dorn and the Indiana Hoosiers, this is big.
If Dorn's shooting form stays true, Indiana (18-12 overall, 9-10 in the Big Ten) could still have a memorable March, starting Saturday at Ohio State (19-11, 11-8) in the regular-season finale.
"Just seeing a couple go down, it especially did a lot for me," Dorn says. He made three 3-pointers for 11 points in Wednesday's victory over Minnesota. "It gives me more confidence to keep shooting. Keep getting them up and thinking every shot's gonna fall."
The 6-foot-7 Dorn joined IU after a successful two-year run at Elon for his shot-making ability, especially beyond the arc. As a Hoosier this season, his 57 made 3-pointers rank third on the team behind Lamar Wilkerson (101) and Tucker DeVries (80). His 37.3% shooting behind the arc is second to Wilkerson's 38.4.
For four consecutive late January games, Dorn wrecked defenses. He was 20-for-43 beyond the arc, scoring 14, 23, 18, and 26 points against Michigan, Rutgers, Purdue and UCLA. IU won three of them, losing only to eventual Big Ten champ Michigan.
Dorn was the much-needed third scoring threat to complement Tucker DeVries and Wilkerson, an outside threat to help open up the paint for forwards Sam Alexis and Reed Bailey.
Overall, he averages 8.4 points, fifth on the team behind Wilkerson (21.1), Tucker DeVries (13.8), Tayton Conerway (9.6), and Alexis (8.7).
Coach Darian DeVries has consistently expressed confidence in Dorn's shot-making ability. It's a big reason why he's started the last 11 games.
"He had a little bit of a shooting slump," Darian DeVries says, "but keep shooting. The numbers can work out at any moment.
"He's a really good shooter. The next time could be the 6-for-8 game. He's done a good job of picking his spots, getting to the rim and driving it. That's something he's added to his game. He'll get better at it.
"He puts in a lot of work. It will pay off."
For the team, returning to the NCAA Tournament after missing out last season is a big motivator. Wednesday's victory snapped a four-game losing streak and boosted postseason prospects.
"It gives us a lot more momentum going into Ohio State," Dorn says, "and on from there, just gives us more motivation to keep pushing. Everything is right in front of us."
Strong practices are the key, Dorn adds.
"We know we had to pay extra attention to detail and keep rolling with the game plan that Coach provides us and trying to execute that to the best of our ability."
During the losing streak, Darian DeVries said the effort never wavered, especially in the 77-64 loss to then No. 13 Michigan State. Beating Minnesota boosted the Hoosiers' confidence.
"Hopefully, it's something that propels you to that next game and next hopefully group of games," Darian DeVries says. "When you lose four games in a row, it does put things in a little different perspective, the importance of this game.
"They fought their tails off against Michigan State. Just came up a little bit short. They continued to stay focused, continued to put in the work like they have all year. Their approach has been terrific. A lot of that is those seniors making sure everyone stays focused on what's next and not looking in the rear view for very long."
IU is 10th in the Big Ten standings and will open Big Ten tourney play next Wednesday at Chicago's United Center. It will need to win five straight games to win the tourney championship and earn an automatic NCAA bid.
March brings constant postseason speculation. Alexis says the Hoosiers are focused on what they can control.
"We see social media, but we focus on what's ahead of us -- getting these wins and whatever happens, happens."
This will be senior night at Ohio State, which has lost five straight games to the Hoosiers, including the last two in Columbus. The last four meetings have been decided by six points or less
The Buckeyes, who have won three straight home games, have big wins over Purdue and Wisconsin, but went 3-4 in February to jeopardize their own NCAA tourney hopes. They will face IU with a two-game winning streak, including a dominating 94-62 victory at Penn State highlighted by 16 made 3-pointers.
Senior guard John Mobley Jr. was 8-for-9 from behind the arc for a career-high 28 points against the Nittany Lions. Senior guard Bruce Thornton added 18 points and five 3-pointers.
Thornton averages a team-leading 19.9 points. He also leads in assists (115) and steals (35), and is second in rebounding (5.2). He shoots 55.2% from the field, 39.4% from 3-point range, and 81.9% from the line.
Thornton is 12 points away from breaking Ohio State's career scoring record. He has 2,085 points. Dennis Hopkins scored 2,096.
Mobley averages 15.8 points. Forward Devin Royal averages 14.0 points and 5.7 rebounds. Christoph Tilly, a 7-foot center, averages 11.1 points and 4.8 rebounds.
Former Hoosier guard Gabe Cupps plays for the Buckeyes. He averages 1.5 points and 1.2 rebounds in 12.9 minutes.
Players Mentioned
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Forward
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