Indiana University Athletics
NOTEBOOK: Time is on Hoosier Side with Peru Trip
5/28/2026 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Invaluable? Absolutely. Indiana's upcoming men's basketball trip to Peru as part of the FISU America Games could be a jump start for something special.
Coach Darian DeVries and the rebuilt Hoosiers -- seven college transfers and four freshmen are joining returning forward Trent Sisley -- will get maximum off-season opportunity to hone the chemistry and timing crucial to success.
IU is set to play as many as five games in the event, which runs July 20 to Aug. 1 in Lima. During last summer's trip to Puerto Rico, the Hoosiers played three games. This is the fourth straight year DeVries has taken a team on a foreign trip. Hoosier players are set to report for summer workouts on June 1.
"The biggest thing is we get more time," DeVries says. "We're not restricted at all. On previous trips, we had 10 practices or 10 days. Now, we get more of an opportunity to spend time with them, especially with film. We can break down individual workouts, team workouts. It's a great learning opportunity to take advantage of."
IU seeks to bounce back from last year's 18-14 record, and it starts with one of the nation's top rated transfer portal classes highlighted by forward Aiden Sherrell from Alabama, point guard Markus Burton from Notre Dame, and center Samet Yigitoglu from SMU.
The key is blending that talent into DeVries' system. Work must be efficient so as not to mentally and physically burn out the players.
"It allows us more time for film work and everything from install to individual workouts," DeVries says. "You still have to be careful in that it's summer, but it allows us more time to do more teaching and coaching.
"You're not so constricted by time, so you can take your time. It's a new group and you want to install all the details that you're wanting to do. You get to do it over a six-week period in the summer, which is a huge advantage. I'm excited about that opportunity."
***
One year as IU's head basketball coach confirms what DeVries expected when he took the job -- it's an elite program with elite prospects.
"It's a place you can win at a high level," he says. "The fans are passionate. In recruiting, they recognize the brand of Indiana. That's exciting. We've seen that as we've gone through the portal.
"The attraction to Indiana is real. People are excited to play in one of the great venues in all of college basketball."
***
High school recruiting evaluations are once again underway throughout the country, and DeVries and his staff are pushing a hectic pace. He says the goal is to sign two, three, or even four freshmen every year to limit the constant turnover from a heavy transfer portal approach.
"We'll see how it shakes out. We're trying to build that stability. We have four incoming freshmen this year (guard Prince-Alexander Moody, forwards Vaughn Karvala and Trevor Manhertz, and center Clemens Sokolov) and we're excited about that."
***
In terms of playing high-profile non-conference games, IU is set to play a pair of contests in Indianapolis with Syracuse at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Nov. 9 and Kentucky at Lucas Oil Stadium on Nov 20. More is expected, especially with the NCAA allowing teams to play one more regular-season games.
Last year, the Hoosiers played Kentucky, Louisville, Kansas State, and Marquette in non-conference play. In 2027, IU will play Kansas.
"We have some good opportunities, some good games, some challenging games," DeVries says. "That gets us ready for Big Ten play.
"In a lot of ways, it will be similar to this past season. The NCAA added another non-conference game so there's another opportunity for us to play someone."
***
The NCAA has expanded its annual tournament from 68 to 76 teams starting next March. IU just missed qualifying last season.
"They're one year too late," DeVries says with a smile.
As far as the expansion, he adds that, "It's been in the works for a while. It is what it is. It's just different. It's still a great tournament. Our goal is to make sure we're in it."
***
This will be the first time in six seasons that DeVries won't coach his son, Tucker, who is out of college eligibility. The younger DeVries played three years for his father at Drake, then one at West Virginia and one at IU. The goal is to play professionally.
"I'm excited for his next adventure," DeVries says. "The opportunity to coach you son in college goes by fast. He's moving on to his next chapter, as are we. We'll miss having him around."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Invaluable? Absolutely. Indiana's upcoming men's basketball trip to Peru as part of the FISU America Games could be a jump start for something special.
Coach Darian DeVries and the rebuilt Hoosiers -- seven college transfers and four freshmen are joining returning forward Trent Sisley -- will get maximum off-season opportunity to hone the chemistry and timing crucial to success.
IU is set to play as many as five games in the event, which runs July 20 to Aug. 1 in Lima. During last summer's trip to Puerto Rico, the Hoosiers played three games. This is the fourth straight year DeVries has taken a team on a foreign trip. Hoosier players are set to report for summer workouts on June 1.
"The biggest thing is we get more time," DeVries says. "We're not restricted at all. On previous trips, we had 10 practices or 10 days. Now, we get more of an opportunity to spend time with them, especially with film. We can break down individual workouts, team workouts. It's a great learning opportunity to take advantage of."
IU seeks to bounce back from last year's 18-14 record, and it starts with one of the nation's top rated transfer portal classes highlighted by forward Aiden Sherrell from Alabama, point guard Markus Burton from Notre Dame, and center Samet Yigitoglu from SMU.
The key is blending that talent into DeVries' system. Work must be efficient so as not to mentally and physically burn out the players.
"It allows us more time for film work and everything from install to individual workouts," DeVries says. "You still have to be careful in that it's summer, but it allows us more time to do more teaching and coaching.
"You're not so constricted by time, so you can take your time. It's a new group and you want to install all the details that you're wanting to do. You get to do it over a six-week period in the summer, which is a huge advantage. I'm excited about that opportunity."
***
One year as IU's head basketball coach confirms what DeVries expected when he took the job -- it's an elite program with elite prospects.
"It's a place you can win at a high level," he says. "The fans are passionate. In recruiting, they recognize the brand of Indiana. That's exciting. We've seen that as we've gone through the portal.
"The attraction to Indiana is real. People are excited to play in one of the great venues in all of college basketball."
***
High school recruiting evaluations are once again underway throughout the country, and DeVries and his staff are pushing a hectic pace. He says the goal is to sign two, three, or even four freshmen every year to limit the constant turnover from a heavy transfer portal approach.
"We'll see how it shakes out. We're trying to build that stability. We have four incoming freshmen this year (guard Prince-Alexander Moody, forwards Vaughn Karvala and Trevor Manhertz, and center Clemens Sokolov) and we're excited about that."
***
In terms of playing high-profile non-conference games, IU is set to play a pair of contests in Indianapolis with Syracuse at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Nov. 9 and Kentucky at Lucas Oil Stadium on Nov 20. More is expected, especially with the NCAA allowing teams to play one more regular-season games.
Last year, the Hoosiers played Kentucky, Louisville, Kansas State, and Marquette in non-conference play. In 2027, IU will play Kansas.
"We have some good opportunities, some good games, some challenging games," DeVries says. "That gets us ready for Big Ten play.
"In a lot of ways, it will be similar to this past season. The NCAA added another non-conference game so there's another opportunity for us to play someone."
***
The NCAA has expanded its annual tournament from 68 to 76 teams starting next March. IU just missed qualifying last season.
"They're one year too late," DeVries says with a smile.
As far as the expansion, he adds that, "It's been in the works for a while. It is what it is. It's just different. It's still a great tournament. Our goal is to make sure we're in it."
***
This will be the first time in six seasons that DeVries won't coach his son, Tucker, who is out of college eligibility. The younger DeVries played three years for his father at Drake, then one at West Virginia and one at IU. The goal is to play professionally.
"I'm excited for his next adventure," DeVries says. "The opportunity to coach you son in college goes by fast. He's moving on to his next chapter, as are we. We'll miss having him around."
Players Mentioned
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