College basketball has changed - again - and this time, it’s midseason roster moves that are reshaping the landscape. We’re seeing more programs dipping into the transfer portal, the G-League, or even the international pool during the season.
Some of these additions are simply about shoring up depth. Others?
They’re calculated swings at potential impact players - the kind who could shift a team’s ceiling come March.
It’s a controversial trend, sure. But it’s legal, it’s happening, and it’s not going away anytime soon.
Programs can either adapt or risk falling behind. And for a team like Indiana, adaptation isn’t just an option - it might be a necessity.
Indiana’s Roster Reality Check
Under new head coach Darian DeVries, Indiana did some solid work in the offseason, especially in the transfer portal. They brought in international players like Aleksa Ristic and Andrej Acimovic, moves that were more about long-term development and roster depth than immediate impact. But now that the non-conference slate is behind them, the cracks in the roster are starting to show.
This isn’t a broken team. There’s talent here, and the whole has often played better than the sum of its parts. But there are clear areas where Indiana could use reinforcements - and with two open scholarship spots, the door is wide open for midseason help.
Let’s break it down.
Frontcourt: The Area of Need
Let’s not dance around it - Indiana’s center rotation hasn’t been up to the standard needed to compete in the Big Ten.
Reed Bailey and Sam Alexis have both had their moments. There have been flashes - a strong rebounding game here, a few efficient buckets there - but consistency has been elusive. Alexis has recently taken over the starting role, but so far, that move hasn’t drastically changed the equation.
And here’s the bigger issue: outside of those two, there’s not much in terms of true frontcourt depth. Tucker DeVries, who starts at the four, plays more like a wing than a traditional power forward.
Trent Sisley fits the mold better, but he’s a true freshman still adjusting to the college game. Acimovic is a long-term project, and Josh Harris - who showed promise at North Florida - is still sidelined with injury.
What Indiana needs is a physical, interior presence. Someone who can hold their own on the glass, protect the rim, and chip in around 10 points per game. Not a star, necessarily - just a steady, tough post player who can battle with the Big Ten’s bruisers and bring some balance to the frontcourt rotation.
Backcourt: Less Urgent, But Still Worth Watching
The backcourt isn’t in crisis mode, but there’s room to improve.
The starting guards have held their own, but Indiana could use a bit more rim pressure - someone who can break down defenses and create off the bounce. Jason Drake’s absence has made it tough to fully assess the depth, and Ristic, while occasionally in the rotation, hasn’t offered much reliability in his minutes.
If Indiana can only make one move, it should be up front. But if the right guard becomes available - someone who can attack off the dribble and maybe give them a scoring jolt - it’s worth a look.
The Bigger Picture
This is where roster flexibility matters. Indiana has two open scholarships, which gives them a rare midseason opportunity to address real needs. The frontcourt clearly tops the list, but that doesn’t mean the backcourt should be ignored entirely.
Darian DeVries and his staff have already shown they’re willing to be creative in team-building. Now, with the Big Ten grind just around the corner, they’ll need to decide whether to ride with what they’ve got or make a move that could raise the team’s floor - and maybe even its ceiling.
In today’s college basketball world, standing still is rarely the smart play. The portal door is open. The question is whether Indiana walks through it.