Inside IU Basketball: DeVries Talks Resiliency, Depth, and the Road Ahead
Indiana head coach Darian DeVries returned to Inside IU Basketball on Monday night, sitting down with longtime Hoosiers voice Don Fischer at Hoosier Hank’s in Bloomington. With a rematch against Purdue looming on Friday in West Lafayette, the first-year head coach took time to reflect on the past few weeks-a stretch that’s tested Indiana’s depth, resolve, and identity.
Joining DeVries were players Jasai Miles and Josh Harris, who offered their own insights into the team’s chemistry and goals. But it was DeVries’ breakdown of the Hoosiers’ recent performances that painted the clearest picture of where this group stands heading into a critical stretch of Big Ten play.
A Gritty Win, a Tough Trip, and a Statement Game
DeVries opened the conversation by revisiting Indiana’s January 27 win over Purdue-a game that, by his account, showcased the kind of effort and energy he wants to see every night. “I thought we played incredibly hard,” he said. That win came at a pivotal moment, just before Indiana’s West Coast swing, and served as a momentum-builder for a team still finding its footing.
That trip out west wasn’t without adversity. The Hoosiers battled illness across the roster, which DeVries joked about, noting it “took a little while to get that all worked out of our systems.”
Still, Indiana managed to grind out a double-overtime win at UCLA-a road victory DeVries called “huge,” especially given UCLA’s strong home record. “It was a quad one win that we badly needed,” he added.
The high of that win was followed by a letdown in Los Angeles, where Indiana fell to USC. DeVries didn’t sugarcoat it.
“We just didn’t seem to have as much pop that night,” he admitted. “We gave a good fight late, tried to give ourselves a chance… but came up a little short.”
Back home, the Hoosiers bounced back with a resilient performance against Wisconsin, another win hovering around that all-important Quad 1 line. And when they faced Oregon, Indiana delivered what DeVries called one of their “more complete games,” particularly on offense.
Individual Standouts and Lineup Adjustments
DeVries was quick to highlight the impact of several players, starting with Lamar Wilkerson. “He’s so fun to watch,” DeVries said, noting how the team does a solid job of feeding him when he’s got the hot hand.
But not every matchup has gone Wilkerson’s way. In the loss to Illinois, DeVries pointed to Kylan Boswell’s return as a key factor. The Illini guard did a strong job defending Wilkerson, and Indiana struggled on the glass, surrendering 15 offensive rebounds-“just too many,” DeVries said, especially when the team wasn’t shooting at a high clip.
He also touched on the emergence of Nick Dorn in the starting lineup, praising the floor spacing Dorn provides. “It opens up the floor a lot more for us,” DeVries explained.
“Now we get more driving lanes with Nick standing in the corner.” While Dorn has cooled off a bit in recent games, DeVries emphasized his continued value to the offense-not just in scoring, but in the space he creates for others.
Conor Enright’s shooting also came up. DeVries made it clear: “He can shoot it.
He’s got the green light.” But Enright’s a selective shooter, which makes moments like his clutch bucket late in the first Purdue game stand out even more.
And then there’s Sam Alexis, who’s quietly become a force in the paint. “Sam’s been great,” DeVries said.
“He’s really given us some inside presence. I like how he’s kind of emerged these last three games.”
Locker Room Vibes and Big Ten Realities
When asked about the team’s mindset after losses, DeVries pointed to maturity and perspective. “Wins or losses, learn from them, move on, get ready for the next one,” he said. “They’re disappointed after losses, but I think they keep it in the right frame of mind.”
That level-headed approach extends to the locker room, where DeVries sees a tight-knit group. “They don’t point fingers after losses, and they celebrate together after wins,” he said. “They’re unselfish guys, they work hard, and that’s what makes them so enjoyable to be around every single day.”
DeVries also touched on the evolving nature of recruiting in the NIL era, especially when it comes to international players. “It’s a huge part of college basketball now,” he said, noting that Indiana is “deeply involved” in that space.
As for the Big Ten? DeVries didn’t mince words: “The depth of this league is incredible.
There’s a lot of teams that can go make some deep runs in March.” He singled out Illinois and Michigan for their roster depth and praised Purdue’s current form.
“They’re playing incredibly well,” he said. “They’ve hit a good stride and add to the relentlessness of a Big Ten schedule.”
Miles and Harris: From Rivals to Teammates
Player guests Jasai Miles and Josh Harris brought a lighter, more personal tone to the show. The two shared that they both attended Miami Country Day for two years before heading to the University of North Florida. And while they didn’t exactly hit it off at first-Miles admitted, “We didn’t really like each other”-the two became close in college and grew even tighter after transferring to Indiana.
Harris, currently sidelined with an injury, said this is the first serious setback of his career. But he’s using the time to learn, especially from watching Alexis and Reed Bailey work in the post.
Off the court, the two are focused on academics-Miles is studying sports management, Harris is majoring in sports marketing-and both have their eyes set on playing in the NCAA tournament. “That’s one of my main goals,” Miles said. Harris agreed, adding that he’s eager to get healthy and back on the court.
And in case you’re wondering who keeps things loose in the locker room, Miles gave the nod to Harris, Wilkerson, and Alexis as the funniest guys on the team. Harris added that Andrej Acimovic is “a goofball” who always keeps the mood light.
Looking Ahead
With Purdue up next and the Big Ten race tightening, Indiana’s margin for error is shrinking. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned from DeVries and this group, it’s that they don’t back down from challenges. Whether it’s battling through illness, bouncing back from tough losses, or leaning on the next man up, this team is building something.
The road ahead won’t be easy. But if recent weeks are any indication, the Hoosiers are finding their identity-and they’re not done yet.