Indiana left its exhibition matchup with North Carolina on Sunday with a 76-58 win in Indianapolis, and the second tune-up of three gave a pretty clear look at where several Hoosiers stand right now. For players who logged at least five minutes, the night came with a little bit of everything: hot shooting, rough stretches, work on the glass and a few reminders that exhibition basketball still comes with some rust.
Markus Burton was one of the louder performers in the gym. He pushed the pace, stayed active defensively and showed he can get into the lane while still keeping teams honest from long range.
His shot chart wasn’t clean, though, finishing 4-for-13 overall and 3-for-9 from deep. He looked like a player shaking off the cobwebs, but the efficiency wasn’t there.
Jaeden Mustaf’s line at least looked more digestible in a game where no one really lit it up from the floor. He went 3-for-8, but the impact stretched beyond scoring.
He attacked downhill, grabbed five rebounds and gave Indiana a real edge on defense. Darian DeVries wants Mustaf to be the stopper on that end, and he backed that up by holding Neo Avdalas to six points and four turnovers.
Mustaf also had three turnovers of his own.
Aiden Sherrell didn’t pile up points, finishing with seven, but he filled up the game in other ways. He controlled the glass with 10 rebounds, blocked a shot, picked off a steal and defended well in isolation.
He also knocked down a three. Indiana would probably like to see him be more assertive - he took only eight shots - but the overall package was strong enough that, if that aggressiveness comes, he could become one of the Big Ten’s top players.
Samet Yigitoglu was a force on the boards, collecting 11 rebounds in 20 minutes, including five on the offensive end. He also anchored the paint defensively.
But the scoring had a rough edge to it. Twice he got to his drop-step on the left side of the rim and didn’t finish, and his 0-for-3 shooting plus a 2-for-4 mark at the line left something to be desired.
Indiana also could have looked his way more often.
Bryce Lindsay came off the bench and gave Indiana a jolt with 26 points on 8-for-14 shooting. His range is already a problem for opponents, and on Sunday he showed he can add slashing too. Some of his shot attempts were poor, especially the early-clock pulls after just one or two passes, but when he’s making shots the way he did against North Carolina, it’s hard to complain too loudly.
Sam Alexis kept doing what he does. He was active, physical and productive without needing possessions run for him.
He grabbed four offensive rebounds, blocked two shots and finished with 10 points. Night after night, he brings it.
Trevor Manhertz’s stat line doesn’t jump off the page: 0-for-4 shooting and four fouls in 15 minutes. But the film told a better story.
He took open looks he’s capable of making, moved the ball well with three assists and no turnovers, and played with energy. For a freshman, that’s a solid base to build on.
Trent Sisley had the quietest night of the bunch. He didn’t attempt a shot and his two rebounds were the only numbers he put up in 15 minutes.
He didn’t hurt Indiana, but he didn’t create much value either. The season is just beginning, and he’s still sorting out his place on this roster, but he won’t earn minutes simply by showing up.
He’ll need to give the Hoosiers something real if he wants his role to grow as the season goes on.
In Other News...
Indiana Fans Just Got A Bigger Reason To Watch Josh Hoover
Josh Hoovers rise to the top of the Big Ten quarterback rankings adds another layer to a conference race that has already been thinned by injuries and uneven play. With the rankings pared down from eight quarterbacks to five, Hoover now sits ahead of a group that still includes Purdues Ryan Browne, whose recent performance was enough to push him into the top five despite a loss, along with Northwesterns Hunter Maiava and Nebraskas Jeff Colandrea.
For Indiana fans, Hoovers new standing gives them an even clearer reason to keep an eye on him as Week 8 approaches. The competition around him has shifted quickly, especially after Ohio States Julian Sayin was injured, and the latest shuffle underscores how much the Big Tens quarterback picture has changed in a short span. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Now Faces A New Michigan Wrinkle At Quarterback
Freshman Tommy Carr is suddenly the quarterback Indiana has to prepare for, and the change gives Michigan a different look heading into the matchup. After Bryce Underwood was benched because of accuracy issues and turnovers during his starts, Carr stepped in and helped spark a comeback win over Penn State, giving the Wolverines a reason to believe the offense can settle down.
For Indiana, the wrinkle is less about a mystery and more about adjusting to a new version of the same opponent on short notice. Carrs passing output was modest, but he also delivered a key rushing touchdown, and Michigan is hoping the switch leads to a more consistent operation under center. The Hoosiers now have to plan for a quarterback making his first real run at the job, which can change both the rhythm and the run-pass balance of the game. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Respect For Indiana Just Raised The Stakes In Ann Arbor
Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham spent part of his pregame availability giving Indiana a level of respect that usually tells you plenty about the matchup before anyone takes the field. He pointed to Curt Cignettis team as a balanced, veteran group that takes care of the ball, the kind of profile that tends to travel well and force opponents to stay sharp from the opening snap.
The other wrinkle is on Michigans side, where Whittingham said the Wolverines will turn to freshman quarterback Tommy Carr against Indiana. His mobility and efficiency were part of the rationale, but it also adds another layer to a game already carrying more intrigue because of what Indiana has built. When a conference opponent talks this carefully about your strengths, it usually means the margin for error gets a lot thinner in Ann Arbor. [Read more 🡒]