Indiana fans might finally get their first look at freshman guard Aleksa Ristic in live game action - and it could come as soon as tonight against Minnesota.
The Serbian newcomer has been upgraded to questionable for the Hoosiers’ Big Ten opener at Williams Arena (7 p.m. ET, BTN), a notable shift after being listed as out for each of Indiana’s first seven games this season. While nothing is official yet, all signs point to Ristic being close to making his long-awaited debut.
Ristic took a significant step forward over the weekend when he participated in pregame warmups for the first time this season ahead of IU’s matchup with Bethune-Cookman. That’s often the precursor to a return, and head coach Darian DeVries confirmed as much on his weekly radio show Monday night.
“He’s getting closer and closer, so we’re excited about that,” DeVries said. “He’s someone, again, that gives you just another ball handler, another decision maker, another guy that really understands what we’re trying to do. He’s going to add to our depth and really give us a valuable piece as we continue on throughout the season.”
At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Ristic brings a sturdy frame and a high basketball IQ to the backcourt. He joined the program in late July, just in time to take part in Indiana’s summer tour of Puerto Rico, where he logged meaningful minutes and showed flashes of what he could bring to this team.
In those exhibition games, Ristic averaged 4.3 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game, shooting 46% from the field. While the sample size was small - just 13 shot attempts - he looked comfortable running the offense and showed the kind of poise coaches love from a freshman.
Unfortunately, a lower leg injury in the fall sidelined him before the regular season tipped off. But with his recovery now nearing the finish line, Indiana could soon have another playmaker in the mix - and that’s especially important given the current state of the roster.
The Hoosiers will still be without forward Josh Harris and guard Jason Drake for Wednesday’s matchup in Minneapolis, thinning the rotation and putting even more emphasis on the backcourt depth. If Ristic is cleared, even in a limited role, he could help ease the ball-handling load and give Indiana another steady presence on the floor.
Whether he suits up tonight or later this month, it’s clear Ristic is trending in the right direction. And for a team looking to build momentum heading into the grind of Big Ten play, every healthy body - especially one with Ristic’s skill set - matters.