Indiana men's basketball faced disappointment as they were left out of the 68-team NCAA Tournament field this year. The Hoosiers found themselves as the fourth team out, marking a tough end to their season.
Finishing with an 18-14 record, Indiana struggled down the stretch, securing only one win in their last seven games. Early in the season, they reached the No. 22 spot in the AP Top 25 Poll but fell out after losses to Minnesota and Louisville in December.
January seemed promising with victories over then-No. 12 Purdue and UCLA, hinting at a potential return to March Madness. However, subsequent defeats to high-ranked teams like Illinois, Purdue, and Michigan State, along with a Big Ten Tournament first-game exit, dashed those hopes, casting a shadow over head coach Darian DeVries’ debut season.
Fifth-year senior guard Lamar Wilkerson was a standout, leading the team with 20.9 points per game. Hailing from Ashdown, Arkansas, Wilkerson set a program record with 464 points in Big Ten play and finished just three 3-pointers shy of Steve Alford’s record. His efforts earned him a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team.
Indiana's absence from the NCAA Tournament marks their eighth miss in the last ten years. DeVries follows in the footsteps of previous coaches, becoming the third in four to miss the tournament in their first season. Mike Woodson had initial success but fell short in his final two years, while Archie Miller never made it during his tenure, despite a canceled bid in 2020 due to COVID-19.
This season, Indiana's roster was entirely composed of transfers and freshmen, with a top 10 transfer class brought in last year. Looking ahead, they'll aim to leverage the transfer portal once more to fill the gaps left by departing seniors.
The team will be saying goodbye to six seniors, including key players like Wilkerson and guards Conor Enright and Tayton Conerway. Freshman forward Trent Sisley and junior guards Nick Dorn and Jasai Miles remain as part of DeVries' core with eligibility for the next season. As they regroup, Indiana hopes to build a stronger foundation for future success.