Indiana didn’t put together a polished 40 minutes Monday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, but it did what mattered most: it closed.
The Hoosiers edged Syracuse 83-80 in a game that tightened late and forced IU to show some poise under pressure. For Darian DeVries, that mattered as much as anything else.
“That’s probably the biggest takeaway for us, just from a coaching standpoint, is to see that response. Until you’re in that situation, you don’t know for sure,” DeVries said after the game. “I thought the guys did a great job.”
Indiana (3-0) was down five with 6:24 left after a Darren Harris shooting foul that, on replay, showed he never made contact with Kiyan Anthony. The call stunned the IU bench and the crowd, and it could have swung the game hard in Syracuse’s favor.
Instead, the Hoosiers steadied themselves. From that point on, they went 5 for 7 from the field and hit all nine of their free throws.
“I liked the communication that was taking place,” DeVries said. “There wasn’t a lot of panic.
It was very much, ‘the next play.’ They weren’t worried about the last play.
I thought that was really good.”
The finish still had some rough edges. Indiana led by five in the final minute but had trouble getting the ball in cleanly, forcing multiple timeouts to avoid turnovers. Then, with four seconds left, Bryce Lindsay was called for an offensive foul, which gave Syracuse the ball back down three.
DeVries knows there’s work to do. But he also had enough to like, especially the way Indiana handled the moment and the way it attacked the foul line. The Hoosiers finished 17 for 18 at the stripe in the second half.
“We’re gonna come out and fight, each and every time, no matter the circumstance, how the game’s going. We’re gonna come out and fight, and we’re gonna stay together at all times,” guard Jaeden Mustaf said.
“I think we built a great bond with each other just over the summer and into now. And so just knowing that every game we’re gonna all fight together, no matter what the score is.”
Mustaf was part of a backcourt that carried the offense. He, Harris, Lindsay and Markus Burton combined for 69 of Indiana’s 83 points.
The schedule gets tougher from here, with neutral-site games coming against No. 19 Arkansas and No.
24 Kentucky. Indiana also has a recent example of an early-season statement that didn’t carry over: last year, the Hoosiers beat Marquette convincingly before dropping the next non-conference games against Louisville and Kentucky.
That’s why this win over Syracuse will be judged on more than the final score. DeVries wants to see whether the calm his team showed late Monday is real.
“Every late game situation, it’s just hard to simulate without the crowd and the pressure of it. To be able to come away and get the win, that’s the ultimate way to learn,” DeVries said. “That was a great quality to have, just to find a way to win that game.”
In Other News...
Indiana Just Landed A Guard Hoosier Fans Will Want To Watch
Indiana added another notable name to its future backcourt with the signing of four-star guard Chase Branham from the class of 2027, a move that gives Hoosier fans an early reason to keep an eye on La Lumiere School. At 6-foot-4, Branham brings size for the position, and his arrival only adds to the sense that Indiana is trying to build its next wave with players who can fit the programs long-term plans.
Branham also arrives with some historical context attached, since he is now the 10th-highest ranked recruit Indiana has landed in the 247Sports era. In the schools official release, coach Darian DeVries highlighted both Branhams ability and his character, which is usually the kind of combination a staff hopes will translate well once the real work begins and the recruiting buzz gives way to what he can actually do in Bloomington. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Riley Just Sent Indiana A Message Before Bloomington Showdown
Lincoln Riley had plenty of praise for Indiana as USC turns its attention toward a trip to Bloomington, and the message was clear enough: this is not a matchup the Trojans can treat casually. Asked about the Hoosiers, Riley pointed to an experienced defense and the kind of coaching continuity that can make a team harder to prepare for, while also showing respect for Curt Cignettis program.
For Indiana, the compliments matter because they come with a reminder of what usually decides games at this level: which team can bring the same standard from one week to the next. Riley said consistency is the challenge, and that is exactly the sort of test the Hoosiers want in a high-profile home game, where a strong defensive identity and steady coaching should give them a chance to make USC earn everything. [Read more 🡒]
Tobi Osunsanmi May Decide Whether Indiana Can Survive USCs Attack
USC brings one of the Big Tens most dangerous passing attacks into this matchup, and Indianas best answer may come from the front line. The Trojans have leaned on quarterback Jayden Maiava to drive the offense, while the Hoosiers have built their defensive identity around getting pressure and disrupting timing before a play can fully develop.
Tobi Osunsanmi is at the center of that challenge. Indiana has to find a way to make USC uncomfortable early and often, because if Maiava settles in, the Trojans can turn a game fast through the air. The Hoosiers have shown they can defend at a high level, but this one may hinge on whether Osunsanmi and the pass rush can force USC out of rhythm before the secondary has to hold up for long stretches. [Read more 🡒]