Indiana kept its perfect start intact, but it took a grind to do it.
The Hoosiers edged Syracuse 83-80 in Indianapolis, surviving a game that stayed tight all the way to the final seconds. After cruising through their first two outings, Indiana finally ran into resistance - and looked like a team still sorting out plenty as the season moves along.
The early offense never really settled in. Indiana went almost three minutes before getting on the board, and the half-court attack spent much of the day looking stuck in neutral. The Hoosiers had the size to control the backboards, but turning those extra chances into points was another story.
That was especially noticeable inside. After the offseason additions Darian DeVries made for this year, Indiana’s trouble finishing around the rim stood out.
Samet Yigitoglu, the only seven-footer to play for either team, finished with eight points. Indiana’s other forward, Aiden Sherrell, had six points, and all of them came from beyond the arc.
The guards carried the load. Jaeden Mustaf and Markus Burton each scored 20 points, giving Indiana the kind of backcourt production it needed when the frontcourt wasn’t delivering. That was a big difference in this one, especially for a team that was hurt last season by a lack of playmaking and interior scoring.
Indiana’s guards didn’t just score, either. They kept pressure on Syracuse by creating their own looks and earning trips to the line when shots weren’t falling. Harris was perfect at the stripe, going 10-for-10.
Even with the offense sputtering at times, Indiana found another way to control the game: rebounding. Yigitoglu led the way with 10 boards, Mustaf added seven, and Sam Alexis grabbed five.
By the end of the afternoon, Indiana had a 37-28 edge on the glass, including 14 offensive rebounds. That translated into seven more field goal attempts, a crucial margin in a game that finished as a one-possession battle.
It wasn’t clean on either side, and both teams will probably want to put this one behind them quickly. But Indiana got the result it needed, and for the first time since 1987, the Hoosiers beat Syracuse.
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 🡒]