Indiana took care of business in its season opener, rolling past Eastern Illinois 91-57 in a game that never really got away from the Hoosiers once they settled in. The Panthers hung around just enough to make a few moments feel a little messy, but Indiana never trailed and spent most of the second half with a lead of at least 20 points.
For a first official game of Darian DeVries’ second season, it was the kind of start Indiana wanted: steady, controlled and broad enough to get almost everybody on the floor. There’s only so much to read into a matchup like this, but the Hoosiers still showed a few things worth noting.
One of the clearest takeaways was how Indiana wants to attack. Bryce Lindsey stayed on the bench to start, which suggests DeVries is leaning into downhill pressure and rim creation more than he did a year ago. That’s a noticeable shift from last season’s version of the team.
This group has more players who can beat defenders off the dribble. Jaeden Mustaf gives Indiana a wing who can initiate, while Aiden Sherrell brings a different kind of versatility because he can operate with his back to the basket or face up. Even the way the offense opened reflected that approach: Indiana went three possessions without starting point guard Markus Burton initiating before Mustaf helped force the defense to collapse into the paint, opening the door for Burton to step into a pull-up three for his first points as a Hoosier.
The shooting from deep also stood out. Indiana looked comfortable enough getting to the rim that the outside concerns may have been overblown, at least for now.
Burton and Lindsey each hit three threes, freshman Trevor Manhertz added two, and Trent Sisley knocked down one. The Hoosiers finished 9-for-24 from beyond the arc, which is roughly in line with where last year’s team landed percentage-wise.
Even with Sherrell and Darren Harris missing from the made-three column, the volume matters. Sherrell took four threes and Harris got three attempts up, which says something about the mindset of this group. Indiana wants to stretch defenses when it can, and it showed that willingness right away.
The one real concern from the night came with freshman Prince-Alexander Moody. He was seen on crutches with what appeared to be a substantial brace on his leg, and that would be a difficult loss for Indiana. The Hoosiers already look thin in the backcourt after investing so much in rebuilding the front line, with Burton, Lindsey and Mustaf standing as the true ball-handlers.
It was also a small letdown on a night when the other freshmen got their first college action. Manhertz had the strongest showing of that group, but he plays at power forward, where Indiana has more bodies than it does on the perimeter.
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Indiana Backcourt Depth Already Facing A Troubling Early Setback
Indianas backcourt depth took an early hit in practice when freshman guard Prince-Alexander Moody suffered a knee injury and is expected to miss an extended period while he undergoes further evaluation. Coach Darian DeVries said Moody will be out for quite some time, a tough development for a player who was expected to help stabilize the guard rotation this season.
For a Hoosiers team trying to build out its perimeter options, the timing makes the setback sting even more. Moody was one of the freshmen penciled in to supply depth and energy in the backcourt, and now Indiana has to wait for a clearer picture before it knows how much of that plan will need to be adjusted. [Read more 🡒]
Indianas Playoff Push Suddenly Centers On One Troubling Josh Hoover Question
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The concern now is less about one rough stretch than what it might mean for the stretch run ahead. Former college quarterbacks Danny Kanell and Joel Klatt both weighed in on Hoovers physical condition and confidence, and their comments only sharpened the sense that something is off. For Indiana, the bigger question is whether Hoover can get back to full form in time to keep the Hoosiers on track. [Read more 🡒]
Philip Rivers Could Leave Alabama For A Job That Changes Two Programs
Philip Rivers has surfaced as a leading candidate to replace Dave Doeren at NC State, a development that would send the former NFL quarterback from a high school sideline in Alabama to one of the more intriguing openings in the ACC. Rivers, the former NC State standout, is currently coaching at St. Michael Catholic High School, where his son Gunner Rivers plays quarterback and has already committed to the Wolfpack.
The appeal is obvious even with the obvious leap of faith. Rivers has no college coaching experience, but some around the sport see the move as the kind of bold swing worth taking for a program looking to reset quickly. For NC State, it would be a homecoming with immediate recruiting implications, and for Rivers, it would mean leaving a familiar setup in Alabama for a job that could reshape both his coaching path and his sons next stop. [Read more 🡒]