Indiana basketball’s season will be judged by how it handles the Big Ten grind, not just by what happens in the early weeks.
Darian DeVries is heading into his second season in Bloomington after a year that ended with a loss to Northwestern in the Big Ten tournament, and the roster looks very different now. That makes this more than a normal follow-up campaign. It’s a chance to build something new and see whether the Hoosiers can turn that change into real progress.
The Big Ten won’t offer one clean test. It will offer a different one every night.
Some opponents will try to bully teams inside. Others will spread the floor and lean on shooting.
Some will turn up the defensive heat, while others will play faster and force possessions into a track meet. Indiana’s challenge is staying steady through all of it without losing its own identity.
Rebounding is going to sit near the center of that fight. Defensive boards cut off extra chances and let a team get moving the other way.
Offensive rebounds can swing games too, especially when the first shot isn’t falling. Indiana’s frontcourt has to carry a lot of that load, but the work can’t stop there.
Guards have to chip in, and every player on the floor has to understand where the ball is and what to do when the shot goes up.
The same goes for defense, where the margin for error shrinks fast in league play. Conference teams have enough talent to punish small breakdowns, so Indiana has to stay sharp with switches, screen coverage and help defense. A late rotation or a missed assignment can turn into an easy basket in a hurry.
Offensively, the Hoosiers also have to show they can survive pressure. Some teams will try to speed them up and force mistakes.
Others will sit back and take away driving lanes. Indiana needs enough variety to answer both looks.
That is where depth could become a real asset. A long conference schedule brings foul trouble, injuries and tired legs, and coaches often need bench players to hold the line. Even if they are not scoring much, reserves who defend, take care of the ball and keep the tempo where it needs to be can matter a lot.
The mental test will be just as real as the physical one. A rough stretch can pile on quickly in the Big Ten, and Indiana has to be able to look at its own play honestly without letting frustration take over.
Assembly Hall should help, but that alone won’t carry the season. Road games will demand poise, communication and clean execution when the crowd is against the Hoosiers.
In the end, Indiana’s direction will be tied to whether it keeps improving as the schedule tightens. A bad start won’t bury the season.
A hot start won’t guarantee anything either. The conference slate will tell the real story.
In Other News...
Indiana Still Has Plenty Riding On Josh Hoovers Sudden Slide
Josh Hoover arrived at Indiana with the kind of preseason buzz that turns a transfer quarterback into an instant storyline, and he opened the 2026 season looking every bit like a Heisman contender. After moving over from TCU, he came in with favorable odds and gave the Hoosiers the sort of early production that made the fit look seamless, which only added to the excitement around what Indiana could become with him steering the offense.
The last couple of marquee games have changed the conversation, though, as losses and uneven stretches against Ohio State and Michigan pushed his Heisman stock in the wrong direction. Even so, Hoover's season numbers still stack up well, and Indiana's bigger goals are very much alive with the College Football Playoff picture still in play, which means the Hoosiers have plenty riding on how quickly he steadies things from here. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Fans Have One Big Week 9 Concern As Playoff Push Continues
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The bigger concern, though, sits under center with Josh Hoover. He played through an injury in the Michigan game and had a rough outing, but the expectation is that he will be available against Minnesota, which matters for an Indiana offense trying to stay on track in a critical stretch. With the playoff push continuing, the Hoosiers can only afford so many health scares before the margins get a lot tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Hoover Powered Indiana Through A Michigan Moment Fans Won't Forget
Josh Hoover spent the kind of afternoon that tends to linger with a fan base long after the final whistle, playing through an undisclosed throwing arm injury and still helping Indiana grind out a 13-6 overtime win at Michigan Stadium. The quarterbacks ability to stay on the field gave the Hoosiers a steadying presence in a game that demanded patience, resilience and a little bit of grit.
Hoovers best work came when the pressure peaked in overtime, when he connected on a 21-yard pass and later finished the drive with a rushing touchdown. For Indiana, it was more than just a road win, it was the programs first victory at Michigan Stadium in 59 years, and afterward coach Curt Cignetti and teammates singled out Hoovers toughness and leadership as a big reason the moment belonged to the Hoosiers. [Read more 🡒]