Indiana men’s basketball’s 2026-27 season arrives Monday night with a very different look, a very different roster and a very different set of questions than the one that opened last year.
The second year of the Darian DeVries era begins against Eastern Illinois at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, and after a massive offseason overhaul, the biggest storyline is simple: what does this version of Indiana actually become?
DeVries and his staff rebuilt the roster after the Hoosiers missed the 2026 NCAA Tournament, leaning hard into size in the frontcourt. Only one scholarship player who logged minutes in DeVries’ first season, Trent Sisley, is back. Everything else has been reshaped.
That’s why the ceiling - and the uncertainty - are both so high. Indiana hasn’t won more than 20 games since the 2022-23 season, and it has finished at or below .500 in conference play in each of the seasons since. So the first big prediction point is obvious: how many regular-season wins can this team stack up?
The scoring race is just as intriguing. Indiana added Markus Burton, who has never averaged fewer than 17 points per game in a college season over his first three years.
The Hoosiers also brought in Aiden Sherrell, the prized transfer from Alabama who played a key role in the Crimson Tide’s high-scoring attack. Then there’s Bryce Lindsay, who could be more than a sixth man if his production takes another step.
There’s also a real chance this team’s identity gets defined by the glass. Rebounding has been central since Indiana landed a pair of 7-footers through the transfer portal, and DeVries has made it a point of emphasis in practice.
In the Hoosiers’ three-game exhibition slate, their rebounding output would have ranked in the top five nationally on both the offensive and defensive ends in 2026-27. It’s a tiny sample, but it’s still an eye-opening preseason sign.
The historical context makes that even more notable. Indiana hasn’t finished in the top 100 in offensive rebounding since the 2019-20 season.
It hasn’t cracked the top 10 since 2012-13. And it has never finished in the top five in any season tracked by KenPom.
That brings another key question into focus: can Indiana actually get into the top 10 nationally in offensive rebounding?
The broader style shift matters, too. This is a team that looks built to lean more on its frontcourt defensively and less on the 3-point shot offensively. So the debate around which unit proves stronger - offense or defense - feels baked into the season before it even starts.
And then there’s the freshman group, which could shape the rotation more quickly than expected. Indiana signed four freshmen in the 2026 class: three from the high school ranks and one international prospect. Prince-Alexander Moody was the first player to commit to DeVries at Indiana, Vaughn Karvala committed last November, Trevor Manhertz followed in January and Clemens Sokolov joined the roster over the summer.
Manhertz looked like the freshman with the biggest role during the exhibition slate, logging substantial minutes against both Butler and North Carolina. Indiana also put all three high school signees on the floor to close out the Western Kentucky game, and Karvala made some late plays to help seal that win.
So while the roster may be new, the big questions are already clear: how far can Indiana go, who carries the scoring load, how dominant can the rebounding be, and which freshman forces his way into the center of the rotation?
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
Indiana has spent much of the 2026 season benefiting from better health than most teams, and that has been a quiet part of Curt Cignettis push toward the College Football Playoff conversation. The Big Tens Week 9 injury report is a reminder that the Hoosiers are not completely out of the woods, with receiver Davion Chandler and defensive lineman Kellan Wyatt ruled out while defensive back Quan Sanks is listed as questionable.
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 🡒]