Indiana is almost at the point where the games start counting, and the first real look at this roster has already offered a few clues. The Hoosiers have been through exhibition tests against Butler and North Carolina, with Western Kentucky coming up Sunday, Oct. 25, and those two wins have done more than just fill the calendar.
They’ve given a clearer picture of how the lineup could settle when the regular season opens against Eastern Illinois on Nov. 2.
At the point, there does not appear to be much mystery. Notre Dame transfer Markus Burton has been the obvious lead guard in the exhibitions, starting both games, and he looks positioned to run the show when the season begins. Burton has been one of the ACC’s most prolific scorers over the last three seasons, and his role should be central from the start.
Behind him, Indiana has a couple of options to handle the ball. Bryce Lindsay brings real flexibility as a guard who can work anywhere from the 1 through the 3, and he could slide over to point guard when Burton needs a breather. Freshman Prince-Alexander Moody is another player who can handle those duties, while Maryland Eastern Shore transfer Justin Monden gives the staff more backcourt depth.
On the wing, Darren Harris looks like a strong bet to start at one of the guard spots. DeVries has made his feelings on Harris’ shooting clear, saying he has "the ultimate green light." That kind of confidence makes sense for a player who didn’t play much at Duke - Harris averaged 8.3 minutes over 57 appearances in his first two seasons there - but is headed for a much larger role in Bloomington.
Lindsay may not crack the starting five, but he’s already shown he can swing a game off the bench. He scored a team-high 26 points against UNC, knocking down 4-for-9 from deep, and that kind of production should keep him in the rotation no matter what the lineup looks like on opening night.
Small forward might be Indiana’s deepest spot. Georgia Tech transfer Jaeden Mustaf has started both exhibitions, and that could easily carry over into the opener. At 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds, he brings size and physicality on the wing, especially as a rebounder.
There’s plenty more wing and forward versatility behind him too. Harris can play either wing spot, and freshmen Vaughn Karvala and Trevor Manhertz have both turned heads in preseason work.
Karvala brings more athleticism and looks better suited to the 3, while Manhertz could also see time at the 4. Both add a layer of flexibility that could matter once the rotation tightens.
The frontcourt is where Indiana’s makeover really shows. Alabama transfer Aiden Sherrell is the projected starter at power forward, and he’s the highest-ranked portal addition Indiana brought in this offseason. He has also looked the part in the exhibitions, posting 10 points and 9 rebounds against Butler before following that with 7 points and 10 rebounds against UNC.
There’s depth behind Sherrell, but it comes with moving parts. Sam Alexis is pursuing a fifth season of eligibility after the NCAA left class of 2022 athletes out of its 5-for-5 rule.
He spent Summer League with the Oklahoma City Thunder but never signed a contract, and he remains eligible for the season for now. Trent Sisley and Trevor Manhertz are also listed as rotational possibilities at the 4, while Jaeden Mustaf can slide there too.
Ben Winker provides bench depth at the position as well.
The biggest addition in the middle is SMU center Samet Yigitoglu, who gives Indiana the true center it was missing last season. At 7-foot-2, he should help with rebounding on both ends and give the Hoosiers a real rim protector. If foul trouble forces Yigitoglu off the floor, Sherrell and Alexis can both move to the 5 and keep the lineup intact.
In Other News...
Indiana Fans Just Got A Bigger Reason To Watch Josh Hoover
Josh Hoovers rise to the top of the Big Ten quarterback rankings adds another layer to a conference race that has already been thinned by injuries and uneven play. With the rankings pared down from eight quarterbacks to five, Hoover now sits ahead of a group that still includes Purdues Ryan Browne, whose recent performance was enough to push him into the top five despite a loss, along with Northwesterns Hunter Maiava and Nebraskas Jeff Colandrea.
For Indiana fans, Hoovers new standing gives them an even clearer reason to keep an eye on him as Week 8 approaches. The competition around him has shifted quickly, especially after Ohio States Julian Sayin was injured, and the latest shuffle underscores how much the Big Tens quarterback picture has changed in a short span. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Now Faces A New Michigan Wrinkle At Quarterback
Freshman Tommy Carr is suddenly the quarterback Indiana has to prepare for, and the change gives Michigan a different look heading into the matchup. After Bryce Underwood was benched because of accuracy issues and turnovers during his starts, Carr stepped in and helped spark a comeback win over Penn State, giving the Wolverines a reason to believe the offense can settle down.
For Indiana, the wrinkle is less about a mystery and more about adjusting to a new version of the same opponent on short notice. Carrs passing output was modest, but he also delivered a key rushing touchdown, and Michigan is hoping the switch leads to a more consistent operation under center. The Hoosiers now have to plan for a quarterback making his first real run at the job, which can change both the rhythm and the run-pass balance of the game. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Respect For Indiana Just Raised The Stakes In Ann Arbor
Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham spent part of his pregame availability giving Indiana a level of respect that usually tells you plenty about the matchup before anyone takes the field. He pointed to Curt Cignettis team as a balanced, veteran group that takes care of the ball, the kind of profile that tends to travel well and force opponents to stay sharp from the opening snap.
The other wrinkle is on Michigans side, where Whittingham said the Wolverines will turn to freshman quarterback Tommy Carr against Indiana. His mobility and efficiency were part of the rationale, but it also adds another layer to a game already carrying more intrigue because of what Indiana has built. When a conference opponent talks this carefully about your strengths, it usually means the margin for error gets a lot thinner in Ann Arbor. [Read more 🡒]