When Indiana takes the floor against Iowa on Saturday afternoon in Bloomington, the Hoosiers won’t just be looking to bounce back - they’ll be looking to help one of their key scorers find his rhythm again. That scorer happens to be Tucker DeVries, and the man trying to guide him through this slump is his head coach - and father - Darian DeVries.
Tucker’s recent stretch has been uncharacteristically quiet. Despite averaging 14.6 points per game on the season, he’s been held to single digits in four of his last six outings.
His most recent performance, a tough night against No. 12 Michigan State, saw him shoot just 3-of-10 from the field and 1-of-7 from deep.
For a player known for his offensive versatility, it’s been a frustrating run.
"He's obviously going through a little bit of a shooting slump right now," Coach DeVries said. "For him, it's a longer one than he's had. ... He's got to find his way back out of it."
It’s a challenge many players face during the grind of the season - and one that’s magnified when expectations are high. But Indiana (12-5, 3-3 Big Ten) has the pieces to weather the storm, especially at home, where the Hoosiers have been dominant with a 10-1 record this season.
They’ll face an Iowa team (12-5, 2-4 Big Ten) that’s dealing with its own struggles. The Hawkeyes have dropped three straight, including losses to Minnesota, then-No.
16 Illinois, and most recently No. 5 Purdue.
That Purdue game was a heartbreaker - Iowa shot 52.9% from the field, the exact same percentage as the Boilermakers, and even led by nine at one point. But they couldn’t close, falling 79-72.
Despite the result, Iowa head coach Ben McCollum saw signs of progress - but also areas that need tightening up.
"The message is just to continue to get better, continue to stay process-focused," McCollum said. "But (we told them), 'Here's some of the things that we didn't do, and had we done, we could have won probably any of the three (games).'"
That’s the fine line in Big Ten basketball. A missed box-out, a late turnover, a defensive lapse - those are the plays that separate wins from losses. And McCollum knows his group hasn’t quite been ready to make those winning plays yet.
Offensively, Iowa leans on Bennett Stirtz, who’s been steady with a team-high 17.7 points per game. Tavion Banks adds 9.6 points per game, while Alvaro Folgueiras chips in with 8.7. But the Hawkeyes are still searching for that next gear on the road, where they’ve yet to win a game this season (0-4).
Indiana, meanwhile, has found consistency behind Lamar Wilkerson. The senior guard is putting up 20.2 points per game and shooting a blistering 42.4% from three. He’s been the engine of the Hoosiers’ offense, and with DeVries looking to get back on track, Wilkerson’s steady hand will be crucial.
Saturday’s matchup is more than just a midseason Big Ten battle - it’s a test of resilience. For Iowa, it's about turning progress into wins.
For Indiana, it’s about protecting home court and helping one of their key players rediscover his form. And for Tucker DeVries, it’s a chance to break out of the slump - with his dad on the sideline, guiding him every step of the way.