Indiana Opens Big Ten Play on the Road Against Shorthanded, Gritty Minnesota Squad
The soft launch of the Darian DeVries era is officially over. After a series of comfortable home wins, Indiana basketball is about to find out what it’s really made of as it enters the grind of Big Ten play-starting tonight in Minneapolis against a Minnesota team that’s bruised, battered, but still unbeaten at home.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on BTN, and while the Hoosiers have looked dominant through much of their 7-game start, this marks just their second trip away from Assembly Hall and their first true road test. And if there’s one thing we know about Big Ten basketball, it’s that road wins are earned, not given.
A Tale of Two First-Year Coaches
This matchup features two programs in transition. Indiana, under DeVries, has been rolling early-winning six of its first seven games by at least 17 points.
Minnesota, meanwhile, is adjusting to life under new head coach Niko Medved, who made the jump from Colorado State. The Gophers are sitting at 4-4 overall, but crucially, they’re 4-0 at home and 0-4 everywhere else.
That’s no coincidence-Williams Arena, affectionately known as “The Barn,” remains one of the tougher environments in the conference.
Injury Bug Bites the Gophers
Medved’s first season in the Big Ten hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. Minnesota’s roster has been hit hard by injuries.
Forward BJ Omot, a potential starter, has yet to suit up this season. Two more key pieces-point guard Chansey Willis and forward Robert Vaihola-are both out, with Willis done for the year after suffering a broken foot in a loss to Stanford on Nov.
- Vaihola, a physical presence in the paint, injured his knee in a win over Chicago State and won’t be available tonight either.
That leaves the Gophers with a shortened rotation. In their most recent outing, an 86-75 loss to Santa Clara, Minnesota played just seven players-two of them freshmen.
Cade Tyson: Minnesota’s Go-To Guy
Despite the adversity, Minnesota has found a legitimate offensive leader in Cade Tyson. The 6-foot-7 wing transferred in after a tough season at North Carolina and has quickly become the engine of this team.
Tyson is averaging 22.4 points per game, shooting over 53% from the floor and nearly 36% from deep. But he’s not just a perimeter threat-he’s getting to the line 10 times per game and hitting over 81% of his free throws.
That kind of versatility makes him a tough cover, especially for an Indiana defense that’s still finding its identity.
Muscle in the Middle: Crocker-Johnson Brings the Grit
Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, a 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward who followed Medved from Colorado State, anchors the Gophers’ frontcourt. He’s a rebounding machine, pulling down 9.1 boards per game-including 22 on the offensive glass already this season.
He’s also chipping in 12.4 points per game, though his efficiency has dipped a bit compared to last year. Still, his physicality and nose for the ball make him a key matchup for Indiana’s bigs.
Supporting Cast: Asuma, Reynolds, and the Bench
Sophomore guard Isaac Asuma has quietly stepped up in his second year, leading the team with 4.4 assists per game while contributing 9.3 points and some timely shooting from beyond the arc. With Willis out, senior Langston Reynolds has taken over at point. He’s not a threat from deep, but he’s been effective attacking the rim and drawing contact-though his 11-for-30 mark from the free-throw line is something Indiana will likely test.
Redshirt freshman Grayson Grove rounds out the starting five. He’s not a volume scorer, but he’s been efficient in limited minutes, shooting over 72% from the field.
Off the bench, Davidson transfer Bobby Durkin and freshman Kai Shinholster provide some depth. Durkin, known for his shooting, hasn’t quite found his rhythm yet (12-for-40 from three), while Shinholster-a 3-star recruit from Philadelphia-has shown flashes in limited action.
The Gophers’ Identity: Tough Inside, Cold Outside
Through eight games, Minnesota has carved out a clear identity. They attack the glass relentlessly-snagging 36.6% of their own misses-and they live at the free-throw line. The Gophers have attempted 225 free throws compared to just 144 by their opponents, a margin of over 10 attempts per game.
They’re also a solid 2-point shooting team, converting 55.5% inside the arc. But the cracks show when they step outside.
Minnesota is shooting just 31% from three and a shaky 66.7% from the free-throw line. That inefficiency has limited their ability to fully capitalize on their physical style of play.
Despite their aggressive approach, they’re only outscoring opponents by 6.8 points per game from the stripe.
Defensively, the Gophers are holding opponents to 45.9% on 2-point attempts and are limiting second-chance opportunities, allowing just 26.3% of offensive rebounds-both marks that rank inside the top 55 nationally.
And if you're expecting a track meet tonight, think again. Minnesota plays at one of the slowest paces in the country, ranking 355th in adjusted tempo. They’ll look to grind this one down, limit possessions, and make Indiana execute in the halfcourt.
What to Watch: Can Indiana Hit from Deep?
On paper, Indiana is the better team. But road games in the Big Ten rarely go according to script.
Minnesota’s 4-0 home record isn’t just a fluke-they’ve been a different team inside The Barn. And while they’ve dropped three straight overall, they’ll be hungry to stop the skid and prove they can hang in a rugged conference.
For Indiana, the key could be perimeter shooting. Minnesota has already allowed three different opponents to hit 11 or more threes in a game this season. If the Hoosiers can knock down shots from the outside, they’ll have a good chance to secure their first road win of the season.
KenPom gives Indiana a 78% chance to win with a projected nine-point margin. Bart Torvik has it a bit closer, favoring the Hoosiers by six with a 73% win probability.
Either way, this is a critical early-season test for Indiana. With a brutal stretch of Big Ten games looming in January, grabbing a road win now could pay dividends down the line.
Tonight, we find out if the Hoosiers are ready for the grind.