Hoosiers Bank on DeVries: Right Man, Rough Season
In his inaugural campaign, Darian DeVries inherited 13 new scholarship players and the immense pressure of restoring Indiana basketball’s tradition. After an uneven year marked by a late-season collapse—losing six of the final seven games—the Hoosiers missed the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season. Senior captain Tucker DeVries and his teammates lamented the abrupt end to a season meant to set a foundation, as Indiana bowed out of the Big Ten Tournament with a 74–61 loss to Northwestern. Despite finishing 18–14 overall and 9–12 in conference play, DeVries’ first-year squad showed flashes of cohesion, maintaining a united locker room through adversity. While six seniors responsible for 83% of the team’s scoring depart, DeVries remains optimistic about building long-term consistency via high school recruits, selective transfers, and enhanced NIL resources. With a top-20 2026 recruiting class and a general manager-style executive director onboard, the program’s next chapter hinges on patience and belief in the new coach’s vision.
But fear not, faithful Hoosier fans, for mediocrity has never been a dealbreaker when you slap an “I Believe” sticker on your bumper. Yes, they collapsed like a house of cards in March, but DeVries promises that someday—possibly around the year 2032—they’ll remember what March Madness actually means. In the meantime, enjoy the daily motivational emails and the thrilling prospect of watching top-80 recruits one day maybe score more than two points in a game. After all, culture-building is built on the sturdy foundation of close losses and existential dread. Keep your faith; your bracket’s generosity might finally pay off.
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