When a team enters a new era in leadership, you never know how the first season will play out. That’s what Indiana basketball will be in for during the 2025-26 season. The Hoosiers turned to former West Virginia coach Darian DeVries to try and get this program back to a level it hasn’t been at in several years. It will be on DeVires and this very different-looking Indiana Hoosiers team to try to right the ship in Bloomington. Let’s preview Indiana basketball for the upcoming season.
Indiana Basketball 2025-26 Preview: In DeVries They Trust
Whole New Team
When a program goes through changes, you can expect roster turnover. That was no different for Indiana following a subpar 2024-25 season. Every player who could’ve returned from last season is gone. They all went into the portal. So naturally, Coach DeVries had to hit the portal and the ground running the minute he arrived in Bloomington.
Indiana was able to bring in players who are only going to help them rebuild their arsenal, so to speak. They started off big by bringing in a DePaul transfer, guard Conor Enright. That was quickly followed by Coach DeVries’ son, Tucker DeVries, who turned into a stud player at both West Virginia and Drake that where his dad helped him become a household name. In total, the Hoosiers added 11 new players via the transfer portal. Not to mention, they were also able to bring in a solid recruiting class.
Trent Sisley, from the powerhouse Montverde Academy in Florida, certainly fits the bill as a true Hoosier kind of player. Not to mention, he’s back in his home state playing for his dream school. The Hoosiers also went international to fill out their roster. Serbia’s Aleksa Ristic has the skill set to possibly be the next great guard for Indiana. He’s been making noise representing his country at the FIBA U20 Eurobasket 2025. Ristic will join the Hoosiers following Serbia’s run in that tournament.
Signed.
From Nis, Serbia, #13 Aleksa Ristic. pic.twitter.com/HLeJTuEqxP
— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) July 8, 2025
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With so many new names at Indiana, here’s a closer look at the rest of the team and the school they are coming from.
- Jasai Miles (North Florida)
- Reed Bailey (Davidson)
- Jason Drake (Drexel)
- Lamar Wilkerson (Sam Houston)
- Sam Alexis (Florida)
- Tayton Conerway (Troy)
- Nick Dorn (Elon)
- Josh Harris (North Florida).
Ian Stephens and Jordan Rayford are the only returning players, but they are walk-ons. There is plenty of opportunity for the new faces to make noise for Indiana this coming season.
Schedule Outlook
The Hoosiers have a lot on their plate in year one of the DeVries era. It’s nice they have some tune-up games in their non-conference, but they still drew some tough matchups. That includes an early November clash with Marquette in Chicago. Not to mention, they also face Kansas State, Louisville, and Kentucky in the non-conference.
Their summer trip to Puerto Rico should help the team build some chemistry.
Hoosiers
Puerto Rico. #IUBB x @CS_MGMT
https://t.co/nzuWW48yLH pic.twitter.com/JzbodVArVE
— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) May 26, 2025
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Not to mention, their Big Ten slate will show what Indiana is made of. They get two meetings with Minnesota and Michigan State, and we know how heated the rivalry games with Purdue will be.
Road Trips to Champaign, Ann Arbor, and both UCLA and USC give Coach DeVries and his team plenty to prepare for.
What Year One Looks Like for Hoosier Nation
Indiana fans, you’re going to have to be a little patient with this group. Yeah, the portal can completely flip a team around, but some of these guys are going to need a big adjustment period. This is the Big Ten Conference.
The DeVries hire is going to work out, but this first season is going to have its bumps. He won 19 games with West Virginia last season. I don’t quite see him getting Indiana more than 20 in year one, but he may find a way to win 18 or 19 games. However this season goes, Indiana fans have to be patient, or you’re just going to be right back to square one.
Photo credit: © Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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