Welcome to “Big Ten offseason at a glance,” a team-by-team look at the conference at the start of the summer. We’ll examine roster movement for each Big Ten roster and give an early outlook for each Big Ten program for the 2025-26 season.
Previously: Rutgers, Penn State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Washington, Oregon, Nebraska, Maryland, Iowa, Wisconsin, USC, Ohio State, Michigan State, Illinois, UCLA, Michigan, Purdue
Today (series conclusion): Indiana (19-13 overall in 2024-25, 10-10 in Big Ten play)
The Mike Woodson era came to an end in March as Indiana failed to meet expectations for a second straight season. Woodson announced in early February that he would step away after the season and the Hoosiers missed the NCAA tournament after a late-season rally. Just a few days after Selection Sunday, Indiana announced the hiring of Darian DeVries, who was successful at Drake before spending the 2024-25 season at West Virginia and narrowly missing the NCAA tournament.
Indiana’s roster movement
Players returning with eligibility: None
Players leaving due to exhausted eligibility: Luke Goode, Anthony Leal, Oumar Ballo, Trey Galloway, Langdon Hatton
Players leaving via transfer portal: Bryson Tucker (to Washington), Kanaan Carlyle (to Florida Atlantic), Myles Rice (to Maryland), Jakai Newton (to Georgia State), Mackenzie Mgbako (to Texas A&M), Gabe Cupps (to Ohio State), Malik Reneau (to Miami), Dallas James
Players arriving via transfer portal: Conor Enright (from DePaul), Tucker DeVries (from West Virginia), Reed Bailey (from Davidson), Lamar Wilkerson (from Sam Houston), Jasai Miles (from North Florida), Tayton Conerway (from Troy), Jason Drake (from Drexel), Nick Dorn (from Elon), Sam Alexis (from Florida), Josh Harris (from North Florida)
Players arriving from high school/international: Trent Sisley, Aleksa Ristic
The IU program will begin anew as the entire roster was turned over in the offseason, besides a pair of walk-ons. That could change if Goode or Leal are granted an extra season of eligibility by the NCAA. DeVries and the IU staff reeled in one of the top transfer portal hauls in the country, led by Wilkerson, Bailey, Conerway and Tucker DeVries.
What to like about Indiana
As mentioned, DeVries was able to compile a transfer portal class considered one of the top ten nationally by many. The Hoosiers have assembled a strong stable of guards and appear to have elite perimeter shooting, a significant departure from the last eight seasons under Archie Miller and Woodson.
Wilkerson, Conerway, and Bailey were all first-team players in their respective leagues and DeVries was a two-time MVC player of the year at Drake. The guard and wing depth on the roster, on paper, looks to be among the best in the Big Ten.
In each of his seven seasons as a head coach, DeVries has won at least 19 games and he’s reached the NCAA tournament three times. With a coherent plan for style of play and a roster that fits together better than the last few seasons, the Hoosiers hope to take a step forward in year one of the DeVries era.
What to question with Indiana
Is there enough high-end talent on the roster to compete with the top teams in the Big Ten? Outside of Alexis and DeVries, all of the incoming pieces arrive from the mid-major level. The roster is also completely new and fitting the pieces together will take time.
Frontcourt depth and rebounding are also legitimate concerns. As currently constructed, Indiana lacks size in the frontcourt and doesn’t have elite rim protection. The staff will work to create a solution in combating that issue, but on some nights, the Hoosiers will be outmanned in the post.
Indiana’s outlook for the 2025-26 season
Home: Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern, Oregon, Penn State, Washington, Wisconsin
Away: Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State, Rutgers, UCLA, USC
Home/Away: Michigan State, Minnesota, Purdue
Bart Torvik’s current projections have the Hoosiers as the 41st-best team in the country in the preseason and 12th in the Big Ten. The most recent NCAA tournament projection from Joe Lunardi has the Hoosiers among the “first four out” for the 2026 NCAA tournament.
Indiana will be competitive in year one of the DeVries era, but the Big Ten has a lot of depth, particularly in the middle of the league. The Hoosiers will have to fight for a top-half Big Ten finish and a March Madness berth in year one of the DeVries era. If IU makes the tournament, which should be the expectation every season in Bloomington, it’s a successful first season for the new staff.
Category: Commentary
Filed to: 2025-26 Big Ten preview
