The current era of the transfer portal have made it easier than ever to rebuild a roster seemingly overnight, and that fact alone is perhaps a reason why last season was a disappointment for Indiana. First-year head coach Darian DeVries led the Hoosiers to 18 wins but just 10th place in the Big Ten. It’s a start, but far from where Indiana wants to be, especially with Big Ten rivals achieving far more significant success this past March and April.
Hoosiers needed some additions
Whether you consider this good or bad news, the Hoosiers don’t return a ton of talent from last season. Losing Lamar Wilkerson and Tucker DeVries is no picnic but it’s not a complete loss for the Hoosiers. In addition to rising sophomores like Trent Sisley and Drew Snively, the Hoosiers should have Sam Alexis back for his fifth collegiate campaign after success in one of those lawsuits earlier in August.
In addition to a trio of 4-star recruits, Indiana has a massive haul from the transfer portal as DeVries is trying to find the right mix. 7-footer Samet Yigitoglu comes from SMU and should be a key piece in the frontcourt. Former Alabama starter Aiden Sherrell should hold down the 4 and be a major playmaker for the Hoosiers. The backcourt gets plenty of new faces, including Jaeden Mustaf from Georgia Tech and Bryce Lindsay from Villanova, and that’s not including a few other depth additions.
Big time talent on campus
Regardless of these talented names, the importance of Markus Burton ranks just a bit higher for the Hoosiers this upcoming season. A 5-11 point guard from Mishawka, Indiana, Burton comes to town after spending his first three collegiate campaigns at Notre Dame. The 2024 ACC Rookie of the Year, Burton battled injuries these last two seasons, but averaged 21.3 points per game as a sophomore before being limited to just ten contests this past year.
You can pencil Burton into a major role running the point in this offense. He’s shown that he can be a top-level scorer on a power conference team, and even shot 38% from beyond the arc during that breakout sophomore campaign. It’s all about if Burton can stay healthy and put everything together on a Hoosiers team that should be more talented than some of these recent Notre Dame squads. As the point guard, his role is also pretty important to Indiana’s success in the Big Ten.
With these moving pieces, including both young and veteran additions, Indiana’s roster looks a whole lot different and they’re hoping the results are the same. DeVries wasn’t brought to Bloomington to cultivate 10th place finishes, but does he have a team that can get over the hump? Whether or not that happens depends on how this talent comes together, and it’s really going to come down to Burton’s leadership and playmaking ability on this team.
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