Much of the last decade has been largely disappointing in Bloomington, but Indiana basketball begins a new era with the offseason hiring of Darian DeVries. West Virginia’s head coach last season, DeVries built his reputation with a fantastic coaching job leading Drake to several NCAA Tournament appearances and now returns to the Midwest with a much bigger responsibility on his hands.
He inherits a Hoosiers program that won 19 games in what was largely a mediocre season, but he doesn’t inherit much on the actual court. Everyone is gone from last season, with Indiana notably shedding Oumar Ballo, Mackenzie Mgbako, Malik Reneau, and Myles Rice. Between graduation and the transfer portal, there really aren’t any minutes or notable production returning, but DeVries hasn’t wasted any time building a viable team in his first offseason.
We can’t fully detail all ten transfer additions but the Hoosiers got some quality players. Davidson forward Reed Bailey joins North Florida’s Josh Harris as big additions in the frontcourt. Fellow Osprey Jasai Miles is just one of a long line of backcourt pieces who can shoot the ball, alongside DePaul point guard Conor Enright, Troy guard Tayton Conerway, and Sam Houston’s Lamar Wilkerson to name a few.
The best new piece was potentially the easiest to land, as Tucker DeVries joins his father again after starring under him at Drake and West Virginia. A 6-7 wing from Waukee, Iowa, DeVries was a two-time MVC Player of the Year with the Bulldogs, averaging 21.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in a brilliant junior season. His lone year with the Mountaineers was ended after just eight games with an injury, though DeVries had made 47% of his 3-pointers in that short time.
With that shoulder injury a thing of the past, DeVries slides into a major role for the Hoosiers. Even when he was still in the MVC, he looked like a future professional who could do all kinds of things on the court. DeVries is a fantastic shooter, and has racked up rebounds, steals, assists, and even blocks over the years. While not known for his speed, his passing and awareness are incredible and he will elevate this roster every time he’s out there playing for the Hoosiers.
What’s certainly a Top 10 transfer class isn’t just limited to DeVries, as his father and this new staff have really pieced together a team that can change the recent story in Bloomington. This team can shoot the ball and do damage all over the court, something that recent Hoosiers squads have struggled with these last few years. The biggest question is how great DeVries can look in a healthy year as a Big Ten wing and if this team can take that measured step forwards in year one of a new system.