Darian DeVries still remembers the game when it became apparent to him what type of player Conor Enright is.
DeVries recruited the guard out of Mundelein (Ill.) High when he was at Drake. He went to see Enright in a summer AAU game during that process, and he saw the same fire and on-court mentality that have defined the redshirt senior’s game in college.
“One of the games I went and evaluated him, he didn’t score a single point, and dominated the game because he was getting deflections, getting assists, diving on the floor,” DeVries said during a Zoom press conference Friday. “I just loved everything about him. His ability to lead and desire to want to win, no matter what that looks like on the stat sheet for him. He doesn’t care. Those are the type of guys that, they just help you win in every facet of the game.”
Enright has been a big part of IU men’s basketball’s resurgence over the last three weeks. The team has won five of its last six games, including several victories over quality opponents. Enright, during that stretch, has averaged 5.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.3 turnovers per game. His scoring and assists are up from his season averages, which has been huge with Tayton Conerway in and out of the lineup.
But it’s the plays that don’t show up in box scores that really embody Enright’s value to the Hoosiers. Keeping his cool and knocking down some clutch shots at the end of IU’s upset win over Purdue. Playing stingy, physical defense every night, and matching up well against both guards and forwards. Drawing a game-changing charge against Wisconsin.
“Conor just does what he does,” DeVries said after that Wisconsin game. “He keeps competing, keeps fighting, and that was a huge play for us.”
During summer workouts ahead of IU’s trip to Puerto Rico, DeVries predicted Enright would become a fan favorite because of the way he plays the game.
The guard doesn’t always grab the headlines, on a team with Lamar Wilkerson having a tremendous season, a veteran leader like Tucker DeVries, and guys like Sam Alexis and Nick Dorn having some big performances in recent games. And there have been games, especially earlier in the season, when Enright was maybe too unselfish — he would pass up open shots he should’ve taken.
Moments like those could overshadow some of the dirty work Enright does. That can also get lost when the team is losing — after all, “winning plays” are less impactful if they don’t lead to wins.
But Enright has grown on IU’s fan base as the season’s gone along, and as his value has become more evident. He’s Indiana’s “glue guy.” He plays hard at all times, whether it’s a game or a practice. And that energy is contagious for his teammates, as the Hoosiers keep fighting to reach the NCAA Tournament.
“He plays the game with great enthusiasm, great energy, great passion. I love that about him. Your team needs a guy like that. Obviously fans love having a guy like that, as well,” DeVries said after Indiana’s win over Washington in early January. “It’s what he does every day. Every day in practice, as well. He’s a guy that hardly ever gets to sit out. He’s always giving that max effort defensively. Doesn’t matter how many days in a row we practice, he’s going to bring it. That just raises the standard for everybody else to try to match.”
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