Indiana suffered its first loss under coach Darian DeVries in its 2025-26 Big Ten opener.
The Hoosiers led 27-19 in the first half and appeared to have a chance to pull away. But from the 4:04 mark of the first half to the 15:26 mark of the second, IU didn’t make a shot from the field. The game was somehow still tied at 39 with with 12:20 left, but that’s when the Gophers began to take over. IU would never lead again.
Let’s take a deeper look at how Indiana lost 73-64 with our latest edition of The Report Card.
The Hoosiers (7-1) will return to action Saturday at 2 p.m. ET when they face Louisville at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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OFFENSE (D)
There is a formula for slowing down Indiana’s ostensibly high powered offense. We saw it in earlier games against Incarnate Word and especially Lindenwood. Minnesota noticed. The Gophers were hugged up against IU shooters Lamar Wilkerson and Tucker DeVries, and not leaving. They switched screens to stay attached and physical with IU’s leading scorers. The resulting offensive product made Indiana appear on their heels and stagnant. Many possessions went late into the shot clock. The ball didn’t move much, and when it did, it had little effect.
A way to beat that defensive style is for Wilkerson and DeVries to back cut, but neither are great athletes or elite finishers at the rim. Another way to combat that defense is to drive to the paint and take advantage of one-on-one opportunities off those drives, or kick-outs if the help comes. But beyond Tayton Conerway, the Hoosiers don’t have a great ability to get downhill off the bounce.
The result was inefficiency from close range. Indiana made their first five shots from two, but only made 9 of 23 (39%) for the last 32 minutes inside the arc.
“We let their physicality bog us down a little bit,” IU coach Darian DeVries said. “We didn’t get the kind of quality shots we’re accustomed to getting.”
Indiana is going to see this defense on repeat until they figure out counter moves. They scored a season low .967 points per possession, didn’t make free throws, and didn’t get offensive rebounds.
“We’ve got to do a better job as a staff figuring out here’s how we’re going to get guarded for these two guys (Wilkerson and DeVries) and figure out how to utilize everybody else,” DeVries said.
The only major positive was just seven turnovers on the night by Indiana.
DEFENSE (C)
More often than not, Minnesota was the aggressor when they had the basketball. Too often, Indiana was a step slow, and lacked the physicality to stay in front off the ball and attached to shooters.
“I thought defensively we gave up a lot of clean opportunities tonight, some layups, some threes,” DeVries said.
Perhaps a sign they were a step slow, Indiana fouled too much. They were fortunate for a long stretch the Gophers weren’t converting at the stripe. The 27 free throws allowed by IU were the second-most in a game this season, and the 57.4% free throw rate (FTA/FGA) was a season high.
There were times when you could tell Indiana was making a conscious effort to be more aggressive on the ball. Conor Enright and Tayton Conerway led that charge. Indiana did force 16 turnovers.
But those moments came in fits and starts. Indiana gave up season highs allowing 1.1 points per possession and a 57.4% effective field goal percentage. Two-point defense was an Indiana strength coming into the game, but Minnesota made 15 of 26 twos (57.7%).
And to compound matters, Minnesota got 10 offensive rebounds and scored 14 points off those second chances.
For a Minnesota team with an offensive efficiency outside the national top-100 coming into the game, it was a disappointing effort.
MORE GAME COVERAGE
- Rebounding and offensive woes plague Indiana men’s basketball in Minnesota loss
- Here’s what Darian DeVries said following IU basketball’s loss at Minnesota
- IU basketball: Indiana 64 Minnesota 73 — Three keys, highlights, final stats
THE PLAYERS (*starters)
*Tucker DeVries (C-) It was an inefficient night from the field, both inside and out. He has to be more involved in the offense. Indiana needs more rebounding from the four spot. He did manage to play 37 minutes on the road without a turnover.
*Lamar Wilkerson (D+) Indiana needs to scheme better to get Wilkerson threes. But he needs to be better at twos in the paint, where he made just 3 of 8 shots. That part of his game still needs to develop. He didn’t rebound or defend at a high level.
*Reed Bailey (D) Bailey was inefficient finishing around the rim. He didn’t rebound, block shots or defend at a high level. It’s hard to pinpoint what’s missing, but at times it seems there’s a reluctance to really lay it all on the line.
*Conor Enright (B-) Single game plus/minus typically doesn’t mean much, but it’s hard to not notice he was only off the floor five minutes and IU was -16 in those five minutes. With the offense struggling, what Enright did best was facilitate — with a team high seven assists.
*Tayton Conerway (B-) Conerway was really good in the first half, not so much in the second. He made a couple threes, had multiple steals and got to the rim before the break. He was the best thing IU had going for a while. But fouls and turnovers limited his effectiveness.
Sam Alexis (C+) Alexis gave IU some much needed scoring punch in the paint, but he didn’t rebound at a high rate.
Trent Sisley (C) Early foul trouble stymied any meaningful role Sisley might have had coming as he struggled to guard Cade Tyson at times. His second half three appeared to be a potential turning point, but it didn’t work out that way.
Nick Dorn (D) Tough road debut for Dorn, who looked sped up and didn’t have a positive impact beyond a couple defensive rebounds. There will be better days.
Aleksa Ristic (N/A) Ristic made his IU debut and played three minutes.
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Jasai Miles and Andrej Acimovic did not play — coaches decision.
Jason Drake and Josh Harris were out with injuries.
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