Indiana men’s basketball got off to a 7-0 start in the Darian DeVries era — the first head coach to win his first seven games since Branch McCracken in 1946.
A pair of nonconference wins over two power conference opponents had energized the fanbase, as the Hoosiers also reached the century mark in three of their first seven contests.
But for all that’s new within Indiana, something proved to be the same Wednesday — winning on the road in the Big Ten is no easy task. On any given night, any Big Ten team can defeat another.
Although the Hoosiers suffered a nine-point Quad 3 loss to Minnesota in Minneapolis, they now have an opportunity to notch a top 10 win against a team that, in the preseason, was picked to finish second in the Atlantic Coast Conference: No. 6 University of Louisville.
The 2:15 p.m. matchup Saturday inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis is just the start of an Indiana Athletics-filled day in the Circle City.
“It's going to be a fun environment,” Darian DeVries said on the Inside IU Basketball radio show Monday. “What a great game, neutral-site game. Hopefully, it’s not as neutral as they think it’s going to be, but I think there’s going to be a lot of Hoosier fans in the area that day.”
After the Hoosiers and Cardinals square off on the hardwood, No. 2 Indiana football will face No. 1 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship game at 8 p.m. inside Lucas Oil Stadium, just a half mile from Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Here’s what to know ahead of the Darian DeVries-led Hoosiers’ first regular-season contest in Indianapolis:
Can Indiana bounce back?
The Hoosiers exited Williams Arena on Wednesday after what DeVries described as an overall “disappointing” night against the Golden Gophers. While the Cream and Crimson were rather solid defensively through their first seven games, that wasn’t the case in their eighth.
Minnesota shot 48.9% from the field and 38.1% from beyond the arc — both marks nearly 10% greater than Indiana’s. The Hoosiers allowed “a lot of clean opportunities” offensively for the Golden Gophers in DeVries’ eyes.
But the greatest disparity came in total rebounds. Minnesota hauled in 40 rebounds while Indiana grabbed just 25. Despite the Hoosiers committing just seven turnovers to the Golden Gophers’ 16, they still notched their first loss of the season.
And for DeVries, he wants to see a positive response from his squad. Just over a quarter of the way into the regular season, all but two remaining opponents on the Hoosiers’ schedule are either marquee nonconference games or bouts with Big Ten squads.
DeVries recognized every night will be a “fight” like Wednesday was. And with his experienced squad, he expects his guys to be ready for Saturday.
Can Indiana get its two most prolific scorers going?
Redshirt senior forward Tucker DeVries and fifth-year senior guard Lamar Wilkerson lead the Hoosiers in scoring at 16.8 and 16.5 points per game, respectively. Against Minnesota, the former scored nine while the latter chipped in 15.
However, the duo combined to go just 8 for 27 from the field. DeVries shot 3 for 10 from beyond the arc while Wilkerson made two of his six attempts.
Darian DeVries thought Minnesota was physical with both Tucker DeVries and Wilkerson. The Golden Gophers made the duo’s opportunities to come off screens and take shots rather challenging.
So, Darian DeVries said he told his team that he and his coaching staff must do better in figuring out how Tucker DeVries and Wilkerson will be guarded. He wants the staff to schematically create scoring opportunities for others while still finding ways to get the two top scorers open looks.
Pat Kelsey’s Cardinals provide tough challenge
When Louisville thrashed Indiana by 28 points last season in the Battle 4 Atlantis, it was just the Cardinals’ fifth game under head coach Pat Kelsey. He eventually led his squad to a 27-8 mark in his first season at the helm.
Kelsey made three offseason transfer portal acquisitions — sophomore guard Adrian Wooley and senior guards Ryan Conwell and Isaac McKneely. He also brought in the 25th-best high school class, which five-star guard Mikel Brown Jr. headlined.
Louisville began its season much like Indiana with seven consecutive wins. And just like the Hoosiers, the Cardinals fell in their eighth game: a nine-point loss to the No. 25 University of Arkansas on Wednesday.
After the loss to the Razorbacks, Kelsey said the Cardinals’ play was “unacceptable.” His squad was outrebounded by 10, shot just 21.6% from beyond the arc and committed 25 fouls. In turn, Arkansas took 35 free throws in the contest.
Kelsey said the Cardinals must have a “great response” to adversity — something they hadn’t previously faced much of this season.
“It’s the first opportunity to respond in a big-time way,” Kelsey said, “and we need to because we got to get ready for a really good Indiana team.”
Conwell and Brown lead highly ranked offense
Louisville’s offensive attack scores 94.6 points per game — ninth-best nationally as of Friday — and it’s led by Conwell and Brown.
Conwell, who Indiana targeted in the transfer portal, leads the Cardinals with 19.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Brown checks in just behind at 17.6 per contest. Louisville also makes the third-most 3-pointers per game with 12.6.
The game
Although he's in his first season at Indiana, Darian DeVries isn’t unfamiliar with Louisville. During his lone campaign at West Virginia University last season, he coached against Kelsey in The Bahamas, where the Cardinals earned a nine-point overtime victory.
“They’re very good,” DeVries said. “And I know a lot of the players that they signed and I got a chance to catch them a couple times now on TV. A really, really good ball club. Again, well-coached.”
Now, with DeVries patrolling Indiana’s sideline, the Hoosiers and Cardinals will meet at a neutral site for the third consecutive season.
Tipoff is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. Saturday inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The contest will be broadcast on CBS with Tom McCarthy, Clark Kellog and Robbie Hummel on the call.
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames and jamesdm@iu.edu) and Nathan Shriberg (@NShriberg and naashri@iu.edu) and columnist Kasey Watkins (@KaseyWatki8773 and kaslwatk@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
