With 1,293 days separating Indiana men’s basketball from its last NCAA Tournament game, the Hoosiers returned to the court Friday night ahead of the 2026-27 season for their annual Cream and Crimson Scrimmage.
The exhibition consisted of four eight-minute quarters, giving the Hoosiers’ 11 new players an opportunity to showcase themselves ahead of head coach Darian DeVries’ second season at the helm.
Indiana is coming off an 18-14 season, missing the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season. Following the disappointing year, only two Hoosiers returned: sophomore forward Trent Sisley and 5th-year forward Sam Alexis, after a court order allowed Alexis to regain his eligibility.
Each new addition saw action during the scrimmage except freshman forward Vaughn Karvala, who was held out with a lower-body issue.
Several players switched teams throughout the scrimmage, but team Crimson came out ahead in three of the four quarters. While no official stats were kept, the Indiana Daily Student recorded unofficial stats.
Senior guard Bryce Lindsay led the event with 23 points while junior guard Darren Harris tallied 22. Freshman forward Trevor Manhertz had a team-high seven assists, nine rebounds and three steals. Junior center Samet Yigitoglu and Alexis each notched two blocks.
Here’s five takeaways from the scrimmage:
Aiden Sherrell’s ability to space the floor
Junior forward Aiden Sherrell made his presence known in the Hoosiers’ Cream and Crimson Scrimmage. The University of Alabama transfer is listed at 7-foot, 250 pounds. Sherrell’s size, combined with his ability to shoot the ball from beyond the arc, stretched the floor and created opportunities for himself and his teammates.
Sherrell finished the scrimmage with 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block. The Detroit native never shied away from shooting the deep ball. Sherrell scored 12 of his 15 points off of 3-point shots. His ability to efficiently shoot the ball and be a force inside gives Indiana another versatile option in the frontcourt.
Indiana’s frontcourt size on display
Last year, the tallest person on Indiana’s roster was 6-foot-10 forward Reed Bailey. In the offseason, head coach Darian Devries acquired plenty of size, picking up three players listed at 7-foot or taller, building his new-look roster more on physicality. The frontcourt’s improved length and versatility was showcased in Indiana’s Cream and Crimson scrimmage.
Collectively, the Hoosiers finished with 52 rebounds — far above their average of 32.4 boards per game last season. Manhertz led the scrimmage with nine rebounds. Freshman center Clemens Sokolov followed with eight. Sherrell grabbed seven, while Yigitoglu finished with six.
Bryce Lindsay’s explosive fourth quarter
After a slow start to the scrimmage, Lindsay began to heat up as the night went on. The 6-foot-4 Villanova University transfer showcased his ability to score in bunches during the final eight minutes of action.
Lindsay scored the first six points of the final period, draining two 3-pointers from the left wing. Shortly after, he drilled a deep longball on the right side and scored a fast-break layup.
The 11-point burst was reminiscent of his final game as a Wildcat. In the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, Lindsay connected on six 3-pointers in a 25-point effort before Villanova fell to Utah State University.
Lindsay hit multiple 3-pointers in 20 games last season and will have plenty of opportunities to shoot from beyond the arc in an Indiana offense that prioritizes longballs.
Markus Burton’s playmaking, ability to run the offense
When he was on the court, former Notre Dame point guard and transfer addition, senior Markus Burton orchestrated the Hoosiers’ offensive attack, finishing with six assists and zero turnovers to go along with four rebounds. Although he scored only eight points on 3-for-9 shooting, Burton was in total control of the offense. He drove the ball to the rim and found open three-point shooters in the corners and at the top of the key.
In his first three seasons with the Fighting Irish, the Mishawaka, Indiana, native averaged 19.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 43.8% from the field.
Based on Friday’s scrimmage, Burton could prioritize playmaking over scoring this year, giving the Hoosiers a guard capable of dictating pace by creating opportunities for others.
Lack of returning production
Alexis and Sisley are the only two scholarship returners on the Hoosiers’ squad. Last season, Alexis averaged 8.8 points and set a program record 68.7% field goal percentage. With last season’s experience and success, high production is expected of him again this year. But in the scrimmage, Alexis was just 1-for-4 from the floor and finished with two points. He played physically on defense, picking up two blocks, but ultimately committed four fouls.
In his freshman season, Sisley averaged 4.2 points and shot 43% from the floor. While his playing time was limited at some points last year, Sisley is expected to make a jump in court presence this season.
But Sisley struggled in Friday’s first look at the returning sophomore. He finished the night with just four points and three rebounds. Sisley was unsuccessful on all four three-point attempts and will look to improve as the season progresses.
Indiana’s first exhibition contest of the season comes against Butler University at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 11 inside Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Follow reporters Elakai Anela (@elakai_anela and eanela@iu.edu) and Kasey Watkins (@KaseyWatki87731 and kaslwatk@iu.edu) and columnist Nathan Shriberg (@NShriberg and naashri@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
