Devries and Threes: A New Era Begins
I know, I know — I’m the eternal optimist, and I’ll admit my IU basketball collection borders on obsessive. But something about the ticket stub from last night’s game feels different this go around. Give it a little time, and I bet it becomes a piece of Hoosier history.
If opening night was meant to reveal the DNA of Darian DeVries’ new-look Indiana squad, then the message came through loud and clear: this team moves, shares, and scores — a lot. The Hoosiers throttled Alabama A&M 98-51 at Assembly Hall, launching the DeVries era with a statement…and the largest margin of victory in a coaching debut in IU history.
After the visiting Bulldogs opened the game with the first bucket, Indiana’s offense exploded on a 14-0 run, fueled by crisp ball movement and early confidence from the perimeter. Reed Bailey kickstarted things in the paint early, and Lamar Wilkerson quickly added to the frenzy with a ‘+1 on three followed by another three that felt like it was shot from Kirkwood. Halfway through the first frame, it was 23-5 and the tenacity on defense was stifling. By halftime, IU led 58-22 — the kind of first-half dominance that left the home crowd standing, clapping, and buzzing about how different this year already feels. I heard it from fellow fans as I walked through the concourse during halftime.
Three-for-all
Indiana launched 24 threes in this game. Say that again? Yep, 24. That’s like the equivalent of 3 games worth from what we’ve been watching the past four years. Hell, even Sam Alexis pulled the trigger a couple of times. A very respectable 42% for the night — and there were a couple of great looks from deep that simply didn’t go down that would have made that number look even better.
Free Throws and Floor Spacing
Ahhh…what a refreshing sight. A team that takes advantage of the freebies. Perhaps the most overlooked highlight of the night came from the charity stripe. Indiana went a perfect 16-for-16 on free throws — an early testament to focus and fundamentals that I think all of us fans have clamored to have for nearly a decade. Within the DeVries culture, accountability seems to extend to every possession, including the “little things” that will likely decide those close Big Ten games yet to come.
That discipline extended beyond free throws. Indiana’s floor spacing was dare I say modern, stretching A&M’s defense thin and creating lanes for backdoor cuts that drew roars from the crowd. Possession after possession, the Hoosiers displayed a great level of unselfishness and some early chemistry for an entirely overhauled team — skip passes, ball reversals, and quick reads that turned good shots into great ones.
Balanced Scoring and Bench Depth Shine
The stat sheet told a story that I think anyone would like to see: balance.
Five Hoosiers reached double figures — Reed Bailey (21), Lamar Wilkerson (19), Tucker DeVries (18), Sam Alexis (17), and Tayton Conerway (14) — each scoring within the flow rather than forcing heroics. It was the kind of egalitarian attack that might make scouting Indiana a problem moving forward.
The ‘whole is greater than the sum of its parts’ might just be one of the defining characteristics of this team when all is said and done.
Tucker DeVries’ Milestone Moment
Making his IU debut under his father’s leadership, Tucker DeVries not only logged a team-high 11 rebounds but also crossed the 2,000 career-point milestone — a nod to both his past accomplishments and his new beginning in Bloomington. His steady poise, smooth shooting stroke, and willingness to pass drew cheers from fans who could sense a coach’s son leading the offense with quiet authority.
Jasai Miles Electrifies with Poster Dunk
If there was one play that ignited Assembly Hall, it was Jasai Miles’ posterizing dunk midway through the second half — a drive down the lane that ended with a thunderous one-hander over a Bulldogs defender. The crowd went nuts as the bench paraded around in both excitement and disbelief.
Tough to give an honorable mention here, because on any given night this would have been the play of the game. Miles’ dunk was preceded by another electrifying dunk before the first media timeout — Conerway came up with a steal on the defensive end and raced down the floor with Bailey trailing him and a Bulldog right on his tail. Rather than attempt to score himself and/or draw a foul in the process, he passes the ball to Bailey off the glass for a slam dunk. Which leads me to the next point…
Unselfish Play Defines the DeVries Blueprint
Throughout the game, IU showcased a selfless rhythm rarely seen in recent years. The ball never stuck — constant motion, purposeful cuts, and quick decisions kept Alabama A&M on its heels the entire night. At one point, the Hoosiers strung together four straight possessions ending in layups off backdoor passes — a masterclass of team chemistry on display from beginning to end.
Final Takeaway
Indiana’s 98-51 victory wasn’t just a win — it was a preview. Free-throw perfection, balanced scoring, milestone moments, and unselfish team basketball painted a picture of a program rediscovering its lineage. It was also a blowout, which is what a good team will do at home against an inferior opponent. This will only help the metrics down the line when it comes time to assess the resume for the post-season.
Sure, it’s only Game 1, and stiffer challenges lie ahead. But if the Hoosiers can bottle the same chemistry, energy, and discipline they showed Wednesday night, this could be more than just a new season — it could be the start of a renaissance in B-town.
Go Hoosiers!