1 PREDICTION FOR EACH INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER THIS SEASON

WRITTEN + EDITED BY JORDYN BONTRAGER

Things are going to look a lot different when we see the Indiana University men’s basketball team play their next official game compared to when we saw them play their last. Back in March, Woody was still calling the shots from the sidelines. Flash forward to now, and it is Darian DeVries piloting the program from the cockpit. Rewind again to the Spring, and there was a COMPLETELY separate set of soldiers donning the cream and crimson on the court compared to the roster which DeVries assembled across the ensuing months.

Needless to say, there is no surefire way of knowing exactly how things will unfold for the Hoosiers this season. But now that we’ve had a chance to watch this updated team play (and beat) a few professional teams down in Puerto Rico, the uncertainty surrounding the SZN ahead became a bit less murky. We still have no clue how this club will perform collectively across the entire campaign, and we have still yet to see this entire roster suit up together (Nick Dorn + Jason Drake missed the PR exhibitions with injuries). Regardless, each respective player brings their own set of skills + contributions to the table and will have their opportunities to distinguish themselves from the pack.

All things considered, here is 1 prediction for each Indiana University men’s basketball player with the 2025-2026 season just around the corner.

Tayton Conerway = Becomes Best IUBB Stopper Since Oladipo

When you flip through the recent chapters of the historical story of IUBB, you will not find a more dominant point-of-attack defender than Victor Oladipo. Dipo could very easily be the greatest perimeter stopper in this program’s storied history, and is one of only three former Hoosiers (along with Dane Fife + Greg Graham) to bring home Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year hardware. With all due respect to OG Anunoby (a different type of defender), this team has simply not had a disrupter of Vic’s make + mold since his departure in 2013…

…Until 2025 NBA draft prospect x 2024-2025 Sun Belt Player of the Year Tayton Conerway announced his commitment to Indiana back in the Spring.

Ballhandlers surely have nightmares after matching up with Conerway, a defensive demon who swiped a whopping 2.9 SPG in 2024-2025 (3rd in the NCAA) after tallying 2.1 SPG as a freshman. With so much scoring talent around him with IU compared to his supporting cast at Troy (only one other double-digit scorer last SZN), TC will be able to expend a bulk of his effort setting the table for his teammates offensively while making life miserable for opposing perimeter threats on the less glamorous end.

Lamar Wilkerson = Leads Team in Scoring

Speaking of perimeter scoring threats, Bloomington is now home to the NCAA’s #6 highest scorer from a season ago in Lamar Wilkerson (20.5 PPG). With a top shelf point guard of Conerway’s nature running the show, Wilkerson and his scoring colleagues should be licking their chops when thinking about the type of scoring numbers they could be in store for.

With so much of his damage coming by way of his outside shooting stroke (44.5% on 7.7 triples tries/game last year), some could be concerned with Wilkerson’s shooting struggles in Puerto Rico (10/31 from deep in 3 games). Anyone who falls in that ‘some’ category should recall that these contests were the first time any of these guys have played any sense of organized ball together (aside from Tucker DeVries + Conor Enright).

Expect steady scoring numbers from Wilkerson throughout the season, and anticipate those numbers being at the top of the Hoosier scoring hierarchy when things are all said and done.

Nick Dorn = 5th Starter

As far as the starting lineup goes, there should be four spots which are all but locked up at this point: Conerway x Wilkerson in the backcourt + DeVries x Reed Bailey in the frontcourt. Beyond that, there are a number of routes which the team’s new skipper could run in filling the final void.

In all 3 summer friendlies, Darian DeVries went with his entrusted former floor general Conor Enright. And while Enright candidacy is undeniably valid, slotting him next to Conerway within the starting lineup seems unlikely. Bringing the former Depaul Blue Demon off the bench would bring a better sense of balance to the overall composition of this roster.

Enter Nick Dorn, a 6’7” x 223 pound swingman who missed the team’s aforementioned tour with an undisclosed ailment (he was present on the pine but did not play).

If everything transpires the way that the candy stripe faithful are praying they do, Dorn could compete with Wilkerson for top scoring honors. While not nearly as efficient as his adversary, the Elon transfer splashed 35.1% of his triples on 8.4 attempts/game last year. He trails Wilkerson in the area of efficiency, Dorn is a bit bouncier and bigger. His physical gifts combined with a natural scoring ability would give Conerway another dynamic weapon to play with and defenses another poison to pick from.

Tucker DeVries = Earns All-B1G Honors

Tucker DeVries will be a consensus captain for the cream and crimson, and has primarily made his mark by way of his 17.7 PPG average across 112 collegiate contests. Casual fans will be excited for the inevitable buckets DeVries brings to B-Town, but true college hoops fans know that this dude is much more than a scorer.

‘ThE cOaChEs SoN’ straight gets it done across the board (career 5.6 RPG x 2.5 APG vs 1.8 TOPG x 0.5 BPG x 1.2 SPG), and will be especially counted on to provide help controlling the glass (19 rebounds in the 3 exhibitions) and overall leadership on the court. The shoddy shooting (8/28 from the field in PR) will subside as he continues to rebuild his rhythm after missing all but 8 games last year, and his overall impact will finally be on full display this year in the bright lights of the Big Ten.

Reed Bailey = Proves Better than Ballo

Indiana University has become a sort’ve mecca for big time big men over the course of the past few years, from Trayce Jackson-Davis to Kel’el Ware. After their exits, it was last offseason’s #1 available transfer Oumar Ballo coming to B-Town with *no pun intended* big shoes to fill. But while Ballo undeniably made his presence felt on the court (13.0 PPG x 9.1 RPG x 2.1 APG x 1.3 BPG x 0.7 SPG x 62.3% FG), his questionable decision-making off the court and overall lack of team success made for a highly imperfect pitstop with the Hoosiers.

Skip ahead to present day, and it is now Reed Bailey joining the long list of extremely talented big men to grace the hardwood floors of Assembly Hall. While not as highly coveted as his predecessor (#63 ranked player in this year’s portal), the Atlantic 10’s Most Improved Player/top scorer last SZN brings a MUCH more versatile style to the center position. Ballo scored exclusively in the paint, while Bailey can put the ball in the basket from all levels. Plus, while there is no denying Ballo’s ability to run the floor, Bailey is just as capable in this department AND is not afraid to initiate the break by himself (which we saw a few times in San Juan).

By no means is this take meant as a shot at Oumar Ballo, who was probably Indiana’s best overall player in 2024-2025. But give it some time and you will see that Reed Bailey simply brings more to the table from an overall perspective, and he should compete with Wilkerson/DeVries/Dorn for top scoring honors while spearheading the team’s rebounding division.

Conor Enright = Steadiest Spark Plug

A sense of familiarity with his new/former head coach bodes well for Enright’s chances of consistent minutes this year, and so does his scrappy spirit. DD’s publicly proclaimed love for the Illinois native should have fans stoked to see the newbie diving for loose balls every single time, taking charges any chance he gets, and consistently making plays for his teammates (6.2 APG in 23 games last SZN).

At the end of the day, you already know you are going to get the previously noted contributions out of Enright night in and night out. If he can raise his outside shooting efficiency somewhere closer to the 43.9% (on 3.0 attempts/game in 33 games) vicinity which he was at in 2023-2024, it may be impossible for DeVries to keep him off the court.

Jason Drake = Wildcard

One of the more unheralded additions to this team, it is tough to project exactly what to expect from Jason Drake. At 6’1”, he has the size of a point guard but plays more like a shooting guard. Thankfully for him, the team has enough playmaking + size elsewhere on the roster to permit Drake minutes at the 2 spot. If he can replicate the outside effectiveness (39.6% on 3.1 3PA/game last year) and extended range (hit 9 shots from deeper than 25 feet!) he showcased through 33 games in ‘24-’25, he could/should secure a steady spot within IU’s rotation.

Being that Drake joined Dorn on the sidelines for the trio of Caribbean tests a few weeks back, only time can reveal how JD fits into the equation.

Jasai Miles = Rebounding Keeps Him in the Rotation

Like Wilkerson, DeVries, and Dorn, Jasai Miles adds more size (6’6” x 200 lbs) and outside shooting volume (attempted 7.3 triples/game last year). And while everyone would love for each of them to excel within both fields, expecting the world from each and every one of them is unfair.

In the case of Miles, IUBB could sorely use the same rugged feistiness on the boards (6.8 RPG in 32 games) that he displayed a season ago at North Florida. Do not let his slender frame fool you, this dude is not shy when it comes to getting physical down low in the trenches. If he fully embraces his primary duty as a rebounding reinforcement, everything else should fall into place for him.

Trent Sisley = Earns All-B1G Freshman Honors

Aside from a sluggish showing in the second PR exhibition against Serbia’s Mega Superbet, Trent Sisley was all caps AWESOME in his inaugural encounters with live college/professional basketball.

He hard launched his first collegiate campaign with a team-high 21 points on 9/12 shooting (including 3/3 from 3) against Universidad de Bayamon. Nobody in their right mind is banking on that type of output on a regular basis, but it was refreshing to watch the fearless freshman’s show such assertiveness right from the jump. In fact, even averaging double digits in the scoring column will be a tall task with so many viable scoring options ahead of him on the totem pole. But if/when he finds other ways to make his presence felt on the court, he should therein find his presence reflected when post-regular season awards SZN comes around.

Sam Alexis = 6th Man

Just two seasons ago, high octane big fella Sam Alexis was absolutely dominating the interior with Chattanooga to the tune of 26.4 MPG x 10.8 PPG x 9.1 RPG x 2.1 BPG in 33 games. Last season, he was a member of national champion Florida’s bench mob and performed admirably in the irregular minutes he received. In Puerto Rico, Alexis’s energy was neverending. He was relentless on the glass (7.7 RPG in 21.7 MPG), and made 15 of his 28 attempts from the floor (that should improve with reps).

The Bailey-Alexis duo at center should prove to be one of the B1G’s more formidable tandems, with Bailey reverse serving the lightning prior to Alexis’s thunder entering the game. And given Bailey’s diverse skillset, it would be far from shocking to see the two share the floor on more than a few occasions.

Aleksa Ristic = Inevitably Supplants Jason Drake on the Depth Chart

Perhaps it will take Ristic some time to adapt to the NCAA, but the three-year professional hooper arrives at Assembly Hall ripe with experience competing against grown men. The Serbian combo guard plays with the type of basketball intelligence which you would expect from someone with multiple years of pro experience under their belt. And while he may not be a master of any one area, he is definitely a jack of all basketball trades.

Ristic is an excellent creator in the pick-and-roll who is capable of threading the needle to the roll man, getting all the way to the rim, stopping on a dime from the midrange, or connecting from deep if the defense disrespects him. Beyond that, he shows no hesitation when it comes to spotting up off the ball and hoisting when the ball hits hit hands. His lack of athleticism hinders him from locking anyone up defensively, but he is by no means a cone on that end of the floor.

While he was not spectacular in Puerto Rico, Ristic showed some nice signs (example: 5 dimes in Game 3) and will only get better as he gets more comfortable playing with his new comrades. He will have his work cut out for him when it comes to earning playing time, and will find himself fighting with Jason Drake for backup guard minutes. Do not be surprised if he earns a regular rotation role as the season progresses.

Josh Harris = Provides Elite Efficiency in Limited Action

Josh Harris was the ‘Robin’ to Jasai Miles’ ‘Batman’ at North Florida last year as a freshman, and picked up right where he left off during IU’s first exhibition in early August. In that outing, Harris tallied 13 points on 6/9 shooting along with 10 rebounds in a mere 15 minutes. He sat out the following game, but finished the tour with another 6 points in only 5 minutes in the second matchup with Mega Superbet.

Currently, Harris is likely 4th in the frontcourt pecking order behind Bailey, Alexis and Sisley. However, he could certainly usurp Sisley heading into the start of the season with a strong finish to preseason conditioning. Regardless, having someone with his level of potential off the bench will be a luxury for this coaching staff and he will need to stay ready for the times when his team needs him.

Andrej Acimovic = Fan Favorite

The final piece to DeVries’s updated puzzle of Hoosiers, many fans were surprised by the seemingly-out-of-nowhere announcement of Acimovic’s acquisition. But while those same fans may be unfamiliar with the Bosnian big man’s game as of the present, his popularity should rise rapidly over time as he becomes more and more confident within his new digs.

Acimovic will undoubtedly be a project, but has the tantalizing tools to blossom into another big time Bloomington big man. According to his agent, Andrej has been labeled ‘Baby Jokic’ back home in Bosnia. And honestly, the highlights actually do support that alias. Just the way he moves on the court is enough to draw that parallel, but it is his natural ability to find open teammates that really seals the deal.

After averaging 17.5 PPG x 7.5 RPG in Bosnia’s top league last year, Hoosier fans should be in store for sporadic but beautiful glimpses of Jokic-esque brilliance from Andrej Acimovic this season.