The Indiana men’s basketball team returned to the floor on Friday night for an exhibition game to kick off their 2025-26 season.
Darian DeVries and the Indiana Hoosiers hosted an exhibition game against Pat Knight's Marian University Knights tonight at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Indiana defeated Marian University, 107-46 in the Hoosiers' exhibition opener in Bloomington and the three pointers were at an all-time high for IU tonight.
Senior forward Tucker DeVries and freshman forward Trent Sisley tied for the team lead in scoring, as they each scored 23 points. Tucker DeVries was 7-for-9 shooting from the field, including shooting 5-of-7 from three-point land, while Sisley was 8 for 10 from the field and made each of his four 3-point attempts.
Three other Indiana players were also in double figures tonight as senior forward and Florida transfer Sam Alexis had a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double. Tayton Conerway added 10 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Redd Bailey also had 10 points against Marian.
Level of competition
Marian went 11-17 in coach Knight's first season, the Division III program. Marian University is led by Pat Knight the son of former Indiana coach and Hall of Famer and legend Bobby Knight.
Marian has only two players listed 6-foot-9 or taller, and both are freshmen which was a clear advantage all night for Indiana.
Three Pointers galore
The Hoosiers made 15 3-pointers, which is the most in the past two seasons. This Indiana will spread the floor and be very guard heavy. Look for Indiana to play four guards at a time and rotate two or three combo and shooting guards off the bench .
Sam Alexis will be the X-Factor
The best true big man on the Hoosiers squad this season is Sam Alexis, a senior transfer from the Florida Gators. Alexis as a strong rebounder and rim protector as he showed against Marian tonight.
Previous to his time at Florida he spent time at Chattanooga (2023–2024), he was named to the All-Southern Conference Third Team and the Southern All-Defense Team. He also averaged 10.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game.
Darian DeVries enters his first season with the Hoosiers after one season at West Virginia, where he went 19-13 overall, finished seventh in the Big 12 with a 10-10 record and missed the NCAA Tournament. He previously coached Drake from 2018-24, going 150-55 overall with three NCAA Tournament appearances, two conference tournament championships.
The Hoosiers return to action at 1 p.m. Sunday, October 26, in an exhibition game against Baylor at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. A much tougher opponent and a team with tough hard nose defense and stout rebounding, this will be a huge test going forward for the Hoosiers.