The Indiana Hoosiers are off to a 5-0 start for the first time since the 2022–23 season, a promising beginning for a group still searching for its best form. The past week has made that clear. After scraping by Incarnate Word on Sunday with a narrow 69–61 win, Indiana ran into more turbulence Thursday night against Lindenwood.
“I thought the last couple days of practice our guys really learned from some of the things that happened in our last game,” head coach Darian DeVries said after the win. “I thought they responded really well in practice from an energy level. They were playing hard tonight. It just wasn’t the same juice.”
Indiana still grinded out a 73–53 victory. Yet the path there was anything but smooth. A strong first half gave the Hoosiers a 16-point cushion, but Lindenwood stormed out of the locker room with a 10–0 burst in the opening three minutes. Lamar Wilkerson finally snapped the slide, and that bucket opened the door for Tucker DeVries to seize control of the offense.
From that moment on, Indiana flipped the script with an 18–3 run that featured a heavy dose of Tucker. He finished with 25 points and went 5 for 10 from deep, becoming the steady hand the Hoosiers badly needed. Seventeen of those points came in the second half while the team battled through another extended scoring drought.
Tucker was not the only spark. Senior forward Sam Alexis delivered in every moment Indiana needed a lift.
“I thought Sam saved the day,” Tucker DeVries said. “It’s so great for us when he comes into the game, it just changes the game. Just the excitement that he plays with. Everybody can see it when he’s out there. He loves playing the game of basketball and we all feed off of that. The extra effort plays he makes is what makes our team go.”
When Indiana’s defense went flat, Sam Alexis stepped in and gave the Hoosiers exactly what they were missing. His presence off the bench lifted their intensity and brought the physical edge Coach DeVries has been urging from this group, something the staff has grown to rely on.
“I love what Sam’s doing,” Coach DeVries said. “He brings physicality, but even more so the rebounding, the energy level, enthusiasm. I just like what he’s doing for us right now. He’s going to play a huge role for us all year.”
Alexis ended the night with 10 rebounds and four blocks, a stat line that only hints at the impact he had. His interior activity steadied Indiana when the momentum swung in Lindenwood’s favor and helped the team regain its rhythm. He also added eight points and converted all four of his free throws, while continuing to be one of the brightest contributors on the defensive end.
Even with a 20-point win, there is plenty for Indiana to clean up. Stronger opponents will not allow the Hoosiers to play their way out of prolonged slumps, and the upcoming week of practice will be crucial for tightening their habits. Indiana now turns its attention to Tuesday’s (Nov. 25) matchup with Kansas State at 8 p.m. EST. The Wildcats are 4-0 and will be one of the toughest challenges the Hoosiers have encountered so far this season.