News and notes from Inside IU basketball with Darian DeVries

• Alex Bozich

• 6h ago

 

Inside IU basketball with Darian DeVries made its debut Monday night from Hoosier Hank’s in Bloomington.

The first-year IU coach sat with the voice of the Hoosiers, Don Fischer, ahead of the regular season opener against Alabama A&M on Wednesday night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Conor Enright was this week’s player guest.

Here’s a recap of what DeVries had to say on Monday night:

• DeVries said IU wants to make sure it gets kids who are about the “right stuff” in recruiting. “I’ve seen what works and have seen what can tear locker rooms apart.”

• DeVries: “Probably priority No. 1 for us is making sure that we got a good locker room and that we got guys that are about the right things. When you get a locker room full of winners, you’re going to win.”

• DeVries said IU wants to be fast, physical and be the aggressor on both ends of the floor. “It’s a fun way for them to play. They want to come play that style and guys still want to come and be a part of something, too. That team identity is appealing to a lot of people still. That’s what we have right now and I can’t wait to get out there on Wednesday night and let these guys go.”

• DeVries said he feels the culture at IU this season is “tremendous.”

• DeVries said the relationship between the fanbase and players is critical. He added that in the transfer portal era, it’s important for the fans to get to know the players.

• DeVries on the portal, rev sharing and NIL: “Nobody really knows what the real rules are anymore. We’re all trying to figure it out. I think that’s the hardest part for coaches and even a little bit with the players. There’s no real, clear defined rules on how this is all going to play out with the rev share and what the additional outside money will look like. We’re just trying to figure it out right now.”

• DeVries said this was the third year in a row that he had to sign 10 or more players in the spring. He previously had to do it in his final season at Drake and also at West Virginia.

• DeVries said he wanted skill and versatility when he recruited this season’s roster at IU. “We wanted to be able to have some depth and what we wanted the most was shooting.”

• DeVries said IU is a little undersized at the five spot and will have to figure out some ways to offset that at times. “I think both of those guys bring some versatility to what they do, on the offensive end especially.”

• DeVries said Sam Alexis isn’t overly tall, but he makes up for some of that with his length. “I’m excited about what he can do for us and give us a little bit of that physicality inside.”

• DeVries said Reed Bailey is “really fast” and can “run all day.” Bailey is very mobile and athletic in terms of getting up and down the floor, according to DeVries.

• More on Bailey: “He actually can really jump, too. He’s just not a very big or physical guy. I think we’re going to be able to find some unique ways to utilize him.”

• DeVries said there is hope Nick Dorn will be available for the season opener against Alabama A&M. Dorn got a good medical report today, according to DeVries. “He’s still working his way back into getting in shape and going through full practices.”

• DeVries on Josh Harris: “Unfortunately he’s going to be out for a while.”

• Enright said he’s known DeVries since he was 15 when he recruited him to Drake.

• Enright said Tucker DeVries “might get yelled at more” being the coach’s son.

• Enright said being “gritty and tough” has allowed IU to overcome major deficits in the exhibition games.

• Enright said this roster has “come together quicker than I thought.”

• Enright on Trent Sisley: “He’s been awesome. He doesn’t play like a freshman. He’s super athletic.”

• Enright on playing with Tucker DeVries: “I give him the ball, he shoots it and it usually goes in.”

• Enright said the biggest thing he has learned about Bloomington is the difference in the amount of people in the summer versus the fall when the students got back on campus.

• Enright said the funniest guys on the team are Lamar Wilkerson and Tayton Conerway.

• Enright on Nick Dorn: “I’ve seen him shoot in drills and he makes 20 in a row. He definitely can shoot it.”

• Enright on a player who has surprised him: “Sam Alexis, his motor has come on really strong. I think he’ll be really good for us.”

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