News and notes from Inside IU basketball with Darian DeVries

Photos from IU basketball's 90-80 win against Washington at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Inside IU basketball with Darian DeVries returned on Monday night from Hoosier Hank’s in Bloomington.

The first-year IU coach sat with the voice of the Hoosiers, Don Fischer, ahead of Indiana’s fourth and fifth conference games with Maryland and Nebraska.

Sam Alexis was this week’s player guest.

Here’s a recap of what DeVries and Alexis had to say.

• DeVries on 13 days off between games: It was an excellent opportunity to hone in on what the team did well before the break and improve on what they needed to work out. It was the most extended break he’s ever had. Jokes he spent most of the break on the treadmill post-Christmas.

• DeVries said he was pleased with the rebounding against a good rebounding team in Washington. It was a focal point in physical practices during the off day.

• DeVries on Tayton Conerway’s 20-point outburst: “He has the ability to make teams pay for spacing the floor like they did.”

• DeVries thinks the team “did a great job taking care of the basketball” and playing off two feet, only turning the ball over four times.

• DeVries revealed the team scrimmaged on Dec. 31 to get back in game flow and physicality after getting the team back to Bloomington on the 27th.

• DeVries on Big Ten basketball: “It’s very good top to bottom. It’s a very big and physical league… There’s a lot of really good basketball teams.”

• DeVries said the Big Ten is a bruising league on the interior, which is a big difference from the Big XII.

• DeVries doesn’t see much difference in officiating from conference to conference.

• DeVries said he likes what Reed Bailey and Sam Alexis bring to the team. Says they bring a bunch of energy off the floor with their personalities.

• DeVries on Conor Enright’s circus shot: “I think he’s always on the floor. He’s just one of those guys who does everything full tilt. It’s always fun when he does something well.”

• DeVries said that the team is all-around a fun one to be around, despite being new.

• DeVries said Buzz Williams’ teams are aggressive and attack the offensive glass. Notes that they’ll switch up defenses and take advantage of transition opportunities.

• DeVries said all of Maryland’s losses are “high-level losses” and very capable on their home floor.

• DeVries said he got the Maryland scout done on Sunday night before he fell asleep so that he could be prepared for the staff meeting on Monday.

• DeVries on using analytics: “Most of it is the film that I watch. We like to trust our own eyes.”

• DeVries didn’t view his moves as “big jumps.” Said at the end of the day, basketball is basketball.

• DeVries said he learned a lot from working under Dana Altman and Greg McDermott: “Two incredible coaches and the best to do it if you look at resumés.”

• DeVries said 2026 signee Vaughn Karvala brings some great athleticism and length, but can also shoot the basketball.

• DeVries on 2026 signee Prince Alexander Moody: “He’s playing at a very high level right now. He can do everything.”

• DeVries said there are still several high school kids they are recruiting for the 2026 class.

• DeVries said it’s becoming very common to bring guys from overseas and that Indiana aims to be active in recruiting. Drew Adams is the leading recruiter who travels abroad.

• DeVries said everything about recruiting is the same, except for the financial aspect.

• Alexis said his cousin got him started in basketball when he was 13 because he was “starting to grow.” He didn’t play varsity basketball until his senior year. Says he had zero offers until he got one from New Mexico State. Then got one from Chattanooga, where he committed.

• Alexis said he watched Stephen Curry growing up. His family didn’t have cable growing up, so all he could watch was the NBA Finals. Curry happened to be playing every year.

• Alexis laughs when Fischer asks about Indiana’s weather: “It’s cold.” Said he has six puffer jackets to stay warm in the winter.

• Alexis on the team’s August trip to Puerto Rico: “It was a fun trip. We bonded well together, being in a different environment. We got to learn a lot about each other.”

• Alexis said Big Ten competition isn’t much different, physically, than the SEC.

• Alexis said he works with everyone on the coaching staff, but specifically with assistant coach Kenny Johnson and the bigs.

• Alexis on Bloomington: “I just like playing in Assembly Hall.” Fischer said that Alexis hasn’t seen the real Assembly Hall yet.

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