‘I’m just more comfortable:’ IU basketball’s Trent Sisley looks to build consistency

Trent Sisley celebrates a play at IU basketball practice.

After an up-and-down freshman season, Trent Sisley is looking to build consistency in his second season at Indiana.

The 6-foot-8 forward’s career as a Hoosier began with promise as he scored in double figures in four of his first seven games in the 2025-26 season.

That included a 15-point effort in a rout of Marquette at the United Center and 12 points in a home win against Kansas State a few weeks later.

But outside of a few performances in Big Ten play, like his 10 points against Washington in early January and key free throws in an overtime win at UCLA in late January, Sisley’s minutes and production waned down the stretch.

After the win against the Bruins, Sisley logged a total of 37 minutes over IU’s final 10 games. The Hoosiers went 3-7 in that stretch and missed the NCAA tournament.

“Obviously, up and down as the freshman season,” Sisley said Thursday after IU’s practice in Bloomington. “I think that’s what happens to a lot of people. So I didn’t change my attitude or anything, just stayed ready. And then, obviously, my role went down a little bit towards the end of the season, but I didn’t let it bother me.”

The Southern Indiana native was one of seven IU scholarship players with eligibility remaining at the end of the 2025-26 season.

The other six entered the transfer portal in the spring, making Sisley the only returning scholarship player for Darian DeVries for the 2026-27 season.

Even though Sisley logged less than 400 minutes in college and is only entering his sophomore season, his experience from last season is giving him confidence as he works towards a bigger role next winter.

“I think you’re just more comfortable doing stuff, especially me, because I’ve been here for a year now,” Sisley explained. “I’m just more comfortable doing what coach wants. I know what coach wants. So I’m just able to do what he wants and then I think it helps me as a player because I’m not as indecisive and stuff like that.”

On a rebuilt roster that is likely to feature Alabama transfer Aiden Sherrell and SMU transfer Samet Yigitoglu in the starting lineup, Sisley’s likely role is providing frontcourt production off the bench.

He’s made noticeable gains with his body, adding roughly 15 points since the end of his freshman season. That should help him be able to hold his own better against the rugged frontcourts he will encounter in the Big Ten.

Sisley said he expects to contribute at multiple positions next season.

“We have a bigger lineup this year at the four and five,” he said. “So if those guys come out, maybe come in a little bit at the four and then obviously maybe a little bit at the three too. So really, whatever they ask me, I’ll be ready.”

When Sisley was at his best last season, he provided energy and hustle plays.

Against Marquette, he shot 6-for-8 on 2s and pulled down three offensive rebounds; against Kansas State, he was 5-for-7 on 2s and had three offensive rebounds again.

While his 3-point shot went cold in Big Ten play – he was just 5-for-23 – Sisley shot 36 percent from distance over the team’s first eight games.

Whether the perimeter shot can be a weapon this season is an open question, but Sisley did look good shooting from the perimeter in Thursday’s practice.

Ultimately, however, the theme that Sisley preached last week was being ready when his name is called to contribute.

“Just stay aggressive,” Sisley said. “Just keep doing what you do. Like I said earlier, my role was kind of up and down last year. Just stay ready to play every single day, do what you do and stay ready all the time.”

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