Indiana Basketball Reloaded: DeVries Is Building Something That Might Actually Last

If you’re an Indiana fan, you’ve heard this before.

“Great transfer class.” “Top portal ranking.” “Back in contention.”

And more often than not, it’s been smoke.

But this time? This feels different.

Second-year head coach Darian DeVries isn’t just patching holes—he’s rebuilding the foundation. And through the first wave of the 2026 roster overhaul, Indiana isn’t just winning the portal—they’re finally building with purpose. Last season, a bunch of money was spent on players from mid-majors with just one year of eligibility left, everybody has at least two years left, and they actually have a recruiting class of freshmen ready to go.

The Rankings Say One Thing—The Structure Says Another

On paper, the numbers jump out:

• No. 1 in the nation in net portal improvement (On3)
• No. 2 in transfer additions (247Sports)

Indiana fans have every reason to be skeptical. Rankings have burned this program before.

But this class isn’t about hype—it’s about composition.

👉 Every player coming in has multiple years of eligibility 👉 Every transfer comes from the high-major level 👉 Most importantly—they’ve actually played and started games

That’s not window dressing.

That’s roster construction.

This Isn’t a One-Year Flip—It’s a Reset

Last year’s roster was always a short-term play.

Too many seniors. Too many mid-major transfers. Too little continuity.

Even if the results had been better than 18–14, it was never built to last.

This one is.

Every player currently projected for the 2026–27 roster has at least two years of eligibility remaining. That matters in today’s college basketball landscape, where rosters turn over overnight.

Yes, the portal is always a threat.

But for the first time in years, Indiana has a real chance to:

• Develop chemistry
• Build identity
• And grow over multiple seasons

That’s how real programs are built.

The Backcourt: Experience, Not Guesswork

The likely floor general is Markus Burton, a transfer from Notre Dame with 68 career starts already under his belt.

That’s not projection—that’s proof.

If he secures a medical hardship waiver after his injury-shortened season, Indiana could get an experienced lead guard for more than just one year. That’s a massive swing piece for this rebuild.

Alongside him, Bryce Lindsay (Villanova) brings high-major reps and starting experience. He’s played meaningful minutes in a winning program—and that matters more than raw numbers.

Frontcourt: Size, Strength, and Real Experience

Indiana didn’t just add bodies—they added production.

• Aiden Sherrell (Alabama) – 70 games, 34 starts
• Jaeden Mustaf (Georgia Tech) – 55 games, 33 starts
• Samet Yiğitoğlu (SMU) – 66 games, all starts

That’s not potential—that’s experience.

These are players who have already played at the level Indiana expects to compete at. They’re not adjusting to the speed of the game—they’ve already lived it.

The Wild Card: Untapped Depth

The one outlier is Darren Harris from Duke.

No starts—but 57 games in one of the most talent-loaded programs in the country. That’s not a negative. That’s a player who’s been sharpened in a high-level environment.

Add in returner Trent Sisley and a three-man freshman class, and suddenly Indiana has something it hasn’t had in years:

👉 Layered depth with time to develop

The Real Difference: Identity

This is where DeVries deserves credit.

Last year’s roster felt thrown together.

This one feels intentional.

• Guards with experience running teams
• Wings who’ve played real minutes
• Bigs who understand physical basketball

There’s balance here.

There’s structure here.

There’s a plan here.

Final Word: This Might Actually Be Sustainable

Nothing is guaranteed.

Not in modern college basketball. Not with the transfer portal. Not with NIL.

But this is the first Indiana roster in years that doesn’t feel like a one-year experiment.

👉 It feels like the start of something.

Year one was survival. Year two should be improvement.

But Year Three?

That’s where this roster could turn into something real.

And for Indiana basketball—that’s the part that matters most.