Indiana Is 2–0. Syracuse Will Tell Us More About Darian DeVries’ Rotation.

Darian DeVries already knows his bench can score. What he still needs to find out is which Hoosiers he wants on the floor when a game comes down to three or four possessions. Syracuse gives him a chance to answer that Monday night.

Indiana and Syracuse are both 2–0 heading into their 6:30 p.m. ET matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on FS1. The Hoosiers beat Bellarmine 92–69 on Thursday, with Darren Harris scoring a career-high 23 points and hitting five 3-pointers. Bryce Lindsay added 15, while Aiden Sherrell and Sam Alexis scored 12 apiece. Indiana’s reserves have averaged 43 points through two games.

The bench has earned a chance to close

Lindsay’s value is easy to see when he checks in. A defender has to account for him beyond the arc, which can open a driving lane or make it harder to help on a post touch. Freshman Trevor Manhertz has given Indiana another shooting option, averaging 10 points and making four of his first eight 3-point attempts.

The interesting decision is whether DeVries will use those shooters together late. With Harris, Lindsay and Manhertz on the floor, Indiana could make Syracuse defend more of the court. The tradeoff depends on the matchups at the other end. If that group struggles to contain the ball or finish defensive possessions with rebounds, DeVries may need to trade some spacing for a different defensive combination. If the group holds up, he has a reason to keep it out there.

A practical way to find out is to stagger the guards. Let Harris start with the first group, then give Lindsay a stretch where he gets to initiate offense alongside a regular starter. That gives DeVries a look at how Lindsay handles pressure and how the rest of the group moves when the ball is in his hands. Later, if Syracuse runs Harris off the line, Indiana can bring the two together and make the Orange choose which shooter to chase.

That’s the difference between having a deep bench in November and having a rotation you can trust in January. The points have earned Lindsay and Manhertz another look. Their ability to defend and rebound against the Orange will help determine how long that look lasts.

Syracuse will test Indiana away from the ball

Gavin Doty, who followed first-year Syracuse coach Gerry McNamara from Siena, is averaging 16 points and nine rebounds. Kiyan Anthony is averaging 15.5 points. Indiana will have to keep track of Anthony as the defense shifts and locate Doty when a shot goes up. A good first defensive effort can disappear if the Orange get the ball right back.

Sherrell and Alexis give DeVries another decision. The big man who screens well and gets to the rim can make a lineup of shooters more dangerous, because a defender has to tag the roll and leave somebody on the perimeter. On defense, the same group needs a big who can help on a drive without giving up a clean rebound underneath. How DeVries pairs his frontcourt with his scorers may tell us as much as which wing gets the extra minutes.

Pay attention to the first substitution after halftime, too. It may reveal what Indiana thinks Syracuse is doing well. An earlier look for Lindsay could signal a need for another ball handler. A longer run for Manhertz would give Indiana a second wing who can punish a defender for helping off the perimeter.

Watch who DeVries turns to after a Syracuse run. If he puts a reserve back in to settle the offense, or leaves one in to guard a tough matchup, that tells you something the box score against Bellarmine couldn’t. Indiana has enough shooters to make the rotation interesting. Monday will show who can stay on the floor when the Hoosiers need a basket and a stop.