Indiana's Sam Alexis Emerges as Offensive Threat

Hoosiers coach Darian DeVries admits staff is learning to better utilize senior forward

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Indiana basketball senior forward Sam Alexis has emerged as an offensive force in the past two games, scoring a combined 35 points on 17-of-18 shooting while adding 12 rebounds and 6 blocks. Alexis' breakout performances have led Indiana coach Darian DeVries to acknowledge that the coaching staff needs to do a better job of featuring Alexis in the offense, after initially playing him limited minutes earlier in the season.

Why it matters

Alexis' recent surge has the potential to raise Indiana's ceiling as a team, providing them with a dominant interior presence to complement their perimeter scoring. The Hoosiers' coaching staff is now focused on finding ways to better utilize Alexis' skills, after initially overlooking him earlier in the season.

The details

Alexis scored 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting with 8 rebounds and 5 blocks in Indiana's overtime win against Wisconsin on Feb. 7. He followed that up with a 16-point, 5-rebound, 2-assist, 1-block performance in a win over Oregon on Feb. 9. The Hoosiers have started to run more offense through Alexis, taking advantage of his size and skill in the post. DeVries acknowledged that the coaching staff may not have utilized Alexis enough earlier in the season.

  • Alexis scored 19 points against Wisconsin on February 7, 2026.
  • Alexis scored 16 points against Oregon on February 9, 2026.

The players

Sam Alexis

A 6-foot-9, 240-pound senior forward for the Indiana Hoosiers basketball team who has emerged as an offensive threat in the past two games.

Darian DeVries

The head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers basketball team, who has admitted that the coaching staff needs to do a better job of featuring Alexis in the offense.

Conor Enright

A senior guard for the Indiana Hoosiers basketball team who praised Alexis' energy and enthusiasm, saying it is "contagious" for the team.

Tucker DeVries

A senior forward for the Indiana Hoosiers basketball team who described Alexis as the team's "motor and enthusiasm every day."

Reed Bailey

A 6-foot-10, 230-pound senior forward for the Indiana Hoosiers who has seen his playing time diminish as Alexis has emerged.

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What they’re saying

“He was cooking. So we kept giving it to him.”

— Conor Enright, Senior guard

“He kind of is our motor and enthusiasm every day. I think that leads to the success he's had as of late, too. He's so versatile at that position. It's a tough matchup for guys.”

— Tucker DeVries, Senior forward

“I think it's a little bit of us maybe figuring it out, too. He's given us, these last two games, some low presence that maybe we haven't utilized enough, to be honest with you. Sometimes as coaches, you got admit your mistakes.”

— Darian DeVries, Head coach

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.