Jasai Miles Giving Indiana Basketball 'Big Moments' in Well-Timed Emergence

Once pushed out of the rotation, junior guard Jasai Miles is delivering quality performances in increased minutes for Indiana basketball.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 6:47am

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Indiana basketball junior guard Jasai Miles, who had struggled to find playing time earlier in the season, has recently stepped up and made key contributions for the Hoosiers. After being limited to just a few minutes per game, Miles has seized his opportunity and delivered impactful performances, including a 13-0 run and a crucial 3-pointer to help Indiana defeat rival Purdue. Head coach Darian DeVries praised Miles' resilience and commitment to improving in practice, even when his playing time was limited. With Indiana finding its footing in Big Ten play, Miles has earned more court time and looks to continue making an impact as the Hoosiers face a tough matchup against UCLA.

Why it matters

Jasai Miles' emergence as a key contributor for Indiana basketball is an important development for the team as they navigate the second half of the Big Ten schedule. After struggling to find his footing earlier in the season, Miles has shown the ability to provide energy, defense, and timely scoring off the bench, which could be crucial for the Hoosiers as they look to secure a strong finish to the regular season and potentially make a postseason run.

The details

Miles, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound junior guard, had not scored since November 29 and had not made a field goal or 3-pointer since November 12 prior to his recent resurgence. He missed Indiana's first four Big Ten games after the winter break and saw limited minutes in his first two games back on the floor. However, Miles' fortunes changed on January 23 at Rutgers, when he played 11 minutes and contributed two rebounds and an assist. That performance was a sign of things to come, as Miles delivered his most impactful 15 minutes of the season in Indiana's win over Purdue on January 27. He scored 5 points, grabbed 2 rebounds, and recorded 1 assist, while playing strong defense and finishing with a plus-10 plus/minus, the third-best on the team.

  • On January 23, Miles played 11 minutes at Rutgers, a sign of his increased role.
  • On January 27, Miles had his most impactful 15 minutes of the season in Indiana's win over Purdue.

The players

Jasai Miles

A 6-foot-6, 210-pound junior guard for Indiana basketball who has recently emerged as a key contributor off the bench after struggling to find playing time earlier in the season.

Darian DeVries

The head coach of the Indiana basketball team, who has praised Miles' resilience and commitment to improving in practice, even when his playing time was limited.

Conor Enright

A senior guard for Indiana basketball who expressed pride in Miles' performance and ability to step up when his number is called.

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What they’re saying

“It would've been really easy for his number to be called and him not be ready because he hadn't been putting in the work. But he's continued to work even though he hadn't been rewarded a lot for it in terms of playing time.”

— Darian DeVries, Head Coach

“He's been doing a good job bringing it in practice every day. He's our most physical offensive rebounder, plays hard. And so, he played awesome. I think he's doing a good job of stepping up when his number's called, and I think we got a lot of guys on our team that can do that.”

— Conor Enright, Senior Guard

What’s next

The Hoosiers (14-7, 5-5 Big Ten) will face a tough test on Saturday, January 28 at 5 p.m. ET when they travel to take on UCLA (15-6, 7-3 Big Ten) at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.

The takeaway

Jasai Miles' recent emergence as a key contributor for Indiana basketball is a testament to his resilience and commitment to improving, even when his playing time was limited. His ability to step up and make an impact when called upon has been crucial for the Hoosiers as they look to secure a strong finish to the regular season and potentially make a postseason run.