Indiana Basketball Prepares for Road Test Against No. 8 Illinois

Hoosiers coach Darian DeVries discusses keys to the game against the high-powered Illini

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Indiana basketball coach Darian DeVries met with reporters on Friday to preview the Hoosiers' upcoming road game against No. 8 Illinois. DeVries discussed the strong play of Lamar Wagler, the evolution of player Tucker, and the challenges of facing Illinois' balanced and efficient offense. He also touched on getting player Sam more touches in the post and the depth and physicality of the Big Ten conference.

Why it matters

This Big Ten matchup between Indiana and Illinois is an important game for both teams as they jockey for position in the conference standings. Indiana is looking to build on its recent strong play, while Illinois is aiming to protect its home court and top-10 ranking. The outcome of this game could have significant implications for both teams' postseason aspirations.

The details

DeVries highlighted several keys to the game, including finding ways to get Lamar Wagler more open looks, getting player Sam more touches in the post, and dealing with Illinois' size and physicality on both ends of the floor. He praised Wagler's play this season and said he should be in the conversation for the Big Ten's best player. DeVries also discussed the evolution of player Tucker's all-around game and the importance of him facilitating the offense. Additionally, DeVries acknowledged a mistake he made earlier in the season in not getting Sam more post touches, and said they've made an effort to remedy that in recent games.

  • Indiana (17-8, 8-6 Big Ten) faces No. 8 Illinois (20-5, 7-2 Big Ten) on Sunday, February 19, 2026 at 1 p.m. inside State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.

The players

Darian DeVries

The head coach of the Indiana men's basketball team.

Lamar Wagler

A standout player for Illinois who DeVries says should be in the conversation for the Big Ten's best player this season.

Tucker

An important player for Indiana whose all-around game has evolved over the course of the season, including improved rebounding and playmaking.

Sam

An Indiana player who DeVries acknowledged he needed to get more touches for in the post earlier in the season, and said they've made a focused effort to do so in recent games.

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What they’re saying

“He's playing at an incredibly high level. He's got to be in that conversation with a few other guys as the best player in the league this year.”

— Darian DeVries, Indiana Basketball Coach (si.com)

“His all-around game has been really good. And I feel like the shooting's starting to come back here a little bit. He's been shooting it great in practice, like we've talked about, and now he's hit a few here recently in these games.”

— Darian DeVries, Indiana Basketball Coach (si.com)

“I think the thing with him is just getting him a couple more touches on the block. A lot of our offense is designed around five out. So, just finding different ways, maybe even though it's not directly in our offense, with him in that post a lot. But we want to try to get him some more opportunities down there where he can play one-on-one because of the shooting that we have.”

— Darian DeVries, Indiana Basketball Coach (si.com)

What’s next

The outcome of this game could have significant implications for both teams' postseason aspirations, as they jockey for position in the Big Ten standings.

The takeaway

This game highlights the depth and competitiveness of the Big Ten conference, where even top-10 teams like Illinois present a major challenge for any opponent. Indiana's ability to execute their game plan and limit Illinois' strengths will be crucial in determining the outcome of this pivotal conference matchup.