Indiana Hoosiers Stunned by Northwestern Wildcats at Home

Coach Darian DeVries struggles to explain the team's missed opportunities in the 72-68 loss.

Feb. 25, 2026 at 8:24pm

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The Indiana Hoosiers suffered a tough 72-68 home loss against the Northwestern Wildcats, leaving head coach Darian DeVries searching for answers. Despite leading by as much as 13 points in the first half, the Hoosiers were unable to hold on, leading to their third straight defeat. DeVries kept his comments brief, acknowledging it was a tough loss but emphasizing the team's focus on the upcoming home stand against tough opponents like Michigan State.

Why it matters

The loss puts Indiana's NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy, as they now find themselves in must-win mode for the remainder of the regular season. The Hoosiers had a chance to bolster their resume with a home win against Northwestern, but instead suffered a disappointing defeat that leaves them searching for answers.

The details

The Hoosiers led by as much as 13 points in the first half, but were unable to pull away from the Wildcats. A missed foul call on forward Tucker DeVries, the son of coach Darian DeVries, was a key moment in the game. Despite the tough loss, DeVries is trying to keep his team focused on the upcoming home games against ranked opponents like Michigan State, Minnesota, and Ohio State.

  • The game took place on Tuesday night, February 25, 2026.
  • Indiana's next game is against #13 Michigan State on Sunday.

The players

Darian DeVries

The head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers basketball team.

Tucker DeVries

The son of coach Darian DeVries and a forward for the Indiana Hoosiers.

Tom Izzo

The head coach of the Michigan State Spartans basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, it's a tough play. It happens fast. You know, that's just what it is.”

— Darian DeVries, Head Coach, Indiana Hoosiers

“The path forward is just keep fighting, keep pushing forward. The Illinois and the Purdue losses were tough. They were two tough games, two tough teams. Not a lot of people going in there and winning.”

— Darian DeVries, Head Coach, Indiana Hoosiers

What’s next

Indiana's rematch with Michigan State is set for 3:45 p.m. ET on Sunday, as the Hoosiers attempt to bounce back and keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

The takeaway

This loss puts Indiana's NCAA Tournament aspirations in serious jeopardy, as they now find themselves in must-win mode for the remainder of the regular season. The Hoosiers had a chance to bolster their resume with a home win against Northwestern, but their inability to hold onto a double-digit lead has left them searching for answers and facing an uphill battle to make the Big Dance.