Indiana Head Coach Darian DeVries Reveals Offseason Targets After Brutal 1st Season

DeVries looks to add depth, size and physicality to the Hoosiers' roster after missing the NCAA Tournament.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 4:53am

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Indiana basketball coach Darian DeVries discussed the type of players he wants to bring in this offseason to help turn the program around after a disappointing first season in Bloomington. DeVries said he's looking for depth, size and physicality to improve the Hoosiers' interior play, which was a major weakness this past season.

Why it matters

Indiana's failure to make the NCAA Tournament in DeVries' debut season has put pressure on the new head coach to quickly rebuild the roster and get the Hoosiers back to being a competitive Big Ten program. Adding more size and physicality up front is a clear priority for DeVries as he looks to address the team's struggles against physical opponents in the conference.

The details

Indiana suffered a stunning upset loss to Northwestern in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, likely dashing its NCAA Tournament hopes. DeVries acknowledged the Hoosiers lacked the necessary size and physicality to compete with bigger teams in the Big Ten, especially in a pair of late-season losses to the Wildcats. Despite the disappointing season, DeVries is expected to have resources to be active in the transfer portal this offseason as he looks to turn the program around in year two.

  • Indiana suffered the upset loss to Northwestern on Wednesday, March 12, 2026.
  • DeVries made the comments about his offseason targets after the Hoosiers' season-ending loss.

The players

Darian DeVries

The head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team, in his first season leading the program.

Nick Martinelli

A star player for the Northwestern Wildcats, who gave Indiana trouble in a pair of late-season losses.

Tucker DeVries

Darian DeVries' son, who left the Indiana program after the coach's first season.

Lamar Wilkerson

A key player who also departed the Indiana program after the 2025-26 season.

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What they’re saying

“Depth, size and physicality to give us a better chance on the interior.”

— Darian DeVries, Head Coach, Indiana Hoosiers

What’s next

DeVries and his staff will be active in the transfer portal this offseason as they look to rebuild the Indiana roster and get the Hoosiers back to being a competitive Big Ten program.

The takeaway

DeVries' comments highlight the clear need for Indiana to get bigger and more physical up front after struggling against physical Big Ten opponents in his first season. Addressing those roster deficiencies will be crucial for DeVries as he tries to quickly turn the Hoosiers' program around.