Indiana University Athletics
Durham, Bybee Savor Unusual Senior Day
2/28/2021 9:33:00 AM | Men's Basketball
They stood at midcourt, arms around each other's shoulders, smiling for the camera.
Aljami Durham and Cooper Bybee, two seniors on the Hoosiers' roster, enjoying one last home game together.
It was Senior Day at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, and although the outcome of the battle vs. Michigan didn't turn out to be the one any Hoosier hoped for, both players enjoyed their own moments in the spotlight.
Durham is a scholarship guy, a player recruited by a different coaching staff who stuck with IU when head coach Archie Miller was hired four seasons ago. He was maybe the least-heralded player in the Hoosiers' Class of 2017 when he arrived, but he set an example with his hard work, his drive to improve, and his willingness to play a role.
By the end of the day, Durham had become the 53rd player in IU history to score more than 1,000 points in his career, and he led his team in scoring with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
Bybee, meanwhile, is a walk-on, one of the players who turn in just as much sweat and toil as everyone else during workouts and practice but don't get to hear as many cheers during game day. Bybee worked mostly in anonymity during his time in Bloomington, but he wasn't anonymous to his teammates or his coaches.
By the end of the day, Bybee had scored his first points of the season by converting a pair of free throws late in game, the first of his career. Those couple of points upped his career scoring total to five points—Bybee drained his only shot of the year last season, a 3-pointer vs. Princeton.
Two very different players. Two very different careers.
Two players equally appreciated.
"Cooper joined us a couple summers ago," Miller said. "He has been fantastic for our program. Extremely, extremely unselfish, great energy, whether it's in the weight room, a morning workout, a summer workout, practice. You name the job that you ask him to do, he does it. He has been a great addition to what we're doing. For him to be able to play here, I know, is big. He's going to be successful in whatever he wants to do.
"Al has been here from day one. You go through a lot of ups and downs as players, and Al is a special player to me. He's as loyal as it gets; he's as coachable as it gets; and he's as hard of a working guy as you'll ever be around. Al is a guy that 10, 15 years from now right now, I wouldn't be surprised by whatever field he's in, how successful he's going to be just because of the personality, the teamwork. He's likable, smart. I mean, he's just got so many different types of things going for him."
Like everyone else, Durham and Bybee have seen their careers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. They've overcome challenges they never expected the first time they pulled on their candy stripes and trotted out for a game.
But Durham and Bybee alone are going to suffer the disappointment of a Senior Day that is drastically different than has been tradition at IU.
Senior Day—or Senior Night, depending on the timing of the tip-off—is always a highlight of the season. It's an opportunity for seniors to speak directly to the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall faithful, thank their family and friends and teammates and whoever-else-comes-to-mind for their support. They're presented with a jersey, given a mic, and given the floor.
But the pandemic robbed Durham and Bybee of that in-person audience. They still will give senior speeches that will be released soon, but the in-the-moment excitement of a crowd just isn't possible. It's a disappointment to be sure, but it's just one more adjustment the players had to make.
"I'm just sad that (Al's) family, Cooper's family, our managers' family… it's tough to not have those guys on the floor, especially without our fans," Miller said. "It's very difficult to not have a Senior Day when you're accustomed to the Senior Day festivities that they've seen over their time. That was disappointing."
Durham did his best to be upbeat.
"It has been a blessing," said Durham of his career. "I've had the opportunity to play (Division I basketball) and play on the highest stage in America. I feel like there is no better feeling, I am blessed. I have to give all thanks for God, the coaching staff, to my family for supporting me. The blessing is full of hard work and pain, sweat, and tears. It is a surreal moment. Bittersweet, but it's a part of the game."
Bybee's comments about his time at IU will have to wait until his speech is released, but the duo clearly showcased how much Indiana basketball means to them with their pregame smiles. There still is more basketball left to be played—the regular season closes on the road, then there's the Big Ten Tournament and who knows what else—but they're savoring every moment for the time being.
"There are a lot of things I've taken from Indiana in terms of relationships, basketball, friendships, anything," Durham said. "It has all been living, learning, and a blessing. It has been a great experience all the way around."
Aljami Durham and Cooper Bybee, two seniors on the Hoosiers' roster, enjoying one last home game together.
It was Senior Day at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, and although the outcome of the battle vs. Michigan didn't turn out to be the one any Hoosier hoped for, both players enjoyed their own moments in the spotlight.
Durham is a scholarship guy, a player recruited by a different coaching staff who stuck with IU when head coach Archie Miller was hired four seasons ago. He was maybe the least-heralded player in the Hoosiers' Class of 2017 when he arrived, but he set an example with his hard work, his drive to improve, and his willingness to play a role.
By the end of the day, Durham had become the 53rd player in IU history to score more than 1,000 points in his career, and he led his team in scoring with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
Bybee, meanwhile, is a walk-on, one of the players who turn in just as much sweat and toil as everyone else during workouts and practice but don't get to hear as many cheers during game day. Bybee worked mostly in anonymity during his time in Bloomington, but he wasn't anonymous to his teammates or his coaches.
By the end of the day, Bybee had scored his first points of the season by converting a pair of free throws late in game, the first of his career. Those couple of points upped his career scoring total to five points—Bybee drained his only shot of the year last season, a 3-pointer vs. Princeton.
Two very different players. Two very different careers.
Two players equally appreciated.
"Cooper joined us a couple summers ago," Miller said. "He has been fantastic for our program. Extremely, extremely unselfish, great energy, whether it's in the weight room, a morning workout, a summer workout, practice. You name the job that you ask him to do, he does it. He has been a great addition to what we're doing. For him to be able to play here, I know, is big. He's going to be successful in whatever he wants to do.
"Al has been here from day one. You go through a lot of ups and downs as players, and Al is a special player to me. He's as loyal as it gets; he's as coachable as it gets; and he's as hard of a working guy as you'll ever be around. Al is a guy that 10, 15 years from now right now, I wouldn't be surprised by whatever field he's in, how successful he's going to be just because of the personality, the teamwork. He's likable, smart. I mean, he's just got so many different types of things going for him."
Like everyone else, Durham and Bybee have seen their careers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. They've overcome challenges they never expected the first time they pulled on their candy stripes and trotted out for a game.
But Durham and Bybee alone are going to suffer the disappointment of a Senior Day that is drastically different than has been tradition at IU.
Senior Day—or Senior Night, depending on the timing of the tip-off—is always a highlight of the season. It's an opportunity for seniors to speak directly to the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall faithful, thank their family and friends and teammates and whoever-else-comes-to-mind for their support. They're presented with a jersey, given a mic, and given the floor.
But the pandemic robbed Durham and Bybee of that in-person audience. They still will give senior speeches that will be released soon, but the in-the-moment excitement of a crowd just isn't possible. It's a disappointment to be sure, but it's just one more adjustment the players had to make.
"I'm just sad that (Al's) family, Cooper's family, our managers' family… it's tough to not have those guys on the floor, especially without our fans," Miller said. "It's very difficult to not have a Senior Day when you're accustomed to the Senior Day festivities that they've seen over their time. That was disappointing."
Durham did his best to be upbeat.
"It has been a blessing," said Durham of his career. "I've had the opportunity to play (Division I basketball) and play on the highest stage in America. I feel like there is no better feeling, I am blessed. I have to give all thanks for God, the coaching staff, to my family for supporting me. The blessing is full of hard work and pain, sweat, and tears. It is a surreal moment. Bittersweet, but it's a part of the game."
Bybee's comments about his time at IU will have to wait until his speech is released, but the duo clearly showcased how much Indiana basketball means to them with their pregame smiles. There still is more basketball left to be played—the regular season closes on the road, then there's the Big Ten Tournament and who knows what else—but they're savoring every moment for the time being.
"There are a lot of things I've taken from Indiana in terms of relationships, basketball, friendships, anything," Durham said. "It has all been living, learning, and a blessing. It has been a great experience all the way around."
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballIUWBB Highlights vs. Lipscomb
Wednesday, November 05
FB: Isaiah Jones Media Availability (11/4/25)
Wednesday, November 05
FB: Pat Coogan Media Availability (11/4/25_
Wednesday, November 05
Darian DeVries Pregame Press Conference
Tuesday, November 04