Indiana University Athletics
Tuesday, January 13
East Lansing, Mich.
7:00 PM
Indiana University
at
Michigan State
IU Seeks to Bounce Back at Michigan State
1/13/2026 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- It's there if Indiana can sustain it, the ability to beat good teams, Big Ten title contending teams.
The Hoosiers (12-4 overall, 3-2 in the Big Ten) showed it for 25 minutes against Nebraska, an unbeaten top-10 squad with a victory over Michigan State on its resume.
That they couldn't maintain the crisp, even dominating, offensive and defensive execution in Saturday's 83-77 loss to Nebraska was a major source of frustration and, perhaps, optimism with Tuesday night's trip to No. 12 Michigan State (14-2, 4-1) looming.
"It's something I talked to the team about," coach Darian DeVries says. "When they're executing the way that they did the first 25 minutes (against Nebraska), it looks really good. They're doing a great job. They're defending and getting (offensive) movement.
"As soon as you get away from that a little bit, and have turnovers or maybe the lack of communication on a few possessions, now all of a sudden everything you've built up for 25 minutes goes away in a hurry.
"We've had a few moments this year where that's happened. We've talked to them a lot about it's that next-play mentality, win that next play, and not compound mistakes. I thought (on Saturday), again, for a stretch there was a period where we let one mistake turn into two.
"Then instead of digging in and really making sure we get a quality possession the next time, we compounded it with another turnover. All of a sudden, your lead is gone, and momentum shifts pretty quickly."
IU turnovers helped fueled Nebraska's rally from a 16-point, second-half deficit. The Hoosiers' 14 turnovers -- eight in the second half -- resulted in 11 Cornhusker points.
"We told them at halftime that if we turn it over five or less times in the second half," DeVries says, "we're going to win. We just didn't do it. That won the game (for Nebraska)."
The Cornhuskers shot 56.7% in the second half, including 8-for-16 on 3-pointers, to score 53 points in the final 20 minutes.
"Turnovers and defensive breakdowns in the second half were the biggest difference," DeVries says. "You can't give up 50 points at home. It just can't happen."
Still, the Hoosiers have one of the Big Ten's best scorers in guard Lamar Wilkerson, who had 32 points against Nebraska. His 20.3-point scoring average is tied for third in the conference behind Northwestern's Nick Martinelli (23.4) and Minnesota's Cade Tyson (21.6). Forward Tucker DeVries averages 14.9 points and a team-leading 5.1 rebounds.
As for Michigan State, it lost 58-56 to Nebraska on Jan. 2. It's won two straight since, both at home, against USC and Northwestern.
The Spartans are 9-1 at the Breslin Center, losing at home to top-5 Duke 66-60. Victories include Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Iowa.
Jason Kohler, a 6-foot-10 forward, paces them in scoring (14.3 points) and rebounding (10.1). He shoots 56.3% from the field, 53.3% from 3-point range, and 86.7% from the line.
Three other Spartans average in double figures – guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (12.1 points, a team-leading 140 assists, and 17 steals), 6-foot-6 forward Coen Carr (11.6 points, 5.2 rebounds) and 6-foot-11 center Carson Cooper (10.3, 7.3).
Michigan State averages 42.7 rebounds a game, including a Big Ten-best 13.7 offensive.
Coach Tom Izzo has 751 career victories, including a Big Ten-record 364 in conference play.
IU won at the Breslin Center 71-67 last season. The Hoosiers won twice in its last five games in East Lansing.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- It's there if Indiana can sustain it, the ability to beat good teams, Big Ten title contending teams.
The Hoosiers (12-4 overall, 3-2 in the Big Ten) showed it for 25 minutes against Nebraska, an unbeaten top-10 squad with a victory over Michigan State on its resume.
That they couldn't maintain the crisp, even dominating, offensive and defensive execution in Saturday's 83-77 loss to Nebraska was a major source of frustration and, perhaps, optimism with Tuesday night's trip to No. 12 Michigan State (14-2, 4-1) looming.
"It's something I talked to the team about," coach Darian DeVries says. "When they're executing the way that they did the first 25 minutes (against Nebraska), it looks really good. They're doing a great job. They're defending and getting (offensive) movement.
"As soon as you get away from that a little bit, and have turnovers or maybe the lack of communication on a few possessions, now all of a sudden everything you've built up for 25 minutes goes away in a hurry.
"We've had a few moments this year where that's happened. We've talked to them a lot about it's that next-play mentality, win that next play, and not compound mistakes. I thought (on Saturday), again, for a stretch there was a period where we let one mistake turn into two.
"Then instead of digging in and really making sure we get a quality possession the next time, we compounded it with another turnover. All of a sudden, your lead is gone, and momentum shifts pretty quickly."
IU turnovers helped fueled Nebraska's rally from a 16-point, second-half deficit. The Hoosiers' 14 turnovers -- eight in the second half -- resulted in 11 Cornhusker points.
"We told them at halftime that if we turn it over five or less times in the second half," DeVries says, "we're going to win. We just didn't do it. That won the game (for Nebraska)."
The Cornhuskers shot 56.7% in the second half, including 8-for-16 on 3-pointers, to score 53 points in the final 20 minutes.
"Turnovers and defensive breakdowns in the second half were the biggest difference," DeVries says. "You can't give up 50 points at home. It just can't happen."
Still, the Hoosiers have one of the Big Ten's best scorers in guard Lamar Wilkerson, who had 32 points against Nebraska. His 20.3-point scoring average is tied for third in the conference behind Northwestern's Nick Martinelli (23.4) and Minnesota's Cade Tyson (21.6). Forward Tucker DeVries averages 14.9 points and a team-leading 5.1 rebounds.
As for Michigan State, it lost 58-56 to Nebraska on Jan. 2. It's won two straight since, both at home, against USC and Northwestern.
The Spartans are 9-1 at the Breslin Center, losing at home to top-5 Duke 66-60. Victories include Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Iowa.
Jason Kohler, a 6-foot-10 forward, paces them in scoring (14.3 points) and rebounding (10.1). He shoots 56.3% from the field, 53.3% from 3-point range, and 86.7% from the line.
Three other Spartans average in double figures – guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (12.1 points, a team-leading 140 assists, and 17 steals), 6-foot-6 forward Coen Carr (11.6 points, 5.2 rebounds) and 6-foot-11 center Carson Cooper (10.3, 7.3).
Michigan State averages 42.7 rebounds a game, including a Big Ten-best 13.7 offensive.
Coach Tom Izzo has 751 career victories, including a Big Ten-record 364 in conference play.
IU won at the Breslin Center 71-67 last season. The Hoosiers won twice in its last five games in East Lansing.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballFB: Curt Cignetti Media Availability (1/12/26)
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