Indiana University Athletics
Defense Is Key as IU Resumes Big Ten play
1/4/2026 12:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Could defense lead Indiana to Big Ten basketball prominence? We're about to find out.
The Hoosiers (10-3 overall, 1-1 in the Big Ten) resume conference play Sunday night when they host Washington (9-4, 1-1) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
IU, which lost at Minnesota and beat Penn State at home, holds opponents to 66.1 points while scoring 84.7. It limits opponents to 38.4% shooting, 29.4% from 3-point range.
Washington averages 82.5 points while allowing 71.2.
Coach Darian DeVries says the Hoosiers' defense has improved dramatically since the summer.
"I've really liked it from this summer," he says. "We weren't there yet, but I thought there was a lot of promise. Our ball toughness is where it starts. Our perimeter guys do a really good job of making things difficult and challenging for guys to not just play freely. They've really bought into that and given us great effort there."
The result – IU ranks in the top-35 nationally in defensive rating and points allowed per game.
"Like I told the guys," DeVries says, "whatever our rankings are right now, it really comes down to cleaning up the defensive rebounding, or that number would be even better. That's got to be our priority -- clean that up so now we can get out and play in transition. That will help our offense."
Big Ten success demands successful rebounding, especially defensive rebounds. It's been a defensive priority all season, and the emphasis will soar with the return of Big Ten play. The Hoosiers used the holiday break, Darian DeVries says, to work on that as well as limiting turnovers.
"The biggest thing we've talked about in several key areas -- turnovers and defensive rebounding," Darian DeVries says. "That's always going to be something we're going to prioritize. You have to win those two battles every night if you're going to give yourself a chance.
"We have to turn the ball over less and defensive rebound better. Those will be the top two. Then it's the screening, the force, all that stuff on the offensive end, playing with pace. Then defensively, just try to continue to do what we've been doing and try to get better at it and continue to find new ways, as we maybe see different offenses that are going to attack us in different ways, that we have some things ready for that when that time comes."
The Hoosiers average 37.2 total rebounds, including 9.2 offensive. Washington is at 41.3 and 13.4.
The key, senior guard Tayton Conerway says, is crashing the boards.
"It's more like just a want to do it," he says. "So, we're having our guards go in there, instead of leaking out. We've got to get us all five crashing. We know that, if we can hold them to one shot, our defense is pretty solid."
Players such as forward Josh Harris and guard Jason Drake are returning to full health. Neither has played this season.
"The good part is we're getting more guys healthy again," Darian DeVries says. "That's even helped with practice. You've got more bodies that we can keep guys fresh. That part's been good."
For Washington, freshman forward Hannes Steinbach leads UW in scoring (18.1 points), rebounding (12.0), and assists (2.1). Senior guard Desmond Claude, a transfer from USC, averages 14.8 points. Sophomore guard Zoom Diallo has a team-high 41 assists while averaging 14.5 points. He shoots 37.5% from 3-point range. Fifth-year center Franck Kepnang averages 6.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.
Sophomore wing Bryson Tucker, a former Hoosier, makes his return to Bloomington. He averages 6.1 points and 4.6 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Wesley Yates III, who averages 14.9 points, is reportedly out indefinitely with a wrist injury.
The Huskies are coached by Danny Sprinkle, who is in his second season. The Huskies were 13-18 last year.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Could defense lead Indiana to Big Ten basketball prominence? We're about to find out.
The Hoosiers (10-3 overall, 1-1 in the Big Ten) resume conference play Sunday night when they host Washington (9-4, 1-1) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
IU, which lost at Minnesota and beat Penn State at home, holds opponents to 66.1 points while scoring 84.7. It limits opponents to 38.4% shooting, 29.4% from 3-point range.
Washington averages 82.5 points while allowing 71.2.
Coach Darian DeVries says the Hoosiers' defense has improved dramatically since the summer.
"I've really liked it from this summer," he says. "We weren't there yet, but I thought there was a lot of promise. Our ball toughness is where it starts. Our perimeter guys do a really good job of making things difficult and challenging for guys to not just play freely. They've really bought into that and given us great effort there."
The result – IU ranks in the top-35 nationally in defensive rating and points allowed per game.
"Like I told the guys," DeVries says, "whatever our rankings are right now, it really comes down to cleaning up the defensive rebounding, or that number would be even better. That's got to be our priority -- clean that up so now we can get out and play in transition. That will help our offense."
Big Ten success demands successful rebounding, especially defensive rebounds. It's been a defensive priority all season, and the emphasis will soar with the return of Big Ten play. The Hoosiers used the holiday break, Darian DeVries says, to work on that as well as limiting turnovers.
"The biggest thing we've talked about in several key areas -- turnovers and defensive rebounding," Darian DeVries says. "That's always going to be something we're going to prioritize. You have to win those two battles every night if you're going to give yourself a chance.
"We have to turn the ball over less and defensive rebound better. Those will be the top two. Then it's the screening, the force, all that stuff on the offensive end, playing with pace. Then defensively, just try to continue to do what we've been doing and try to get better at it and continue to find new ways, as we maybe see different offenses that are going to attack us in different ways, that we have some things ready for that when that time comes."
The Hoosiers average 37.2 total rebounds, including 9.2 offensive. Washington is at 41.3 and 13.4.
The key, senior guard Tayton Conerway says, is crashing the boards.
"It's more like just a want to do it," he says. "So, we're having our guards go in there, instead of leaking out. We've got to get us all five crashing. We know that, if we can hold them to one shot, our defense is pretty solid."
Players such as forward Josh Harris and guard Jason Drake are returning to full health. Neither has played this season.
"The good part is we're getting more guys healthy again," Darian DeVries says. "That's even helped with practice. You've got more bodies that we can keep guys fresh. That part's been good."
For Washington, freshman forward Hannes Steinbach leads UW in scoring (18.1 points), rebounding (12.0), and assists (2.1). Senior guard Desmond Claude, a transfer from USC, averages 14.8 points. Sophomore guard Zoom Diallo has a team-high 41 assists while averaging 14.5 points. He shoots 37.5% from 3-point range. Fifth-year center Franck Kepnang averages 6.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.
Sophomore wing Bryson Tucker, a former Hoosier, makes his return to Bloomington. He averages 6.1 points and 4.6 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Wesley Yates III, who averages 14.9 points, is reportedly out indefinitely with a wrist injury.
The Huskies are coached by Danny Sprinkle, who is in his second season. The Huskies were 13-18 last year.
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