Indiana University Athletics
Friday, February 20
West Lafayette, Ind.
8:00 PM
Indiana University
at
Purdue
‘Trust the Work’ – IU Seeks Sweep of Purdue
2/20/2026 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Sometimes, if you're Darian DeVries seeking a season sweep of rival Purdue, complexity is unnecessary.
"We have to make shots," the Indiana coach says from a Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall press room setting. "That's how we're built. When that struggles, we can find holes in games."
DeVries and the Hoosiers (17-9 overall, 8-7 in the Big Ten) can't afford holes to beat the No. 7/7 Boilers (21-5, 11-4) Friday night at Mackey Arena. Not after Sunday's 71-51 loss at top-10 Illinois. Not with Purdue coming off a Tuesday night home loss against No. 1 Michigan.
"We need to play very well," Darian DeVries says. "They've been playing incredibly well. They had a tough night with Michigan, but on that night, (the Wolverines) played as well as anybody in the country.
"Purdue has a good team. They're at home and are tough to beat. We have to play well, make some shots, and do a lot of things you need in a tough road game."
IU last won at Mackey Arena in 2023 behind guard Jalen Hood-Schifino, whose shot-making delivered 35 points. It beat the Boilers last month at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall 72-67 as Hoosier guards Lamar Wilkerson and Nick Dorn combined for 37 points and six made 3-pointers.
To beat a team for the second time, Darian DeVries says, involves a mix of old and new.
"When you play a team the second time," he says, "and when you win the first game, it's like, do you try to do the same stuff? They are preparing for that.
"You have to do different stuff and have different wrinkles, but it still comes down to Xs and Os. You tweak some things to find some advantages, but things like turnovers and rebounding still matter. Those are the things we have to do well to give ourselves a chance."
Figure forward Sam Alexis will have a huge role in that. He's finding his form as he and coaches adjust to each other. In his last three games, the 6-foot-9, 240-pounder has scored 19, 16, and 11 points. He's grabbed seven, five, and eight rebounds. In his last six games, he's made 29 of his last 34 shots. He's blocked 33 shots, 16 in the last seven games. For the season, Alexis averages 8.1 points and 4.8 rebounds.
"With him," Darian DeVries says, "it's getting him more touches on the block. A lot of our offense is designed around five out. We're finding different ways that maybe are not directly in our offense with him in the post a lot.
"We want to get him more opportunities down there where he can play one on one. Because of the shooting we have, he has opportunities where (opponents are) not bringing a double team. He's done a good job of taking advantage of that these last couple of games."
Wilkerson averages 24.2 points in Big Ten play. That's on pace to be the best by a Hoosier since George McGinnis averaged 29.9 points during the 1970-71 season.
Purdue had won four straight games before Tuesday night's 91-80 loss to Michigan at a sold-out Mackey Arena.
The Boilers' three home losses are their most since losing five during the 2019-20 season. But those defeats -- to Iowa State, Illinois and Michigan -- have come against potential Final Four teams.
Guard Braden Smith's 986 career assists rank fifth in NCAA history. Duke's Bobby Hurley has the record with 1,076.
Smith averages 14.9 points, 8.8 assists, and 3.8 rebounds, and leads Purdue with 48 steals. Smith had 20 points, six assists, and four steals against Michigan.
In the first meeting at IU, Smith totaled 14 points on 6-for-14 shooting. He had five assists, five rebounds, and four turnovers. Indiana guard Conor Enright led a multi-player defensive approach to slowing Smith down.
"Conor had to work incredibly hard," Darian DeVries says. "Braden is such a good player.
"It was more than Conor. Collectively, we tried to do that. Smith still had a good night. He's one of those elite point guards. We have to do everything we can to slow him down. That's hard to do."
Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, who had 27 points and 12 rebounds against Michigan, averages 13.0 points and 9.1 rebounds. Guard Fletcher Loyer averages 13.4 points with a team-leading 66 3-pointers. Center Oscar Cluff averages 10.2 points and 7.2 rebounds.
Six Boilers have made at least 23 3-pointers.
Despite the Illinois loss, IU has won five of its last seven games and projects to make the NCAA tourney field. Still, more victories are needed to ensure postseason opportunities.
"You have to win games," Darian DeVries says. "That's No. 1, but the main thing to be worried about is the next game. When you start to look past that is when you get in trouble. It's all about who's next and what do we have to do to win that."
For those who continue to focus on Hoosier flaws, Darian DeVries has a message:
"For all of our guys, remain confident. It doesn't do any good to not be. Trust the work."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Sometimes, if you're Darian DeVries seeking a season sweep of rival Purdue, complexity is unnecessary.
"We have to make shots," the Indiana coach says from a Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall press room setting. "That's how we're built. When that struggles, we can find holes in games."
DeVries and the Hoosiers (17-9 overall, 8-7 in the Big Ten) can't afford holes to beat the No. 7/7 Boilers (21-5, 11-4) Friday night at Mackey Arena. Not after Sunday's 71-51 loss at top-10 Illinois. Not with Purdue coming off a Tuesday night home loss against No. 1 Michigan.
"We need to play very well," Darian DeVries says. "They've been playing incredibly well. They had a tough night with Michigan, but on that night, (the Wolverines) played as well as anybody in the country.
"Purdue has a good team. They're at home and are tough to beat. We have to play well, make some shots, and do a lot of things you need in a tough road game."
IU last won at Mackey Arena in 2023 behind guard Jalen Hood-Schifino, whose shot-making delivered 35 points. It beat the Boilers last month at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall 72-67 as Hoosier guards Lamar Wilkerson and Nick Dorn combined for 37 points and six made 3-pointers.
To beat a team for the second time, Darian DeVries says, involves a mix of old and new.
"When you play a team the second time," he says, "and when you win the first game, it's like, do you try to do the same stuff? They are preparing for that.
"You have to do different stuff and have different wrinkles, but it still comes down to Xs and Os. You tweak some things to find some advantages, but things like turnovers and rebounding still matter. Those are the things we have to do well to give ourselves a chance."
Figure forward Sam Alexis will have a huge role in that. He's finding his form as he and coaches adjust to each other. In his last three games, the 6-foot-9, 240-pounder has scored 19, 16, and 11 points. He's grabbed seven, five, and eight rebounds. In his last six games, he's made 29 of his last 34 shots. He's blocked 33 shots, 16 in the last seven games. For the season, Alexis averages 8.1 points and 4.8 rebounds.
"With him," Darian DeVries says, "it's getting him more touches on the block. A lot of our offense is designed around five out. We're finding different ways that maybe are not directly in our offense with him in the post a lot.
"We want to get him more opportunities down there where he can play one on one. Because of the shooting we have, he has opportunities where (opponents are) not bringing a double team. He's done a good job of taking advantage of that these last couple of games."
Wilkerson averages 24.2 points in Big Ten play. That's on pace to be the best by a Hoosier since George McGinnis averaged 29.9 points during the 1970-71 season.
Purdue had won four straight games before Tuesday night's 91-80 loss to Michigan at a sold-out Mackey Arena.
The Boilers' three home losses are their most since losing five during the 2019-20 season. But those defeats -- to Iowa State, Illinois and Michigan -- have come against potential Final Four teams.
Guard Braden Smith's 986 career assists rank fifth in NCAA history. Duke's Bobby Hurley has the record with 1,076.
Smith averages 14.9 points, 8.8 assists, and 3.8 rebounds, and leads Purdue with 48 steals. Smith had 20 points, six assists, and four steals against Michigan.
In the first meeting at IU, Smith totaled 14 points on 6-for-14 shooting. He had five assists, five rebounds, and four turnovers. Indiana guard Conor Enright led a multi-player defensive approach to slowing Smith down.
"Conor had to work incredibly hard," Darian DeVries says. "Braden is such a good player.
"It was more than Conor. Collectively, we tried to do that. Smith still had a good night. He's one of those elite point guards. We have to do everything we can to slow him down. That's hard to do."
Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, who had 27 points and 12 rebounds against Michigan, averages 13.0 points and 9.1 rebounds. Guard Fletcher Loyer averages 13.4 points with a team-leading 66 3-pointers. Center Oscar Cluff averages 10.2 points and 7.2 rebounds.
Six Boilers have made at least 23 3-pointers.
Despite the Illinois loss, IU has won five of its last seven games and projects to make the NCAA tourney field. Still, more victories are needed to ensure postseason opportunities.
"You have to win games," Darian DeVries says. "That's No. 1, but the main thing to be worried about is the next game. When you start to look past that is when you get in trouble. It's all about who's next and what do we have to do to win that."
For those who continue to focus on Hoosier flaws, Darian DeVries has a message:
"For all of our guys, remain confident. It doesn't do any good to not be. Trust the work."
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
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