Indiana University Athletics
Saturday, February 7
Bloomington, Ind.
Noon
Indiana University
vs
Wisconsin
‘Physicality and Toughness’ Are IU Keys against Wisconsin
2/7/2026 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Lamar Wilkerson finds perspective, with Wisconsin (16-6 overall, 8-3 in the Big Ten) looming Saturday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and an 81-75 loss at USC in the rear-view mirror.
"We have to find a way to get us back meshing together," the fifth-year senior guard says, "so we can come out of these games with wins rather than losses."
The good news -- IU (15-8, 6-6) has beaten the Badgers the last two times they've met at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
"No matter who's in front of us," Wilkerson says, "whether it's the top of the Big Ten or the bottom of the Big Ten, it's always about Indiana basketball. If we come out and play with the physicality and toughness we always play with, it will happen."
IU is coming off a West Coast trip split, winning at UCLA 98-97 in double overtime before the USC loss.
"wW have to be better," Wilkerson said, "we'll figure it out."
Figuring includes getting forward Tucker DeVries back to the high-scoring form that once made him a two-time Missouri Valley Conference player of the year. DeVries has not reached double figures in three straight games, and in five of his last seven, a prolonged slump he's never experienced before. Wilkerson believes that's about to change.
"Tucker's a great player," he says. "He's been doing it a long time. We just stay encouraging each other, and hopefully we'll figure it out."
Coach Darian DeVries is sure they will.
"From a shooting standpoint, it's one of those things that happens that he hasn't experienced before," he says. "He'll get it going. He's just got to stay confident with it and continue to work and believe in himself. I know we all do. His teammates all do. It will come."
Confidence, Darian DeVries adds, is the key.
"The biggest thing, when you're a good shooter and you go through maybe something you haven't gone through before, is just to stay confident," he says, "Trust your work. You've done it your whole life. Continue to believe in that. Sometimes, that's hard to find when you are in a little bit of a slump."
The shooting slump hasn't affected other parts of Tucker DeVries's game. He's averaged 9.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in his last four games.
"He's been trying to really facilitate and do other things while he's trying to work through that," Darian DeVries says.
Wilkerson remains one of the Big Ten's best scorers with his 20.2-point average and 41.7% shooting from 3-point range. He's averaged 25.8 points in the last four games. Three times he's scored 32 or more points this season, with a career-high of 44 against Penn State in December.
As for Wisconsin, it's won two straight since a 73-71 home loss to USC. It has used improved defense to win seven of its last eight games, particularly with its guard play and inside physicality.
The Badgers are 3-1 on the road, including victories at No. 2 Michigan and Minnesota. Their only road loss came at top-10 Nebraska on Dec. 10.
They are led by guards Nick Boyd (20.0 points, 78 assists) and John Blackwell (18.5 points, 54 3-pointers) and forward Nolan Winter (13.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 27 blocks).
Coach Greg Gard has won 229 games in 11 seasons, with a pair of Big Ten regular season championships in 2020 and 2022.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Lamar Wilkerson finds perspective, with Wisconsin (16-6 overall, 8-3 in the Big Ten) looming Saturday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and an 81-75 loss at USC in the rear-view mirror.
"We have to find a way to get us back meshing together," the fifth-year senior guard says, "so we can come out of these games with wins rather than losses."
The good news -- IU (15-8, 6-6) has beaten the Badgers the last two times they've met at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
"No matter who's in front of us," Wilkerson says, "whether it's the top of the Big Ten or the bottom of the Big Ten, it's always about Indiana basketball. If we come out and play with the physicality and toughness we always play with, it will happen."
IU is coming off a West Coast trip split, winning at UCLA 98-97 in double overtime before the USC loss.
"wW have to be better," Wilkerson said, "we'll figure it out."
Figuring includes getting forward Tucker DeVries back to the high-scoring form that once made him a two-time Missouri Valley Conference player of the year. DeVries has not reached double figures in three straight games, and in five of his last seven, a prolonged slump he's never experienced before. Wilkerson believes that's about to change.
"Tucker's a great player," he says. "He's been doing it a long time. We just stay encouraging each other, and hopefully we'll figure it out."
Coach Darian DeVries is sure they will.
"From a shooting standpoint, it's one of those things that happens that he hasn't experienced before," he says. "He'll get it going. He's just got to stay confident with it and continue to work and believe in himself. I know we all do. His teammates all do. It will come."
Confidence, Darian DeVries adds, is the key.
"The biggest thing, when you're a good shooter and you go through maybe something you haven't gone through before, is just to stay confident," he says, "Trust your work. You've done it your whole life. Continue to believe in that. Sometimes, that's hard to find when you are in a little bit of a slump."
The shooting slump hasn't affected other parts of Tucker DeVries's game. He's averaged 9.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in his last four games.
"He's been trying to really facilitate and do other things while he's trying to work through that," Darian DeVries says.
Wilkerson remains one of the Big Ten's best scorers with his 20.2-point average and 41.7% shooting from 3-point range. He's averaged 25.8 points in the last four games. Three times he's scored 32 or more points this season, with a career-high of 44 against Penn State in December.
As for Wisconsin, it's won two straight since a 73-71 home loss to USC. It has used improved defense to win seven of its last eight games, particularly with its guard play and inside physicality.
The Badgers are 3-1 on the road, including victories at No. 2 Michigan and Minnesota. Their only road loss came at top-10 Nebraska on Dec. 10.
They are led by guards Nick Boyd (20.0 points, 78 assists) and John Blackwell (18.5 points, 54 3-pointers) and forward Nolan Winter (13.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 27 blocks).
Coach Greg Gard has won 229 games in 11 seasons, with a pair of Big Ten regular season championships in 2020 and 2022.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
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