Indiana University Athletics
Wednesday, March 11
Chicago, Ill.
6:30 PM
Indiana University
vs
Northwestern
Hoosiers ‘Motivated’ To Make Big Ten Tourney Run
3/11/2026 11:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- One-and-done stakes have arrived, and with this Big Ten tourney opportunity, Indiana senior forward Reed Bailey says, comes urgency. Can it propel the 10th-seeded Hoosiers (18-13), losers in five of their last six games, to go where they've never gone before -- a conference tourney championship?
"Having that bad taste in your mouth is motivation to come out and try to make a run," Bailey says.
IU will open conference play Wednesday at Chicago's United Center against Northwestern (14-18), which beat the Hoosiers last month at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Wildcats, who have won their last six games against Indiana, advanced with a 78-66 victory over Penn State in Tuesday's opening round.
"I expect nothing but a great effort from our guys," coach Darian DeVries told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during Monday night's final radio show of the season.
Great effort is critical given IU's history of Big Ten tourney struggles. It has a 17-28 record in the event, has never won a championship and played in just one title game. That was in 2001, when it lost 63-61 to Iowa.
Last year, as a No. 9 seed, the Hoosiers lost to Oregon 72-59 in their tourney opener.
But this is a new coaching staff, a new team and a new era. The Hoosiers are well aware of the NCAA tourney possibilities. The tourney champion gets an automatic bid. A strong showing might earn an at-large selection.
"It's the next chapter now," Darian DeVries says. "The regular season is over.
"Now you prepare for postseason play, get ready for the next one and play as long as you can. Win as many games as you can. That's the mindset.
"You worry about the one in front of you. That's Wednesday. That's all we care about."
A month ago, IU was 17-8 and well positioned for a NCAA tourney bid. Lopsided losses at Illinois and Purdue started a slide that culminated with Saturday's 91-78 loss at Ohio State.
Could a spark come from those struggles?
"We have a lot of motivation to come into the Big Ten Tournament and show what we really can do," Bailey says.
Senior guard Lamar Wilkerson earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in his debut season. He finished second in the conference in scoring at 21.0 points behind Northwestern's Nick Martinelli (22.7). He had a pair of 40-point games, including a Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall-record 44 against Penn State in December. The last Hoosier to average 21.0 or more points in a season was Brian Evans in 1996.
Wilkerson, who transferred from Sam Houston State, also averages 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.0 steals. His 103 3-point baskets rank second in program history to Steve Alford's 107 in 1987.
Forward Sam Alexis has emerged as an inside force. In his last eight games, the 6-foot-9, 240-pound senior has averaged 13.6 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 73.4% from the field. For the season, he averages 8.8 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 69.4% from the field.
"Sam has played well the entire second half of the season," Bailey says. He keeps getting better. We have confidence in him and he's showed it. He can get down there and score around the rim with the best of them. He can really get it done."
Darian DeVries told Fischer that Alexis has "played the best basketball -- from our perspective -- of his career in the last month. It's been fun to watch him grow throughout the year."
IU's perimeter defense has struggled down the stretch. In the last five defeats, the Hoosiers have allowed 46 total 3-point baskets.
"In this stretch, outside of the Minnesota game," Darian DeVries says, "we've given up too many threes, too high a percentage, too clean a look. That has caught up to us."
A Wednesday victory would send the Hoosiers against seventh-seeded Purdue (23-8) on Thursday. The teams split during the regular season, each winning at home.
Winning that game would match IU with No. 2 seed Nebraska (26-5). The Hoosiers built a double-digit lead against the Cornhuskers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in early January, but faded in the second half and lost.
Michigan (29-2 overall) won the regular season championship with a 19-1 record. With a 10-0 conference road record, it's the first Big Ten team to go undefeated on the road in conference play since IU went 9-0 during its 1976 unbeaten national championship season.
As for the Hoosiers, Darian DeVries says, "We want to put ourselves in position to win the game. Our guys will continue to battle. That's all I know. Just get ready for the next game."
In terms of making the NCAA tourney, Darian DeVries told Fischer that "If you compare us to other bubble teams, we've got a really strong case."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- One-and-done stakes have arrived, and with this Big Ten tourney opportunity, Indiana senior forward Reed Bailey says, comes urgency. Can it propel the 10th-seeded Hoosiers (18-13), losers in five of their last six games, to go where they've never gone before -- a conference tourney championship?
"Having that bad taste in your mouth is motivation to come out and try to make a run," Bailey says.
IU will open conference play Wednesday at Chicago's United Center against Northwestern (14-18), which beat the Hoosiers last month at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Wildcats, who have won their last six games against Indiana, advanced with a 78-66 victory over Penn State in Tuesday's opening round.
"I expect nothing but a great effort from our guys," coach Darian DeVries told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during Monday night's final radio show of the season.
Great effort is critical given IU's history of Big Ten tourney struggles. It has a 17-28 record in the event, has never won a championship and played in just one title game. That was in 2001, when it lost 63-61 to Iowa.
Last year, as a No. 9 seed, the Hoosiers lost to Oregon 72-59 in their tourney opener.
But this is a new coaching staff, a new team and a new era. The Hoosiers are well aware of the NCAA tourney possibilities. The tourney champion gets an automatic bid. A strong showing might earn an at-large selection.
"It's the next chapter now," Darian DeVries says. "The regular season is over.
"Now you prepare for postseason play, get ready for the next one and play as long as you can. Win as many games as you can. That's the mindset.
"You worry about the one in front of you. That's Wednesday. That's all we care about."
A month ago, IU was 17-8 and well positioned for a NCAA tourney bid. Lopsided losses at Illinois and Purdue started a slide that culminated with Saturday's 91-78 loss at Ohio State.
Could a spark come from those struggles?
"We have a lot of motivation to come into the Big Ten Tournament and show what we really can do," Bailey says.
Senior guard Lamar Wilkerson earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in his debut season. He finished second in the conference in scoring at 21.0 points behind Northwestern's Nick Martinelli (22.7). He had a pair of 40-point games, including a Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall-record 44 against Penn State in December. The last Hoosier to average 21.0 or more points in a season was Brian Evans in 1996.
Wilkerson, who transferred from Sam Houston State, also averages 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.0 steals. His 103 3-point baskets rank second in program history to Steve Alford's 107 in 1987.
Forward Sam Alexis has emerged as an inside force. In his last eight games, the 6-foot-9, 240-pound senior has averaged 13.6 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 73.4% from the field. For the season, he averages 8.8 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 69.4% from the field.
"Sam has played well the entire second half of the season," Bailey says. He keeps getting better. We have confidence in him and he's showed it. He can get down there and score around the rim with the best of them. He can really get it done."
Darian DeVries told Fischer that Alexis has "played the best basketball -- from our perspective -- of his career in the last month. It's been fun to watch him grow throughout the year."
IU's perimeter defense has struggled down the stretch. In the last five defeats, the Hoosiers have allowed 46 total 3-point baskets.
"In this stretch, outside of the Minnesota game," Darian DeVries says, "we've given up too many threes, too high a percentage, too clean a look. That has caught up to us."
A Wednesday victory would send the Hoosiers against seventh-seeded Purdue (23-8) on Thursday. The teams split during the regular season, each winning at home.
Winning that game would match IU with No. 2 seed Nebraska (26-5). The Hoosiers built a double-digit lead against the Cornhuskers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in early January, but faded in the second half and lost.
Michigan (29-2 overall) won the regular season championship with a 19-1 record. With a 10-0 conference road record, it's the first Big Ten team to go undefeated on the road in conference play since IU went 9-0 during its 1976 unbeaten national championship season.
As for the Hoosiers, Darian DeVries says, "We want to put ourselves in position to win the game. Our guys will continue to battle. That's all I know. Just get ready for the next game."
In terms of making the NCAA tourney, Darian DeVries told Fischer that "If you compare us to other bubble teams, we've got a really strong case."
Players Mentioned
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