Can Indiana’s Men Basketball Ride Their Momentum All the Way to March Madness?

Indiana Hoosiers basketball is finally starting to feel alive again, and the new DeVries era has injected a level of belief that Hoosier fans have been craving for years. The overtime win against the Wisconsin Badgers at Assembly Hall was the clearest sign yet that this group is turning a corner. It was a game defined by toughness, scoring bursts, and emotion as both teams battled through whistles and physical play. Wisconsin’s Nolan Winter was spectacular with a 26-point, 12-rebound double-double, yet Indiana had the answers when it mattered most. Lamar Wilkerson once again emerged as the steadying force the Hoosiers leaned on, calmly knocking down clutch free throws and creating offense late in regulation and overtime. The performance came on the heels of a west coast trip in which Indiana defeated the UCLA Bruins before falling short against the USC Trojans. That stretch revealed flashes of what this team could become, while the Wisconsin win felt like a statement that Indiana is no longer just showing potential. The Hoosiers are beginning to deliver.

Indiana now sits inside the top ten of the Big Ten Conference, and its national profile continues to rise as the team moves onto the right side of the tournament picture. At the moment, the Hoosiers project as an eight or nine seed, a position that would have sounded ambitious a month ago but now feels realistic. Fans in Bloomington have been eager to return to March Madness since the days of Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino, and this roster is beginning to resemble a group capable of ending that drought. Sam Alexis has been unbelievable with his energy, rebounding, and interior presence, while Conor Enright has emerged as one of the most reliable two-way guards in the conference. Even though Nick Dorn did not see extended action against Wisconsin due to illness, yet he has been one of the most unconscious shooters in the country this season. His ability to stretch the floor has transformed Indiana’s spacing and opened driving lanes that did not exist in recent years. The combination of Wilkerson’s scoring, Dorn’s perimeter shooting, and steady contributions from Alexis and Enright has given Indiana a balanced attack capable of competing with anyone.

A significant portion of this resurgence belongs to Tucker DeVries, who deserves credit for reshaping the identity of the team. He has willingly taken a step back as a scorer, with his point average dipping while his rebounding and assist numbers have climbed. DeVries has embraced the role of connector, allowing Wilkerson and Dorn to operate as primary scoring options while he facilitates, screens, and makes the extra pass that keeps the offense flowing. That level of selflessness from a star player has elevated the entire roster. The road ahead remains challenging with matchups against the Illinois Fighting Illini, Purdue Boilermakers, and Michigan State Spartans looming. The formula is straightforward. If Indiana takes care of business in games it should win and steals one from that trio, the Hoosiers will be positioned to make the tournament as a seed ranging from eight to eleven. For the first time in years, Indiana is not simply hoping for March. The program is building a resume that suggests it belongs, and the momentum surrounding this team feels increasingly real.