LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Darian DeVries didn’t need his first preseason at Indiana to be complicated. But that’s what he’s getting.
With four players sidelined by injury DeVries will go into his debut exhibition game Friday night against Marian with a short bench and a long list of things to figure out.
Two of Indiana’s top ballhandlers — Aleksa Ristic and Jason Drake — will miss the start of the regular season and likely remain out for “a few weeks,” DeVries said Thursday.
Wing Nick Dorn is working his way back into five-on-five action but won’t play Friday and is doubtful for Sunday’s 1 p.m. exhibition against Baylor in Indianapolis. Josh Harris, a sophomore transfer from North Florida, has no timetable for a return.
“Unfortunately, both those guys are probably going to be out for a little while yet,” DeVries said of Ristic and Drake. “Certainly not going to have them for the start of the season, and probably a few weeks into it. Which does make it challenging.”
The injuries leave Indiana short across the board, but particularly at point guard, where redshirt senior Tayton Conerway has been slated as the starter and now will likely see extended minutes. DeVries said he expects to rely on a 7- to 8-man rotation early, with hopes of expanding as players return.
Even more now, Conerway’s contribution will be key.
“He's really critical for us, especially on the offensive end,” DeVries said. “He's that one guy we have that can break the defense down. He has elite speed, able to get in and get by people and then create for himself at the rim. We need him out there. We need him to be aggressive and making plays for us. He is one of those guys that can free up some of those shooters, and that's going to be a big part of our offense.”
There’s still structure. There’s still optimism. And there’s still a plan.
“We want to be elite in not turning the ball over, elite in our discipline, elite in our toughness,” DeVries said. “If we can do those things, then you’re going to have a chance to win on most nights.”
For Friday’s 7:30 p.m. exhibition at Assembly Hall, DeVries said Indiana won’t unveil too much offensively, saving more complex looks for the regular season. But he wants to see energy, unselfishness, and defensive communication — key pillars in what he’s trying to build.
In a recent live practice, IU charted 31 assists and just 3 turnovers, a stat that stood out to DeVries.
“That just tells you a little bit about what we’re doing on the offensive end in terms of the way we move the ball,” he said.
The Hoosiers will continue experimenting with lineup combinations, including looks with big men Reed Bailey and Sam Alexis on the floor together. DeVries likes the pairing but noted that injuries to other frontcourt players could limit how often they use it early.
One wrinkle DeVries is embracing: letting bigs like Bailey push the ball in transition.
“When you’ve got a center bringing the ball up the court, it’s just not common for defenses to have to get matched up that way,” DeVries said. “We want those guys to grab it off the rim and go — especially Reed.”
The DeVries era opens with promise — and problems to solve. That’s what exhibitions are for. Friday brings the first glimpse. Sunday vs. Baylor will raise the temperature.
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