Indiana basketball is 3-0, and for the first time in a long time, the story isn’t just that the Hoosiers are winning — it’s how they’re playing. Something that looks and feels like the identity we used to know is beginning to re-emerge. Movement. Unselfishness. Effort. Joy.
The Marquette Game: A Statement Victory
Indiana’s first truly well-respected opponent came in the form of Marquette — a program with four straight NCAA Tournament appearances under the respected coach Shaka Smart. Instead of a grind, the Hoosiers made the Golden Eagles look ordinary. Indiana won 100-77 at the United Center. Yahoo Sports+1
According to The Daily Hoosier, Indiana became the first team ever to score 100 points in regulation against a Shaka Smart-coached D-I team. The Daily Hoosier
That kind of milestone matters. It’s not just a win — it’s a cultural signal.
The Milwaukee Game: A Glimpse of What’s Possible
In route to 3-0, the Hoosiers followed with a 101-70 demolition of Milwaukee. Lamar Wilkerson poured in 24 points, Tayton Conerway added 21 and six assists as IU knocked down 14 threes and racked up 27 assists. Reuters
One moment stood out: With the game well in hand, Conerway dove for a loose ball — teammates on the bench leapt up, the crowd roared. It was the kind of effort play we used to expect, but haven’t often seen in recent IU squads. Crimson Quarry reported he dived on the floor twice even with the outcome decided. The Crimson Quarry
The Return of Outside Shooting
Indiana has now made 10 or more three-pointers in each of its first three games — something the program hadn’t done since 2016-17. The Crimson Quarry+1
It’s not just that the shots are going in — it’s how they’re going down: extra passes, good spacing, authentic movement without ball stagnation. For longtime Hoosier fans, this feels like a resurrection of the values we once held dear.
Early Identity Under Coach DeVries
Three games is still a sample size, but the themes are consistent:
- Unselfishness: More assists, more cutters, more motion.
- Effort: Hustle plays and dives become visible again.
- Joy & Connection: The team looks like it likes to play together.
- Modern Offense + Old-School Heart: The shots and pace feel current; the discipline and movement feel familiar.
- Culture Rebuilding: A roster that’s not about one guy, but about many doing the little things right.
Why Fans Are Feeling Hope Again
For years, Indiana basketball felt stuck — inconsistent, flat, lacking identity. Fans who once planned their week around it started drifting away. Then the DeVries arrival brought a renewed sense of possibility.
Now, in three games, you see glimpses of something meaningful: purposeful cuts, team chemistry, a crowd responding to hustle, players buying in. After years of asking ourselves “When will it be fun again?”, we’re beginning to believe that day might be here.
3-0 is just a number. But the way IU is playing? That’s the story.
Effort. Unselfishness. Shooting. Culture. Joy.
For fans who remember what Indiana basketball can be — this feels like the start of something worth believing in.
For the first time in a long time… We’re hopeful.
— The Hopeful Hoosier
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