Why Darian DeVries' big priorities for next IU basketball roster are only part of the solution

Indiana Hoosiers coach Darian DeVries is prioritizing bigger players like Aiden Sherrell, Samet Yigitoglu, and Clemens Sokolov to address last season’s struggles with rebounding and defensive efficiency, shifting from his previous small-ball approach. The new roster strategy aims to improve offensive rebounding and defensive rebounding, where the team ranked near 300th nationally last year, while also creating more interior scoring opportunities and reducing foul trouble." "article": "Indiana basketball coach Darian DeVries is restructuring his roster for the 2026-27 season, focusing on adding size to counter last year’s defensive and rebounding weaknesses. The Hoosiers finished near 300th nationally in offensive rebound rate and struggled with fouls due to undersized defenders, leading to a decline in adjusted defensive efficiency by season’s end. DeVries committed significant recruiting resources to frontcourt players, including Aiden Sherrell from Alabama and Samet Yigitoglu from SMU, with German center Clemens Sokolov as a backup option. This marks a shift from his first season, when Indiana relied on smaller lineups with players like Tucker DeVries at the four and Sam Alexis or Reed Bailey at the five. The new additions align with a trend in college basketball, where teams like Michigan and Illinois have used a ‘two-big’ lineup to win championships and reach Final Fours. The added size aims to improve rebounding, create interior scoring opportunities, and disrupt defensive schemes by forcing switches. DeVries noted the new lineup will allow for more post-play and better defensive positioning, particularly on the boards. Last season, Indiana’s inability to control the glass contributed to foul issues and a lack of turnovers, which hurt their possession battle. Sherrell and Yigitoglu are expected to bring elite finishing and defensive presence, addressing key deficiencies from last year. The roster changes reflect DeVries’ acknowledgment that a small-ball approach alone may not suffice in the competitive Big Ten Conference. With the new additions, Indiana hopes to regain defensive stability and offensive efficiency, particularly in rebounding, where the team ranked poorly in conference play.