8 standout quotes from full access with IU basketball

IU basketball gives media full access for practice

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) — IU basketball gave media full access to practice on Wednesday.

It’s a completely new look team this season. No scholarship players return from the 2024-25 roster, and new head coach Darian DeVries leads the Hoosiers.

Here are 8 quotes that stood out from the full access practice:

1. DeVries on practicing with high energy

“We think you got to approach it every day with some energy and some enthusiasm. Guys are going to get tired. It allows other guys to pick you up on those days. We put a huge emphasis on that. I think creating that type of talk and energy on a daily basis leads to productivity on the floor too. And then the pace that we practice, we try to really simulate how we want to play out on the gameday floor.”

The energy at practice was evident on Wednesday.

2. DeVries on what he’s seen from his team this summer

“What I’ve liked is that guys seem like they’ve played together for a lot longer than they have these two months. When you watch the practice tape, it looks like a group that’s been together for two or three years, the way they’ve really been moving it and sharing it.”

3. DeVries on the culture that has been set for this team

“They’ve been terrific in terms of their approach every day. They come with a smile on their face. They bring great energy. What you saw today has been every day these last couple months. They come with that type of energy, enthusiasm… I like the potential of this group. They’ll continue to work, which they have. I think there’s certainly some possibilities there on what this group can achieve.”

4. Conor Enright on what he likes about this team

“I love that we can shoot. We got a lot of very unselfish guys that can shoot. We can play fast. I think we have enough guys that can be that tough and hard nosed identity too.”

IU has been below average nationally in three-point percentage in seven of the past eight seasons. DeVries’ team is looking to change that this season.

5. Lamar Wilkerson on the chemistry this team has built

“We all hang out. We all go out and just be around each other. We enjoy being around each other. A lot of programs don’t have that.”

6. DeVries on their upcoming Puerto Rico trip

“For them, able to just hang with each other and spend some different type of time, outside of the basketball court. You get guys that come in, they’re all at different stages of their lives. A lot of them are older guys. They don’t go out as much anymore and those type of things. For them to all be in a group together in one setting is going to be great for us and then to get to play those three games on top of it, it should be an awesome trip.”

The Hoosiers go to San Juan, Puerto Rico from August 5-12. IU will play a Puerto Rican All-Star team and two games against Mega Superbet, a Serbian professional team.

7. Tucker DeVries on the opportunity to play for IU

“I think as a group, we know what it means to have Indiana across our chests. We want to do everything and put in all the work we can to make that fanbase and the people around here proud of the style we play, how we play, and the manner we do it. We’re trying to bring energy every day to get better to make those people proud.”

8. Trent Sisley on playing in front of the Hoosier fans

“Obviously we got some of the best fans in the country and I think most of the guys here know that too just from the history of it. We’re all excited to get into Assembly Hall and get that place rocking and win some games.”

Sisley, a Santa Claus, Indiana native, is the only scholarship player on the roster from Indiana.

The Hoosiers play their first game in the regular season on November 5 against Alabama A&M at Assembly Hall.

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