How Darian DeVries methodically rebuilt Indiana through the transfer portal

When Darian DeVries officially took over as head coach of Indiana basketball in mid-March, he inherited not a roster, but an empty canvas.

Following a wave of departures, graduations and transfers, the Hoosiers’ roster had been wiped clean. Aside from high school recruit Trent Sisley, and a pending waiver for forward Luke Goode — and now Anthony Leal — DeVries had few guarantees.

Beyond those two, DeVries had little to work with. The transfer portal wasn’t just an option, it was a necessity.

Faced with the task of reconstructing one of college basketball’s most storied programs, DeVries approached the challenge with a clear, calculated plan. With his staff still forming, DeVries began to attack the portal, but he didn’t do it recklessly. Instead, he approached the task with a clear and methodical blueprint.

Rather than chasing the highest-ranked names in the portal or assembling a collection of individual talent, he prioritized fit, culture, and chemistry from the very beginning.

“For the most part, what we wanted was just really good guys in the locker room,” DeVries said recently on “The Field of 68” podcast with Jeff Goodman. “[Players] about winning, about the right things. I think we definitely accomplished that.”

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Before talent or statistics, character came first. DeVries sought players who would fit not just on the court, but within the culture he intended to build in Bloomington. He was searching for players who would prioritize team success and embrace the grind.

Only after culture came skill. And not just raw athleticism or gaudy box score numbers, but the subtleties that DeVries believes form the foundation of winning basketball: basketball IQ, competitiveness, and versatility.

“We wanted to prioritize really high skill, high IQ and competitiveness,” DeVries said. “I think we did a really good job there with getting some good depth in a lot of those areas.”

But even with character and skill in hand, DeVries wasn’t simply assembling a collection of talent. He was building a team. The goal was cohesion, balance, and fit. He sought players whose games would complement one another, forming a sum greater than its parts.

“Not just getting a collection of individuals,” DeVries said. “But putting a team together that compliments one another, so that we can play off of one another.”

Now, just two months after his hiring, the roster is all but complete: 11 new players — 10 transfers and one true freshman — now don the cream and crimson. The roster is a blend of elite shooters, high-motor competitors and willing teammates ready to buy in.

“I really like the way the roster came together,” DeVries said. “Obviously we’re very early into it, but I think there’s some really good pieces there.”

Early summer practices have provided the first glimpses of what this rebuilt roster could become, as players from vastly different backgrounds begin learning each other’s tendencies.

The early stages of practice have been less about X’s and O’s and more about introductions, as players from across the country learn each other’s games and personalities. Only a handful have any built-in familiarity: North Florida transfers Jasai Miles and Josh Harris arrive together, while DeVries’ son Tucker and DePaul transfer Conor Enright reunite after playing for DeVries at Drake.

For the rest, this summer marks the beginning of building bonds both on and off the court. Despite the newness, the early returns are encouraging.

“I really like the way this group has come in and attacked these first few days [of practice],” DeVries said. “I’m excited to see how this team can grow over the course of the summer.”

Offensively, Indiana is poised to embrace a new identity under DeVries, one built around perimeter shooting and floor spacing — a deliberate contrast to recent seasons. Through targeted portal work, DeVries has built a roster designed to stretch defenses and knock down shots from deep.

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Of the 10 transfers DeVries brought in, nine made at least 10 3-pointers last season, with four shooting 39% or better from deep on significant volume.

“I feel like we’ve got a lot of depth and shooting and skill,” DeVries said. “I think we’re going to be able to really stretch the floor and do it fairly consistently. I think that’s going to be one of our strengths, and hopefully it will play out that way.”

The task DeVries faced upon his arrival was daunting, but the results reflect a calculated, patient approach to roster construction. Through a methodical, patient approach, DeVries has reconstructed Indiana’s roster from the ground up.

With the foundation now in place, the work shifts from building the roster to building the team. Summer will be about growth, cohesion, and fine-tuning. But thanks to DeVries’ deliberate approach, Indiana enters this new era with a roster ready to compete.

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