Indiana Men’s Basketball Returns to Court in Cream and Crimson Scrimmage Ahead of Season

Coming off an 18-14 season, Indiana has missed the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year. Only two players from last year remained: sophomore forward Trent Sisley and 5th-year forward Sam Alexis, who regained his eligibility through a court order. Freshman forward Vaughn Karvala was held out of the scrimmage due to a lower-body issue.

Though there were no official stats recorded, team Crimson won three of the four quarters in the exhibition. Senior guard Bryce Lindsay scored 23 points, leading all players, while junior guard Darren Harris added 22. Freshman forward Trevor Manhertz contributed significantly with seven assists, nine rebounds, and three steals, while juniors Samet Yigitoglu and Alexis each recorded two blocks.

Ahighlight of the evening was junior forward Aiden Sherrell, a transfer from the University of Alabama. Standing 7 feet tall and weighing 250 pounds, Sherrell demonstrated his shooting skill by scoring 12 of his 15 points from 3-point range, alongside seven rebounds and two assists.

The scrimmage also highlighted the Hoosiers' considerable size in the frontcourt, with three new players at least 7 feet tall. Together, they secured 52 rebounds, markedly higher than last season’s average of 32.4. Manhertz led the scrimmage in rebounding, followed by freshman center Clemens Sokolov with eight and Sherrell with seven.

Lindsay, after a slow start, ended the scrimmage on a strong note, scoring the first six points of the fourth quarter with two 3-pointers, followed by another long range shot and a fast-break layup. His explosive scoring was reminiscent of his performance during the 2026 NCAA Tournament, where he contributed significantly during Villanova's match against Utah State.

Senior Markus Burton orchestrated the offense effectively, recording six assists and zero turnovers while scoring eight points on limited attempts. His playmaking ability suggests he may focus on facilitating rather than scoring, potentially adding depth to Indiana's offensive strategy.

Concerns linger regarding the lack of returning production, as Sisley and Alexis are the only scholarship returners. Alexis, who averaged 8.8 points last season, struggled in the scrimmage with only two points from four attempts, while Sisley managed four points and rebounded three times, missing all four of his 3-point shots.

Indiana will play its first exhibition game against Butler University on October 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.