Indiana didn’t just beat Milwaukee on Wednesday night — it extended a rapidly forming identity. The Hoosiers’ 101–70 win marked their third straight dominant offensive performance to begin the season, pushing them to 3–0 and further establishing the formula that’s defining the start of the Darian DeVries era. The shots are falling, the ball is moving, the pace is fast and a team that had never played together before June is operating with a chemistry that looks months in the making.
A Three-Game Offensive Explosion
The headlines naturally revolve around the scoring. Indiana has poured in 299 points through three games, averaging just under 100 per contest. This is the first time since 2016 that IU has opened a season with 10 or more made 3s in three consecutive games, and the efficiency remains eye-catching.
Against Milwaukee, the Hoosiers connected on 14 of 28 shots from deep, highlighted again by the shot-making of Lamar Wilkerson, who drilled five 3s and finished with 24 points. His streak of at least four 3s in every game has become one of the most defining trends of the season. But ask the players, and the shooting is simply the byproduct of something larger.
Unselfishness On The Offensive End
“The reason why is just the way we’re unselfish,” Tayton Conerway said. “Giving up a good shot for a great shot… Lamar, Tucker (DeVries), they ain’t going to miss too many.”
That mindset has permeated the roster. Through three games, Indiana has 73 assists on 103 made field goals, a staggering number for a team with no returning players. Reed Bailey called the unselfishness contagious.
“When everybody else wants to share the ball and we’re all moving it, it makes you want to buy in,” Bailey said.
Darian DeVries echoed his players’ perspective, crediting both the roster construction and the group’s willingness to embrace the shared approach.
“They just share the ball,” he said. “One night it could be this guy, one night the next guy. They really don’t care.”
A New Star Steps Up
The trust in the offense was especially evident on a night when Tucker DeVries, IU’s leading scorer through two games, finished with just 12 points. It didn’t matter. Conerway stepped forward with the best performance of his young IU career, scoring 21 points on 8-for-11 shooting while repeatedly breaking down Milwaukee off the dribble. He said his confidence came from both his teammates and the staff.
“Coach told me they can’t stay in front of you, so go get the job done,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wilkerson carried the perimeter load as Indiana’s most consistent shooter, continuing to prove that his early production is more than a hot stretch — it’s a staple.
Fast Starts Becoming a Habit
For the third straight game, Indiana scored 50 or more first-half points, continuing a pattern of fast starts built on pace, spacing and relentless movement. Even though Milwaukee shot 46 percent and stayed within reach for stretches, IU’s ability to impose its tempo and generate clean looks eventually created separation.
Even with the scoring explosion, the players believe there is room to grow.
“Our defense wasn’t too hot tonight,” Conerway said. “If we can limit those second chances, we can get out on the break and get a couple more points up there.”
Rebounding Still a Work in Progress
If there was one sore spot, it was the defensive glass. Milwaukee grabbed eight offensive rebounds in the first half, prompting visible frustration from the IU bench. Bailey took responsibility.
“That’s on me… just being more physical down there and blocking out,” Bailey said.
Indiana still compensated by forcing 15 turnovers and scoring 24 points off them, extending another early-season trend of turning pressure into offense.
Depth Expands With Nick Dorn’s Return
Another encouraging development came in the debut of Elon transfer Nick Dorn, who had been sidelined with an injury. Dorn wasted no time making an impact, knocking down a long ball on his first possession and finishing with eight points. Darian DeVries said he believes Dorn can become a game-changing piece off the bench.
“He’s a guy that can make four or five in a night,” DeVries said. “He can change a game when he comes in.”
An Identity Built on Pace, Movement and Trust
Three games in, Indiana’s profile is becoming unmistakable. The scoring is loud, but the habits behind it — movement, trust, balance and connection — are what continue to stand out. DeVries doesn’t expect the team to shoot 50 percent from deep every night, but as long as the ball keeps moving and the group stays true to its identity, he believes the success is sustainable.
“Hopefully what people see is not just the points,” DeVries said. “Hopefully they see guys that play the right way… they’re fun to watch.”
What’s Next
It’s worth noting that Milwaukee is widely projected to win the Horizon League, and despite the final margin, the Panthers shot a solid 46 percent from the field. This was not a pushover opponent — Indiana simply overwhelmed them with pace, pressure and shot-making.
The Hoosiers continue their homestand on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. against Incarnate Word, looking to stay unbeaten and extend the positive trends that have defined their first week of the season.
