{"id":134471,"date":"2025-08-10T13:50:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-10T13:50:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/134471\/"},"modified":"2025-08-10T13:50:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-10T13:50:10","slug":"a-character-building-win-for-iu-basketball-against-mega-superbet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/134471\/","title":{"rendered":"A Character Building Win For IU Basketball Against Mega Superbet"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BasketballSAN JUAN, P.R. \u2013 August 09, 2025 \u2013 forward Josh Harris #10 of the Indiana Hoosiers during the game between Mega SUPERBET and the Indiana Hoosiers at Roberto Clemente Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Photo By Dani Meersman\/Indiana Athletics<\/p>\n

An exhibition win in August in Puerto Rico is a long ways from a snowy night on the road in the Big Ten, but the IU <\/strong>basketball team started to build the character it takes to win at a high level in college hoops.<\/p>\n

The Hoosiers fell behind Serbian professional team Mega Superbet 44-21 in the first half. IU looked like a team that had to refocus after a couple days of beach fun and helping local organizations learn the game of basketball. However, they rebounded to win 93-71.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought their physicality really bothered us that first, first 10 minutes, but I really liked the way the guys responded.\u201d IU head coach Darian Devries said after the game. \u201cThey got punched in their mouth a little bit down 24 there\u2019s a lot of different ways that game can go from that point, and I just like the way they kind of pulled together, dug in and fought harder.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Highlights from Indiana\u2019s win over MegaSuper Bet. Courtesy of Indiana University Athletics<\/p>\n

Mega Superbet was a step up in competition for the Hoosiers from Baymon on Wednesday night as they had second round NBA draft pick Bogoljub Markovic<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

After trailing 48-35 at halftime the Hoosiers put on a defensive clinic to flip the script.<\/p>\n

Indiana held MegaSuper Bet to just 5-29 from the floor in the second half and rode a swarming defense to 24 turnovers, which included five from Markovic. <\/p>\n

\u201cI liked it for us.\u201d DeVries said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of learning opportunities there for a lot of different areas. There are some good things for us as coaches to pull from it as we go forward. But, great game, big competitive game. I love that this is just a game in the middle of the summer, and I love the fact that both teams were competing at the level they were competing and wanted to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"IU<\/a><\/p>\n

On offense the Hoosiers were led by Lamar Wilkerson<\/strong> who had a big second half to finish with 18 points. He hit four of his seven three-point attempts and finished 7\/11 from the field. Wilkerson is a player that can single-handily turn a game around.<\/p>\n

After struggling with his shot in the game against Baymon, DeVries reiterated his faith in Wilkerson.<\/p>\n

\u201cLamar can shoot as many times he wants. I have ultimate faith in Lamar making shots. I think you saw a glimpse of why we do in that second half.\u201d DeVries said. \u201cHe can just change a game and two three possessions. You know, he can go 0-for-4 to 4-fo-8 court, 6-for-10 in a hurry.\u201d<\/p>\n

While an exhibition game in August will not determine an NCAA Tournament bid for IU , it did reveal a tiny bit about who these Hoosiers can be in 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love the fact that we really fought hard to climb back into the game, so we went up in the locker room at halftime with a much more manageable situation than being down 24.\u201d DeVries said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we\u2019re going through it, some (the leadership) has to come from from me, but it\u2019s also good for me to hear from them how they\u2019re responding to and how they\u2019re reacting to each other as well. And that\u2019s just part of being a, you know, a new coaching staff, new team, as we\u2019re going through it. So again, there\u2019s a lot of positives to take from it. A lot of great, great opportunities to learn too.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Hoosiers will face off against Mega Superbet again on Monday morning at 11am ET.<\/p>\n

Other IU Basketball Notes<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 Indiana starters: Tayton Conerway, Conor Enright, Lamar Wilkerson, Tucker DeVries, Reed Bailey<\/p>\n

\u2022 The Hoosiers held the advantage in second-chance points (21-9), points off turnovers (38-19), paints points (42-26), and bench scoring (39-22).\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2022 IU shot 34-of-76 (44.7%) from the floor, 10-of-29 (34.5%) from behind the arc, and 15-of-19 (78.9%) from the free throw line.<\/p>\n

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