IN — For the first time in more than a decade, an Indiana basketball coach was able to address questions about the program’s iconic rivalry with Kentucky without sidestepping the issue or offering vague diplomatic answers. Instead, new Hoosiers head coach Darian DeVries embraced the moment — and the matchup — with open arms.
DeVries, recently hired to lead Indiana into a new era, becomes the first IU head coach since Tom Crean to inherit an active series with the Kentucky Wildcats. The historic intrastate rivalry, one of the most storied in all of college basketball, had been absent from the regular-season schedule since 2011. Its long-awaited return was orchestrated by former IU coach Mike Woodson and longtime Kentucky coach John Calipari, close friends whose shared respect for the game helped reignite a series that many believed should never have gone dormant.
Ironically, neither Woodson nor Calipari will coach in the renewed rivalry they helped restore. Calipari’s departure from Kentucky closed that chapter before the first game tipped off, leaving DeVries as the latest steward of a tradition that has shaped generations of college basketball fans in both states.
When asked during a pregame news conference Thursday about his intentions regarding Indiana’s annual meeting with the Wildcats, DeVries offered a clear, passionate endorsement.
“I think it’s a great series,” DeVries said. “I hope we can continue this forever. This is the first year of a four-game stretch. I think it’s great for both programs. I think it’s great for college basketball.”
Those words resonated far beyond the walls of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
The Indiana–Kentucky rivalry is more than a game. It is a cultural event, a border-state clash fueled by decades of history, national championships, legendary coaches, and unforgettable moments. From Bob Knight and Adolph Rupp to Christian Watford’s iconic buzzer-beater in 2011, the series has consistently delivered drama worthy of the sport’s grandest stages.
Its absence over the last 14 years left a noticeable void in the college basketball landscape. Fans lamented the loss of a rivalry that once defined early-season schedules and set the tone for national title aspirations. Players missed out on the opportunity to test themselves against elite competition in an atmosphere that mirrored March intensity long before the NCAA Tournament arrived.
DeVries understands that significance.
As a coach known for building tough, disciplined teams, he sees the Kentucky series as both a measuring stick and a recruiting asset. High-profile nonconference games not only sharpen teams for the grind of conference play but also showcase programs on a national stage. For Indiana, a blue-blood program seeking to reassert itself among the sport’s elite, few opportunities are more valuable.
The current agreement between Indiana and Kentucky guarantees four games, rotating between Bloomington and Lexington. But DeVries’ hope — echoed loudly by fans — is that the series becomes a permanent fixture, regardless of coaching changes or administrative shifts.
In an era when nonconference schedules are increasingly shaped by neutral-site events and television contracts, true home-and-home rivalries are becoming rarer. That makes the return of Indiana–Kentucky all the more meaningful. It represents a commitment to tradition, regional pride, and the belief that college basketball is at its best when history and competition collide.
For Kentucky, the matchup offers equal value. The Wildcats, annually one of the sport’s most scrutinized programs, benefit from a high-stakes test against a motivated rival with everything to prove. For Indiana, it’s a chance to remind the nation of its rich heritage and future ambitions.
Most importantly, the rivalry belongs to the fans — generations of Hoosiers and Wildcats who grew up circling this game on the calendar, debating bragging rights at family gatherings, and passing down stories of classic battles. Bringing the series back reconnects college basketball with its roots.
As DeVries begins his tenure in Bloomington, his enthusiastic support for the rivalry signals an understanding that success at Indiana isn’t measured solely in wins and losses. It’s also about honoring tradition, embracing challenges, and delivering moments that matter.
If the voices of coaches, players, and fans carry any weight, the message is clear: Indiana vs. Kentucky isn’t just great for these two programs — it’s essential for college basketball.
And if Darian DeVries has his way, this legendary rivalry won’t just return. It will last forever.
