LEXINGTON, Ky. — Indiana head coach Darian DeVries faced the media Saturday night after his team’s 72–60 loss to Kentucky, offering an honest assessment of what went wrong and what his program must take from the setback.
Indiana opened the game with strong energy and execution, building a lead by halftime and appearing comfortable against a motivated Kentucky squad. However, the momentum shifted dramatically after the break as the Wildcats asserted control on both ends of the floor.
DeVries pointed to the second half as the decisive stretch of the game, explaining that Kentucky’s increased defensive pressure disrupted Indiana’s offensive flow and forced difficult decisions.
“Our biggest issue was how we handled the second half pressure,” DeVries said. “Kentucky really ramped it up, and we didn’t respond the way we needed to.”
Turnovers became a major problem for the Hoosiers after halftime, and Kentucky capitalized by turning those mistakes into easy scoring opportunities. Indiana struggled to settle into its offense as the Wildcats gained confidence.
The Hoosiers finished the night with too many unforced errors, something DeVries acknowledged cannot happen in a road environment against a team of Kentucky’s caliber.
He also noted that while the first half showed promise, consistency remains a challenge for a group still learning how to close out games when momentum shifts.
“There were good stretches where we played the right way,” DeVries said. “But when things got tough, we have to be stronger with the ball and more disciplined.”
Despite the loss, DeVries emphasized that the experience can serve as a teaching moment, especially for a team navigating a demanding schedule early in the season.
The Indiana coach stressed that road games expose weaknesses quickly, and his team must improve its ball security and decision-making to compete consistently away from home.
DeVries added that the upcoming week of practice will be critical, giving the staff time to address turnovers, spacing, and responding to defensive pressure.
Players echoed their coach’s message postgame, acknowledging that the second-half execution fell short and that the team must learn to adjust faster.
DeVries also acknowledged the atmosphere at Rupp Arena, calling it a difficult place to play and crediting Kentucky for feeding off its home crowd.
Looking ahead, DeVries said the focus will be on growth rather than dwelling on the loss, emphasizing the importance of learning from games against high-level opponents.
Indiana will now turn its attention to the next challenge, aiming to apply the lessons from the loss as the Hoosiers continue building toward consistency and confidence moving forward.
