Center of Attention: With Darian DeVries Rebuilding Indiana from the Ground Up, Hoosier Fans Sound Off on Who Should Anchor the Paint — Reed Bailey or Sam Alexis?
Indiana basketball is undergoing a significant transformation — and all eyes are on the center.
With new head coach Darian DeVries taking the reins in Bloomington, the 2025–26 Indiana Hoosiers are entering a bold new era. DeVries, known for his rapid rebuilds and disciplined, team-first systems, wasted no time in reshaping Indiana’s roster through a relentless transfer portal strategy.
Now, with the foundation in place and a talented new staff behind him — including familiar faces like Kenny Johnson and Drew Adams, and rising names like Nick Norton and Rod Clark — the question facing DeVries and his coaching team isn’t whether they’ve upgraded. It’s how they’ll line up when the season tips off.
And at the center of that discussion — quite literally — is who starts at the five position.
A Frontcourt Dilemma
This year’s Indiana roster is guard-heavy, loaded with athletic, perimeter-minded players ready to run DeVries’ signature motion offense. But in the Big Ten — a league still defined by size and physicality — success often hinges on who protects the paint.
The two primary contenders for the starting center role are Reed Bailey, a 6’10” stretch forward from Davidson, and Sam Alexis, a 6’8” transfer from Florida. Each brings a distinct skillset and set of questions to the table.
Bailey, who thrived as a hybrid forward in the A-10, brings floor spacing, ball-handling, and playmaking from the high post — traits that fit seamlessly into DeVries’ modern offensive scheme. His ability to stretch defenses and facilitate could open up the floor for the Hoosiers’ guards. But playing him at center would force Tucker DeVries, Darian’s son and the team’s presumed offensive engine, into the power forward slot. That would result in a lineup that’s skilled, but undersized by Big Ten standards.
On the other hand, Alexis brings traditional center traits: rim protection, interior rebounding, and shot blocking. Though he averaged limited minutes at Florida, he played behind a deep frontcourt on a championship-caliber team and has proven capable of anchoring a defense. The tradeoff? He offers limited offensive upside and stands at 6’8” — short by true center standards, though comparable to other successful college big men like those in last year’s West Virginia system (ranked 16th in KenPom defensive efficiency).
A Strategic Crossroads
The decision isn’t just tactical — it’s philosophical.
Does DeVries want to push the tempo and play small-ball with a skilled, switchable frontcourt, knowing he’ll give up size inside? Or does he aim for balance, inserting Alexis as a traditional five to secure the paint while allowing Bailey and Tucker DeVries to operate more naturally on the wings?
So far, Hoosier Nation is divided. In this week’s SB Nation Reacts survey, fans were asked who they’d prefer to see starting at center. While official results are still being tallied, early feedback shows a near-even split, with many fans favoring Bailey’s upside and versatility, while others argue that Big Ten basketball is still won with toughness inside — and Alexis fits that mold.
Coaching Staff Chemistry Key to Decision
One advantage DeVries has is the deep bench of minds he’s brought into Assembly Hall. Assistant Rod Clark comes off back-to-back Elite Eight appearances with Tennessee and was instrumental in developing wings like Dalton Knecht and Chaz Lanier. Nick Norton, DeVries’ longtime right-hand man, will help implement the system and guide players from his experience at Drake.
Their input will be invaluable as DeVries molds a lineup that can both compete now and build toward long-term stability.
