BLOOMINGTON — Indiana basketball is back on the court and prepping for its trip to Peru later this summer.
The Hoosiers offered reporters a glimpse at their new-look roster — they return only one scholarship player from last season — during a 90-minute open practice on Thursday afternoon at Cook Hall.
Here’s what stood out:
Indiana basketball’s new point man Markus Burton getting coached up
Indiana basketball coach Darian DeVries keeps a watchful eye at practice but doesn’t blow the whistle very often. Constant interruptions would be at odds with the up-tempo nature of the proceedings.
On Thursday, DeVries used most of his timeouts to offer guidance to IU’s expected starting point guard Markus Burton, as the coaching staff continues to install various sets and concepts.
Burton’s playmaking skills are undeniable — he can get to the basket in the blink of an eye and is clearly comfortable creating his own offense. His best moments at practice came when he displayed the mid-range game that DeVries has talked up since signing the former Indiana Mr. Basketball.
He’s a willing facilitator as well, but IU’s chemistry is still a work in progress and Burton is adjusting to DeVries’ system.
“He’s supposed to coach me hard,” Burton said after practice. “He’s been honest with me. He’s been telling me, like, just be you. Be who you are. He’s not trying to change who I am, and I’m not trying to change who I am. I’m just trying to come in here and just do what I’m supposed to and just win games.”
And who is Markus Burton?
“Markus Burton is a dog,” he said with a smile. “He’s an everyday guy and he’s going to get you a bucket.”
Indiana basketball forward Aiden Sherrell has skills
After practice, Burton’s face lit up in a smile when he fielded questions about Alabama transfer Aiden Sherrell.
“He’s going to show a lot of people what he can do,” Burton said.
The pick and roll drills they ran together Thursday spoke to Burton’s excitement. Sherrell moved with purpose and exploded at the rim to finish each rep with a dunk. For a Hoosiers team that struggled around the basket last year, Sherrell’s confidence on the attack is a welcome sight.
Sherrell also looked comfortable stepping out on the perimeter and knocking down 3-point shots without any hesitation. That range will help him stretch the floor and allow IU to play multiple bigs.
Sherrell showcased similar versatility on the defensive end. He used his impressive wingspan and athleticism to bother guards and disrupt passing lanes at the top of key. When he went toe-to-toe with Samet Yigitoglu under the basket, he didn’t give up much ground, even though Yigitoglu had three inches and 25 pounds on him.
Indiana basketball’s new center Samet Yigitoglu is a throwback
The 7-foot-2, 280-pounder out of Turkey has many of the qualities that were absent from last year’s Hoosiers roster. He’s a powerful big man with a strong upper body and long arms, who is capable of protecting the rim and throwing the ball down in the post through contact.
He’s not a work in progress either.
Yigitoglu, a former two-year starter at SMU, looks comfortable mixing it up under the basket and knows how to use his size effectively on both ends of the floor. The practice battles with Sherrell should sharpen those skills, but they should be plenty effective playing together as well.
Indiana should be able to run sets through Yigitoglu with the court vision and passing skills he showed. He can be effective on pick and rolls — he’s not a plodding figure — and shows some shooting touch from the outside.
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana basketball practice observations on Burton, Sherrell and more
Reporting by Michael Niziolek, The Herald-Times / Indianapolis Star
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By Michael Niziolek, The Herald-Times | USA TODAY Network
