Indiana sends message in preseason opener at Butler, with Markus Burton leading early and the bigs pairing on display

Indiana opened its preseason exhibition schedule with a convincing 96-68 victory over Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse, setting an early tone for what the Hoosiers want to prioritize before games count. As the result suggests, Indiana controlled much of the tempo and created separation, but the more useful takeaways came from how the team used the exhibition window to test specific areas of its play.

Markus Burton stood out in the early portion of the game, providing the kind of immediate offensive spark that can shift the feel of an exhibition. According to the report covering the matchup, Burton’s start helped IU establish momentum early, giving the Hoosiers a cushion they could build on rather than chasing the lead. For Indiana, that matters because exhibition games often reveal which offensive options can be trusted against live defensive possessions, not just in late-game mop-up time.

Another theme from the evening was the performance of Indiana’s big men as a tandem. The report specifically notes that the frontcourt pairing showed a development area Darian DeVries wanted to improve. In practical terms, that points to the style of work Indiana is trying to build around its interior play, including how the Hoosiers operate together on the floor rather than relying on separate possessions that do not connect.

Those exhibition moments are also where coaching preferences show up. DeVries is known for stressing structure and execution in the half court, and the frontcourt focus described in the coverage suggests Indiana is looking for more consistency from its bigger bodies in areas such as space creation, finishing angles, and maintaining pressure inside. The scoreline can be misleading in exhibitions, but the emphasis on the bigs pairing indicates Indiana and its staff were paying attention to how the frontcourt fits into the overall offensive plan.

Indiana also received a positive look from a freshman, with the report singling out that a first-year player impressed during the game. For a program using the exhibition stretch to evaluate readiness, that kind of performance is less about scoring totals and more about whether a newcomer can translate practice habits into game decisions. It can also hint at how the rotation might take shape as the season approaches, especially if Indiana finds that a younger piece can contribute without disrupting the team’s defensive and offensive responsibilities.

Still, it is important to keep the context of the moment in view. Exhibition games are not regular-season contests, and matchups against non-conference opponents in the preseason often come with lineup experimentation, different defensive intensity, and varying tactical priorities. The 96-68 final from Butler is a clear indicator that Indiana is capable of creating separation, but the larger takeaway is how the Hoosiers used the game to evaluate Burton’s early impact, assess the frontcourt’s fit, and test a freshman’s readiness under live conditions.