Indiana basketball is only a few weeks away from the official start of practice and the inaugural season under head coach Darian DeVries. The rebuilt Hoosiers had the luxury of playing three exhibition games in Puerto Rico in early August, but they were short-handed as multiple players were sidelined with injuries while others are on the mend from offseason injury recoveries.
Newcomers like Elon transfer wing Nick Dorn and Drexel transfer guard Jason Drake have been sidelined for multiple months with injuries and did not play in IU’s international exhibitions. Transfer forwards Tucker DeVries and Jasai Miles were able to suit up and play while in Puerto Rico, but Miles was limited due to a shoulder injury and DeVries has not played in an official game in nearly a year after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Dorn has not been fully cleared to practice after undergoing a secondary surgery for a Jones fracture in his foot, according to Jeff Goodman. Drake is recovering from a toe injury suffered during summer workouts, according to Rob Dauster.
On Thursday afternoon, DeVries joined Goodman and Dauster on The Field of 68 to preview Indiana’s upcoming season and provide injury updates on multiple key players. DeVries was transparent about where each player stands in their recovery and a potential return timeline.
Below are DeVries’ full injury updates from The Field of 68 livestream. Click here to watch Goodman and Dauster’s full show in Bloomington.
ON TUCKER DeVRIES:
“I think the biggest thing for him, probably the first time in three years he’s actually been healthy,” DeVries said. It’s been a long road for him, so I know he’s excited to hopefully stay that way and be able to complete a whole season and be able to perform with a healthy shoulder. So that’s the biggest thing for him, he was able to get everything right after the surgery again.
“For those that have been athletes and have been through multiple surgeries, you know how frustrating that can be and time consuming it is to try to do the rehab and start all over again. So we’re excited about where he’s at right now, and I know he’s excited to get back out there and play again.”
ON NICK DORN:
“He’s getting closer and closer. We’re continuing to ramp him up a little bit, but it’s still going to be a little bit before we get him in those five-on-five type situations. But he’s making progress so that’s a good thing.
“… He looks great. You watch him running right now, he looks like a middle linebacker somewhere, he should be playing (football) on Saturday here this upcoming weekend.”
ON JASAI MILES/JASON DRAKE:
“They should both be back, Jasai sooner than later. Deuce (Drake) will still be a little while yet, he’s got probably another month or so before he starts getting back into things.”