Indiana Basketball Faces Transition as Gabe Cupps Enters Transfer Portal
With the exit of Mike Woodson as head coach, Indiana University basketball is undergoing significant changes. Following the conclusion of the season, sophomore guard Gabe Cupps has officially entered the transfer portal, marking the first known player from the team to do so.
Cupps, who hails from Dayton, Ohio, had faced challenges throughout the season due to injuries, missing much of the campaign after undergoing surgery to address what IU described as a "pre-existing, nagging lower body injury." It was later revealed by Cupps himself to be a meniscus injury. His last appearance with the Hoosiers was on November 29, 2024, during the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament, where he contributed to Indiana's 89-73 victory over Providence. Unfortunately, he played just 25 minutes throughout the season due to these setbacks.
Despite the hurdles, Cupps had noteworthy achievements. He was part of IU's esteemed 2023 signing class, coming from Centerville High School, where he was ranked as the No. 94 overall player nationally and the No. 3 prospect from Ohio according to 247Sports Composite rankings. Initially projected to develop as a freshman, Cupps was thrust unexpectedly onto the court, often needing to step up following injuries to teammate Xavier Johnson. Mike Woodson himself acknowledged the pressure placed on Cupps: "He's been thrown to the wolves basically."
During the 2023-2024 season, Cupps started 22 of the 33 games, averaging 21.7 minutes of play, though he tallied only 2.6 points per game with a shooting efficiency of 36.4%. Still, his defensive abilities against prominent Big Ten point guards drew praise from coaches.
With Woodson's exit, Indiana players have been granted a 30-day window to enter the transfer portal. This transition period conveniently overlaps with the official spring transfer window, which spans from March 24 to April 22, 2025. The IU program, having opted out of postseason play after missing the NCAA tournament, now shifts its focus to securing a new head coach.
Currently, the search for Woodson's replacement is heating up, with new potential candidates gaining traction. Darian DeVries, the head coach from West Virginia, is reportedly among the frontrunners for the IU job. According to prominent college basketball reporter Jeff Goodman, DeVries has emerged "as one of – if not the top candidate for the Indiana job," after finishing his first season at West Virginia with a record of 19-13.
DeVries' coaching background is impressive. Prior to his tenure at West Virginia, he spent six successful seasons as the head coach at Drake, posting a remarkable 150-55 record. His time there included three NCAA tournament appearances, albeit with limited success, as he is 1-3 overall during the tournament.
Adding to the intrigue, ESPN reporter Pete Thamel revealed on March 18, 2025, other candidates being considered for the role include Drake’s Ben McCollum as well as another unidentified “mystery” candidate. The mounting buzz around DeVries is significant, particularly as he has long been regarded as a potential candidate for head coaching roles due to his Iowa roots, though recent reports indicate he is not vying for the Iowa job.
Meanwhile, names like Brad Stevens, Jay Wright, Billy Donovan, and Tony Bennett have all been floated around as speculative candidates for the IU coaching position. There's strong interest among Indiana fans for these high-profile figures, even those not currently coaching. Speculation also surrounds other figures still active with teams, including Chris Collins, Buzz Williams, and more, though many wonder how likely these options are to step up amid the shifting dynamics of NCAA coaching.
Indiana's basketball program faces not just personnel changes but also embraces the uncertainty of its coaching future. With the transfer portal opening soon and potential new leadership on the horizon, both Cupps’ departure and the search for Woodson's successor symbolize Indiana basketball's ever-evolving narrative.
