Welcome to “That’s A Wrap,” our player-by-player recap of the 2025-26 Indiana Hoosiers. Our next recap focuses on Nick Dorn.
Dorn (30 games): 8.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 40.4 FG% in 23.2 minutes per game.
Previously: Trent Sisley, Jasai Miles
An April 2025 addition from the transfer portal, Nick Dorn started his junior season with a foot injury that left him out of all of Indiana’s offseason activities. He missed the Hoosiers’ first two games of the season, making his debut in the team’s 101-70 victory against Milwaukee on November 12 at Assembly Hall.
Dorn only played seven minutes in the Milwaukee victory and four in the Incarnate Word game the next week. It was the last time for the rest of the season that the Elon transfer saw the floor for less than 10 minutes.
In a late November game against Bethune-Cookman, the 6-foot-7 wing broke out, flashing his prowess from behind the arc. Dorn converted on four of his five shots from distance, finishing with 14 points off the bench in a 44-point victory.
A week later, Dorn made a significant impact in the second half against Louisville at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The junior made five 3-pointers, all in the second half, keeping Indiana from getting blown out in an eventual 87-78 loss to the Cardinals.
The week-long outburst jumped Dorn up spots in the rotation, becoming a regular in the Hoosiers’ lineup by the restart of conference play.
Because of senior guard Tayton Conerway’s right ankle injury in a home loss against Iowa, Dorn was thrust into the starting lineup in the Hoosiers road tilt with Rutgers in Piscataway.
It was the Charlotte native’s opportunity and he took it.
Dorn played 36 minutes, making six shots, all from distance, in a 23-point explosion at the RAC in an 82-59 victory over the Scarlet Knights. The new addition to the lineup helped guide the Hoosiers to a three-game win streak– all of which was spearheaded by Dorn.
In the three-game stretch against Rutgers, Purdue and UCLA, Dorn made 20 of his 40 shots from three, averaging 19 points a contest. He had 18 points in IU’s 72-67 win against Purdue on January 27 and a team-high 26 points in the Hoosiers’ double overtime win at UCLA on January 31.
With more film on him, opposing coaches better game-planned for the 3-point specialist, and after the three-game high, Dorn came down to earth in the next seven games. He made just two of his 12 attempts in the loss at USC and five of his next 28 during the stretch.
Overall, Dorn averaged 7.9 points, shooting 35.3 percent on 3s in Big Ten play. All but 10 of his 51 field goal makes came from behind the line.
Bottom line: The spurts of shot-making from Dorn provided hope, but his inconsistencies hurt Darian DeVries’ team down the stretch. He was replaced in the starting lineup for the season’s final game in the Big Ten tournament. A more consistent Dorn could go a long way in his senior season in Bloomington, if he returns. The talent is in place – especially offensively – but improvements on defense would make him a more well-rounded player next season.
Quotable: “Dorn is really confident. I think he really fits well with what we try to do and the spacing that we have on the floor. He’s just a great fit for us in terms of like what we’re trying to do offensively.” -Darian DeVries after Indiana’s road win against UCLA.
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