'Fans are going to love to watch him play': Conor Enright embodies what is means to be a Hoosier

Indiana fans are going to love Conor Enright.

“He’s just one of those guys that I think fans are going to love to watch him play,” Darian DeVries told reporters on Wednesday, and he’s got a point.

Hoosier Nation is notorious for becoming attached to players not necessarily because they can score at a high rate or because of freak athleticism, but because of the heart and hustle they show on the floor. Indiana fans value being a team player more than any individual stat, and Enright embodies exactly that.

“He plays so hard. He plays with a fire. And defensively he really is one of those guys that takes pride in it,” DeVries added, explaining why fans in Assembly Hall are expected to appreciate what Enright brings to the table.

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It won’t be just hustle plays alone though, as Enright has already emerged as a leader in the locker room and in practice. With an entirely new team, there were no returners to assume the role of leaders, so guys like Enright stepped up.

Of course he has a history with DeVries and his system, which gave him a natural avenue to lead the rest of the roster, but being a leader is simply who Enright is.

This has allowed both Enright and Tucker DeVries to be the two voices in the locker room that have helped with the transition of an all-new team. According to Enright, this has worked wonders in practice, as IU has seen great progress because of the leadership of the two former Drake Bulldogs.

“Having two guys that have been through it helps a lot. I know we’ve been trying to lead whether it’s through drills, plays, and whatnot and just kind of set the standard and have the expectations that he knows that we’re supposed to have,” Enright explained.

Enright has done this by making sure everyone is paying attention to detail on every single rep. Coach DeVries was clear from the get-go: the little things matter, and Enright is relaying that message to his teammates loud and clear.

“When you have a team with, you know, 13, 14, however many guys we have, that’s like one of the main things you need to be hammering on just because you’ve got to teach all that little stuff in such a short time because you don’t have those returners,” Enright mentioned.

In addition to being a vocal leader in doing the little things right, Enright has also allowed for great energy throughout Indiana’s first few weeks of practice. Energy has been something Indiana has focused on day in and day out, and with Enright as a leader, the Hoosiers have gotten exactly what they’ve been looking for.

“They come with that type of energy, enthusiasm. Their voices are heard. We want a loud gym. And that’s something I think they’ve done a great job of responding to and bringing every day,” DeVries said.

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Bringing this type of energy is exactly what Indiana fans love, but what they love even more is winning basketball games, and Enright will do whatever it takes to make sure that the Hoosiers finish each game in the win column.

“Offensively, he’ll do whatever it takes to win. I know when I had recruited him out of high school, I went and saw him play in a summer game. He had zero points and dominated the game. He was diving on the floor, taking charges, making everybody on the other team mad; he’s just one of those guys,” DeVries added.

Enright isn’t the best scorer or defender on the roster, but he has something that many others don’t, and that’s a relentless will to win. That’s been something Indiana has been searching several years for, but they may have just found it in Enright.

Striving to win doesn’t just appear on the court though, as Enright has displayed that off the floor he’s just as committed to being the best he can be as if he were playing in a game.

“I feel like I’ve done a little bit of everything. I’ve redshirted. I’ve come off the bench, I’ve started. So, I’m going to do whatever it takes to win and make an impact for the team,” Enright said.

Enright’s hustle and leadership have already made an impact on the revamped Indiana roster. Even though he’s never put on candy stripes before a game, he embodies what it means to be a Hoosier. Whether it’s hustle plays or simply being there for his teammates, everyone around him, especially Coach DeVries, recognizes how important he is for Indiana’s success.

“He’s just a joy to have in practice every day because he brings that energy, and he’s full-out. He doesn’t know another way,” DeVries said.

“I think people are really going to enjoy watching him play.”

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