IU Indy Rebuilds Roster, Starts 2-0 Under Howlett
Coach Ben Howlett assembled an entirely new Jaguars roster in two to three weeks for the 2026-27 season.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Basketball
IU Indy men's basketball is 2-0 to open the 2026-27 season after head coach Ben Howlett built an entirely new roster. Howlett, hired late in the prior year, recruited players to fit a fast, pressing, motion-offense system.
Why it matters
The rebuild reflects Howlett's belief that the roster had to be constructed around his system for it to succeed this year. An early 2-0 start gives the program an initial measure of how the new group fits together.
The Jaguars opened 2-0 after assembling a new roster in two to three weeks, with a stated goal of applying 94 feet of pressure for 40 minutes. How the pressing style holds up against tougher competition across the full season has not yet been tested.
The players
Ben Howlett
Howlett is the head coach of IU Indy men's basketball, hired late in the prior year to lead the program's rebuild.
Gus Etchison
Etchison is a guard from Arcadia who has played at several college programs before joining IU Indy's new roster.
The details
Howlett recruited players to fit a fast, pressing, motion-offense system, and the Jaguars play full-court press defense. Guard Gus Etchison, an Arcadia native who has played at several programs, is part of the new group. The team plays in a new on-campus arena that seats about 4,200.
Timeline
Late prior year: Howlett hired as IU Indy men's basketball head coach.
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 6:30 p.m. local time: IU Indy hosts Southern Indiana for Military Appreciation Night.
Season Trajectory
Building an entirely new roster around a full-court press makes IU Indy's early results a test of whether a system-first rebuild can compete quickly. A 2-0 start places the Jaguars early in the season's standings picture, though the sample is still small.
Fans can follow the Jaguars' pressing system in person at their new on-campus arena, which seats about 4,200. Tickets and the full schedule are available through the program's official site.
The takeaway
A roster built from scratch around one system can produce an early winning start, but the real test is whether the press holds up over a full season. Readers following the Jaguars should watch how the team performs over 40 minutes against stronger opponents.
Further reading
Follow the program's progress in the Basketball section for more on Indianapolis college hoops.
More information
Find IU Indy tickets and full schedule on the program's official site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 93.5 / 107.5 The Fan.
