New Orleans — Indiana State’s last chance to establish road toughness before the Missouri Valley Conference season is tonight at Tulane.
One of the most important opportunities for the Sycamores comes in unquestionably the smallest gym ISU will play this season, but against one of the biggest teams ISU will see on its nonconference slate.
There will also be a familiar face on the Green Wave sideline.
ISU has not won a road game since it beat Illinois State 54-50 in Normal, Ill., on Jan. 6. ISU’s last road nonconference win was at IPFW, a 67-61 win on Nov. 19, 2006. ISU has lost six road nonconference games since and has lost seven of eight on the road in the last two seasons, including all four road games this season.
ISU (4-4) does not play another road game before it begins conference action, though ISU will play on the road in the ESPN BracketBusters in February.
ISU coach Kevin McKenna has said that one test of a team’s toughness is how it responds on the road and the Sycamores know it.
“This is a real important because we haven’t had a road win in so long. To get a win against a good team like Tulane would be a good confidence boost. Toughness prevails on the road; we need to learn how to be tough,” said ISU point guard Gabe Moore, after the Sycamores practiced Sunday night in Tulane’s venerable Fogelman Arena — which, given its 3,600 seating capacity and green decor, resembles West Vigo High School’s Green Dome.
ISU beat Tulane 59-47 at Hulman Center on Nov. 25, 2006. The Green Wave (5-3) lost just three players who participated in that game and David Gomez, the man who played best against the Sycamores (20 points, 7 rebounds) is back.
“They really hit the boards and they get to the free throw line and they like a fast-paced game. They’re the biggest team we’ve faced,” McKenna said. “We need to take care of the ball and stop penetration.”
Tulane averages 34.9 rebounds per game, nearly two better than the national average. Robinson Louisme (6.5), Donnie Stith (6.1) and Gomez (5.5) better or equal Adam Arnold, ISU’s rebounding leader at 5.5 rpg.
“They’re the biggest and most physical team we’ve played so far. They outrebound their opponent and they’re big inside; they start three guys over 6-foot-7,” ISU center Jay Tunnell said. “We haven’t proven anything on the road. We need to prove how tough we are.”
Tulane’s familiar face is is ex-ISU assistant Dick Bender, who joined Dave Dickerson’s staff at Tulane in the spring. Bender was briefly ISU’s Director of Compliance after he left the ISU men’s basketball coaching staff last season in the wake of Royce Waltman’s departure.
Well-regarded for his X-and-O’s acumen and much loved for his good-guy personality, Bender — an ISU assistant under Waltman from 1997-2007 — will be a welcome sight for the Sycamores.
“It’s going to be good to see D.B. He’s a good person; he always wanted the best for everyone on this team. Whatever he could help us with, he helped us with. It’s going to be nice to see him again,” Moore said.
ISU has played at Tulane only one other time, losing to the Green Wave 109-96 in overtime during the 1970-71 season.
Today’s probable lineups
Indiana State Sycamores (4-4)
Pos Player Ht Yr Rpg Ppg
G Gabe Moore 6-0 Sr. 3.8* 12.1
G Harry Marshall 6-0 So. 3.0 8.1
G Marico Stinson 6-3 So. 2.3 10.8
F Adam Arnold 6-6 Jr. 5.5 4.0
C Isiah Martin 6-8 Fr. 4.0 6.1
Coach — Kevin McKenna (4-4 in first season at ISU, 93-37 overall)
Tulane Green Wave (5-3)
Pos Player Ht Yr Rpg Ppg
G Kevin Sims 5-10 So. 4.6* 11.9
G Matt Wheaton 6-5 Sr. 3.6 7.6
C Robinson Louisme 6-7 Jr. 6.3 9.8
F David Gomez 6-6 Sr. 5.5 11.4
F Daniel Puckett 6-9 Sr. 2.9 6.5
Coach — Dave Dickerson (34-33 in third season at Tulane)
* assists per game
Game at a glance
Tipoff — 8 p.m. at Fogelman Arena, New Orleans
Broadcasts — Radio: WSDM-FM 92.7. Internet — gosycamores.com.
Last games — ISU beat Ball State 59-48 and Tulane beat Gardner-Webb 84-79 on Dec. 8.
RPI (at press time) — Tulane 125th, ISU 192nd.
Series — Tulane leads 2-1. The Sycamores beat the Green Wave in the last meet, 59-47 on Nov. 25, 2006, in Hulman Center.
Next games — ISU plays host to Bowling Green at 2 p.m. Saturday. Tulane plays St. Mary’s (Calif.) on Wednesday.
— Todd Golden
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