TERRE HAUTE — Indiana State coach Kevin McKenna bolstered the Sycamores’ guard depth and cut down on the expense report to boot.
“When you look at the whole recruiting for this year. It’s not like we weren’t recruiting outside of 30 miles,” ISU coach Kevin McKenna jested.
Yet each of the four players who signed letters-of-intent on Wednesday — Terre Haute’s Jake Odum, Marshall, Ill.’s Lucas and Logan Eitel, along with one-time Marshall and Vigo County resident Jake Kelly — all hail within a stones’ throw of the Hulman Center.
Kelly and Odum earned scholarships to play for ISU. The Eitel’s come as walk-ons.
The local talent — Rockville’s R.J. Mahurin signed last fall — means a lot more to the Sycamores than the gas savings. All four are guards and will bolster ISU’s backcourt depth significantly and help the team play McKenna’s desired style, which involves pressing and a quicker offensive pace. All of the recruits have their legion of fans in the area and have created more buzz for the ISU program than its had in the last decade. McKenna wants to hone that energy in the right direction — recognizing the potential of the players, while not wanting to create “too much, too soon” expectations that could sidetrack any one of them.
“We’re excited to have local players join our program. Time will tell whether these guys develop into productive players, but they’re quality kids, and I think they’re a good fit for our program. We’re glad to have them,” McKenna said.
Kelly transferred to ISU after two years at Iowa, stating a desire to play closer to home after his mother died in 2008 (see related story). Odum, the Eitel’s and Mahurin all showed an early desire to become Sycamores.
Mahurin made a verbal commitment during his sophomore season with the Rox. Odum committed as a walk-on last fall. The Eitel’s both committed as walk-ons in January.
Odum’s case was the most fluid. He was eventually offered a scholarship by ISU after a sterling senior season where he averaged 22 points, 6.4 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 3.4 steals. There was conjecture that he might head elsewhere to seek a scholarship, but he ultimately earned what he wanted from the Sycamores.
“My senior year, it was huge,” Odum said. “Obviously I impressed the coaches enough to get that scholarship. It’s a huge honor for me. I grew up watching Michael Menser and Matt Renn. Its been in my head to work hard to get that scholarship.”
McKenna was also swayed by Odum’s fine senior campaign.
“The more I watched him, the more he grew on me,” McKenna said.
McKenna also likes the way the Eitel twins fit into the program. Marshall’s system is similar to ISU’s, and the Eitel’s ability to score, rebound and pass is one thing McKenna liked about them.
“They fit in real well with the way we play. They pass, handle, shoot. They need to get bigger, stronger, faster. But I say that about every player we bring in. They’re very, very well-coached,” McKenna said.
The influx of guards begs several questions. For starters, how are all of the backcourt minutes going to be doled out? McKenna believes his system will allow for players to play the kind of minutes he prefers.
“We play four perimeter guys anyway, so I consider the 1-to-4 spots interchangeable. Jake [Kelly] can play 1-3, Dwayne Lathan is a 2-4, [Carl] Richard is a 3-4, Koang Doluony is a 3-4, [Aaron] Carter is a 3-4, [Jordan] Printy is a 1-3. [Rashad] Reed and Harry [Marshall] are both 1-2’s,” McKenna said.
“I think we have enough versatility. I don’t want Marshall playing 38 minutes, I don’t want Printy playing 37. I want them to play less minutes, but be able to play them harder when they’re in. If they can, their production should be about the same,” McKenna added.
It also raises the possibility that the incoming freshman could be redshirt candidates, though McKenna said he doesn’t approach player expectation that way.
“I tell all of our players, work like you’re going to play. Regardless of whether redshirting is a possibility, be ready … you’re going to work out and get ready for season,” McKenna said. “I’ve never forced anyone to redshirt. For example, Koang wanted to redshirt, it was best for him developmentally, it was best for him and best for our program.
“We haven’t had any conversations with R.J. or Jake [Odum], but do they have some need to get stronger? Yes they do, along with the Eitels,” McKenna added. “Very few freshman are ready-made big-bodied, strong athletic players. Our selling point is to develop them as players … as far as any set thing? Plan on playing and we go from there.”
College
College signing day: ISU keeps talent close to home
Sycamores load up on local football, basketball standouts
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Indiana State connects on all 12 of its 3-point shots vs. SIU and sets three NCAA records in process
When you’re a shooter and you’re in a slump, the boilerplate cure is to summon amnesia, forget about your struggles and keep on shooting.
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ISU's Webb wins heptathlon
Indiana State’s Robert Webb captured the heptathlon Saturday at the Grand Valley State Big Meet as he totaled the second most points in ISU history while dominating the event. Webb scored 5,140 points, which is second only to former Sycamore Anthony Bertoli’s 5,189 points in 2008.
Webb, a senior, established three more personal best efforts enroute to the overall victory as he ran 8.45 in the 60 meter hurdles and 2 minutes, 50.73 seconds in the 1,000 meters while also clearing 13-1 1/2 in the pole vault. Webb entered the second day of the event in the lead with 2,893 points after winning three of the four Friday events and setting personal bests in the long jump and shot put. -
Perfect game: ISU shoots NCAA record 12-for-12 from 3-point range in win over SIU
Indiana State set an NCAA record for 3-point percentage and consecutive 3-pointers made Saturday afternoon in Hulman Center, connecting on all 12 attempts during a 78-68 win over Southern Illinois.
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‘Frustrated’ Sycamores regroup to face Southern Illinois
Indiana State’s men’s basketball struggles have hit one Sycamore senior hard.
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Thomas nets double-double as ISU women end losing streak
The halftime speech is one of the most time-worn clichés in sports, but once in a while, it’s meaningful. It certainly was for the Indiana State women’s basketball team on Friday against Bradley.
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Sycamore women looking to snap six-game losing streak
The Indiana State women’s basketball team is in dire need of a victory in Hulman Center this weekend.
Bradley visits Terre Haute tonight looking to sweep the season series from the Sycamores, who are in jeopardy of the program’s first seven-game losing streak since the 1995-96 season.
“I think it should [add to motivation]. There’s no doubt that group in the locker room in there is very disappointed,” Coach Teri Moren said. “As I keep saying, we’re in a rough patch right now, and there’s no group of kids that wants to get right back on track more than they do.” -
Leonard dominates in first half, but IU, Zeller earn the victory
The first half belonged to Illinois’ Meyers Leonard.
The win belonged to Indiana and Cody Zeller.
The 23rd-ranked Hoosiers (19-6, 7-6 Big Ten) took advantage of a glaring free-throw discrepancy to defeat the Illini 84-71 on Thursday. -
Rose women roll; Dickerson becomes all-time assists leader
Rose-Hulman senior Alisa Dickerson became the college’s career leader in assists as the Engineers cruised past Defiance 60-33 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference women’s basketball Saturday afternoon in Hulbert Arena.
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MVC’s worst a tantalizing option for ISU
Even though the Indiana State men’s basketball team has played better of late, having won three of its last four games, there’s only one team with a worse record in the Missouri Valley Conference standings than the Sycamores.
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Sycamores can’t stop Stutz, Shockers
All or nothing. It was that kind of game for Wichita State center Garrett Stutz. Unfortunately for Indiana State’s men’s basketball team, the “all” came in the second half.
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McWhorter’s fortunes rise with ISU’s
More so than any other Sycamore, Steve McWhorter might embody the decline and the recent rise of the Indiana State men’s basketball team.
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Johnson dominates again for ISU track
Felisha Johnson continued to dominate women’s weight throw while two Indiana State hurdlers moved into today’s finals after solid performances in the preliminaries Friday at the Meyo Invitational at Notre Dame.
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Indiana State women lose at Illinois State
Playing short-handed again, Indiana State’s women suffered their sixth straight Missouri Valley Conference basketball loss Friday night, falling 78-67 to host Illinois State.
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Indiana, Purdue meet with both looking to regain momentum
Indiana University’s stint in the Top 25 may be coming to an end. Purdue is just looking for a winning streak.
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ISU women looking to end five-game losing streak at Illinois State
Within a few points in the final minutes, Indiana State had chances to win women’s basketball games at Missouri State and Wichita State last weekend.
But the Sycamores lost for the fourth and fifth straight games, also losing freshman Jessica Valley for the season at Wichita State. The promising backcourt player tore the ACL in her right knee and began strengthening exercises this week in order to make plans for surgery. -
ISU Senior Day game to be televised on ESPN
The Missouri Valley Conference announced Thursday that Indiana State’s regular season finale against No. 12-ranked Creighton on Feb. 25 in Hulman Center has been chosen as the MVC’s “wild card” game that will be telecast on either ESPN or ESPN2.
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Hoosiers load up on in-state players
With a 1-11 record in his first season as IU football coach, Kevin Wilson knew there were a lot of holes to fill in terms of personnel.
- Wabash Valley verbal commitments
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It’s on: Sycamores, Bulldogs to play at Hinkle on Feb. 18
How badly did Indiana State want to get Butler as its BracketBusters opponent?
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METRO ROUNDUP: Four from Rose receive weekly honors
Four Rose-Hulman athletes earned Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference weekly honors, the HCAC announced Monday.
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Hoosiers reclaim needed offensive momentum
Indiana hadn’t allowed an opponent to shoot better than 40 percent in three straight games heading into Sunday’s home game against Iowa.
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Sycamores will have to match Aces’ toughness
Indiana State men’s basketball coach Greg Lansing has an enduring respect for the toughness Evansville coach Marty Simmons coaxes out of his Purple Aces.
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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Rose, The Woods post weekend victories
Rose-Hulman relied on a balanced scoring attack and a strong defensive effort to earn a 55-44 women’s basketball victory Saturday over Mount St. Joseph.
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ISU's Stacia Weatherford sets school record in 60-meter hurdles
Indiana State junior Stacia Weatherford set the school record in the women’s 60-meter hurdles, while sophomore Greggmar Swift dominated the action in the men’s 60 hurdles during competition Saturday at the Indiana Relays.
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Rose takes first in Engineer Track and Field Invitational
Rose-Hulman relied on nine event victories, 13 top-two finishes and three school records for a strong performance at the ninth annual Engineer Track and Field Invitational on Saturday.
The men’s squad captured first place honors in a meet that featured two of the nation's top 20 NCAA Division III squads and 12 institutions from seven states. The day’s competition also included 10 meet records. -
Mattox’s 31 not enough for ISU women
Indiana State pulled within 63-57 with a 6-0 run with 8 minutes, 50 seconds remaining Friday night at JQH Arena, but the Sycamores lost 84-70 to host Missouri State in a Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball game.
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Mattox, Sycamores staying positive on road trip to Missouri State, Wichita State
Indiana State seniors Brittany Schoen and Deja Mattox are within striking distance of passing 1,000 points in their women’s basketball careers, and they would join classmate Shannon Thomas in that club. Schoen needs just 16 points, while Mattox is 89 points away.
But Mattox has been on a roll of late, scoring a team-high 15.1 points through ISU’s 4-3 start to Missouri Valley Conference play. -
IU triumphs
When Indiana’s Will Sheehey left the floor after receiving his second technical foul, the Hoosier fans cheered.
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ISU women nipped at buzzer
Creighton sophomore Carli Tritz — blanketed by Indiana State senior Brittany Schoen — had just two points at halftime Friday in Hulman Center.
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ISU needs to find chip on its shoulder
When one looks back at the totality of Indiana State’s 2010-11 men’s basketball season, there’s a recurrent theme that tied together the high points in a 20-14 campaign. A recurrent theme that might give ISU a lifeline in what has been a disappointing 2012 season.
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