TERRE HAUTE — Rose-Hulman men’s basketball coach Jim Shaw has probably lost any element of surprise concerning his 2009-10 team.
After all, his Engineers — featuring only three upperclassmen — played in a very public venue for the first time in a preseason exhibition game vs. Indiana State at Hulman Center on Nov. 4.
Rose fell 89-50 to the Sycamores, but Shaw, starting his 16th year, liked what he saw from his team, especially in the second half.
“Disappointed we didn’t play better, but [coaches and players] were excited about the experience,” Shaw said. “We were excited to show what we could do in that second half.”
Rose followed up the ISU experience with its annual “not for the public” scrimmage vs. Washington (Mo.) University, at Hulbert Arena on Nov. 8.
“Wash U has four starters and their entire bench back from a two-time [Division III] national championship team, three-time final four team,” Shaw noted. “We were much more competitive with them this year than we were last year.”
Shaw feels the stout competition provided by ISU and Washington will only help his team this season.
“We are still very, very young and relatively inexperienced … but I think we’re very talented,” Shaw stated. “We’re a total unknown. I’m sure people don’t know about our young kids.”
So is this team capable of turning around a stretch of five consecutive losing seasons (9-16 last year)?
“How good we are and how quickly we are good will depend on how the sophomores build on their experience from last year and how quickly the freshmen can learn what college basketball is all about,” Shaw said. “Because we’re heavily dependent on both those two classes. So far, so good.”
The three upperclassmen are seniors Jeff McCartney (6-foot-1, 175 pounds), C.J. Tuskan (5-10, 175) and junior Steve Ricks (6-1, 165).
“Jeff’s been a solid player his entire time here, a very consistent guy,” Shaw said. McCartney started all 25 games last year, averaging just under 10 ppg and shooting 36 percent on 3-pointers.
Tuskan, despite being a senior, is only in his second season playing basketball at Rose. Tuskan played five games (1.2 ppg), while Ricks played in 21 games (1.4 ppg) a year ago.
“Both of them I think have improved tremendously,” Shaw noted. “I expect them contending for starting positions and are very much in the picture in terms of quality playing time.”
While just sophomores, point guard Blake Knotts (5-10, 160), forward Jason Haslag (6-6, 200) and center Spencer Harlan (6-6, 230) — a Terre Haute South graduate — played extensively last season.
Knotts paced the Engineers in scoring last year at 11.5 ppg, including nearly 44 percent accuracy on 3-pointers. Harlan (4.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg) started 10 games last year, while Haslag (5.9 ppg) played in all 25 games.
“Those three guys have done nothing to disappoint me and they’ll all three start [vs. Millikin] today,” Shaw said.
“We’re trying to do a better job with Blake of getting him open. He’s a little guy, so I think as a team we have to do a better job of creating shots for him. Spencer is a load inside. He’s really improved his offensive game. I’d like to see more consistency out of him and Jason.”
Shaw is excited with his seven freshmen entering the program.
“We have several good freshmen, but four particularly should impact us right away,” he said. “Three really quickly.”
Jon Gerken (6-6, 200) brings versatility to the post position because of his mobility and length — he pulled down 17 rebounds in 35 minutes in the scrimmage with Washington.
“Nate Gissentanner (6-4, 185) and Austin Weatherford (6-1, 165) are just two very talented wings,” Shaw continued. “Show flashes of brilliance. But they have to learn how to slow down at the right time, speed up at the right time … break some habits they could get away with in high school.”
A fifth freshman expected to contribute is forward Brent Balsbaugh (6-5, 200).
Will the style of play be any different this season?
“We’ve put emphasis on speeding up our tempo a little bit,” Shaw said. “We’d like to run. Not at breakneck speed, but we’d like to run and get some early opportunities in transition offensively. But we also need to recognize when it becomes a halfcourt possession, then being patient like we’ve always been. That’s the challenge.”
Four starters have been selected for the start of the season in McCartney, Knotts, Harlan and Haslag. Shaw hadn’t selected a fifth starter as of Friday, saying it will come from Ricks, Tuskan, Gissentanner or Weatherford. Ricks started vs. ISU, while Tuskan started vs. Washington.
• Season opener today — Rose opens its regular season with a nonconference road contest at Millikin University in Decatur, Ill. at 2 p.m. CST today. Millikin edged Rose 49-45 on Nov. 30, 2008 at Hubert Arena.
“Very experienced, but lost two really good players from last year,” Shaw said of Millikin. “They are very athletic. They drive it, do some things inside on the offensive boards that concern me.
“They are a little unusual, a good shooting team from mid-range, but they’re returning guys that don’t shoot many 3’s. Hopefully they haven’t expanded their range since last year,” he joked.
Millikin is projected to start five seniors. Three of those seniors, Robert Burton, Corey Mitchell and Joscar Demby all averaged between 8.9 and 9.8 ppg last year.
Rose-hulman at Millikin
Tipoff — 2 p.m. CST today, Griswold Center, Decatur, Ill.
Broadcasts — Radio: none. Link to in-game coverage: www.rose-hulman.edu/sports
Series — Millikin leads 5-2. Millikin won 49-45 in their last meeting at Hulbert Arena on Nov. 30, 2008.
The players
Rose-Hulman Engineers (0-0) — position, name (ht., class, stats).
F Jason Haslag (6-6, So., 5.9 ppg last year), F Spencer Harlan (6-6, So., 4.6 ppg), G Blake Knotts (5-10, So., 11.3 ppg), G Jeff McCartney (6-1, Sr., 9.9 ppg), G C.J. Tuskan (5-10, Sr., 1.2 ppg) are the projected starters.
Coach — Jim Shaw (214-174, 16th year).
Millikin Big Blue (0-0) — position, name (ht., class, stats).
F Robert Burton (6-5, Sr., 9.8 ppg last year), C Joscar Demby (6-7, Sr., 9.2 ppg.), G Devin Demby (6-4, Sr., 4.5 ppg), G Charles Warren (6-2, Sr., 6.8 ppg), G Corey Mitchell (6-0, Sr., 8.9 ppg) are the projected starters.
Coach — Marc Smith (25-25), 3rd year).
Injuries — none reported.
Keys to the game
n Rose is seeking to win their fifth straight season opener, but Millikin has won the last three meetings between the two teams.
n Knotts and McCartney were Heartland Collegiate Athletic Association honorable mention players last year.
Tidbit — Rose-Hulman was 9-16 last season, their fifth consecutive losing season. Millikin was 16-9 a year ago.
Next games — Rose-Hulman opposes Southwestern in a tournament at Chicago on Saturday. Millikin is at Franklin the same day.
— Dennis Clark
Rose-Hulman men’s basketball schedule
Today — At Millikin, 2 p.m. CT
University of Chicago “Midway Classic”
Nov. 21 — vs. Southwestern Univ., 8 p.m. CT
Nov. 22 — vs. Univ. of Chicago/Earlham, 1 or 5 p.m. CT
Nov. 24 — At Robert Morris-Springfield, 7:30 p.m. CT
Nov. 29 — Blackburn, 7 p.m.
Dec. 2 — At Franklin*, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 5 — At Defiance*, 3 p.m.
Dec. 8 — At Wabash, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 12 — Transylvania*, 3 p.m.
Dec. 15 — At Fontbonne, 8 p.m. CT
Dec. 17 — Earlham, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 3 — At Manchester*, 4 p.m.
Jan. 6 — Dominican, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 9 — Bluffton*, 3 p.m.
Jan. 13 — Anderson*, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 16 — Mount St. Joseph*, 3 p.m.
Jan. 20 — At Hanover*, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 23 — Defiance*, 3 p.m.
Jan. 27 — Franklin*, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 30 — At Transylvania*, 3 p.m.
Feb. 6 — Manchester*, 5 p.m.
Feb. 10 — At Anderson*, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 13 — At Bluffton*, 3 p.m.
Feb. 17 — Hanover*, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 20 — At Mount St. Joseph*, 3 p.m.
Feb. 26-28 — HCAC Tournament (top six teams), TBA
* — Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference games.
RHIT men’s roster
10 Eric Windham G 6-2 160 Fr.
11 Jason Haslag F 6-6 200 So.
12 Blake Knotts G 5-10 160 So.
15 Eric Weathers F 6-3 180 So.
21 Jeff McCartney G 6-1 175 Sr.
23 Steve Ricks G 6-1 165 Jr.
25 Austin Weatherford G 6-1 165 Fr.
31 C.J. Tuskan G 5-10 175 Sr.
33 Nate Gissentanner F 6-4 185 Fr.
41 Julian Coleman G 6-2 165 Fr.
43 Zach Kleman F 6-3 195 So.
45 Jordan Nielson F 6-3 185 So.
51 Evan Sanders F 6-4 235 Fr.
53 Jon Gerken F 6-6 200 Fr.
54 Spencer Harlan F 6-6 230 So.
55 Brenton Balsbaugh F 6-5 200 Fr.
College
‘Very, very young’ Rose men’s hoops ready to end streak of losing seasons
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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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