ISU men's basketball hopes good play in opener translates to bayou bonanza

By Todd Golden

The Indiana State men’s basketball team did a lot of good in its 88-58 season-opening victory over Nebraska-Kearney on Friday.

But with respect to the Lopers, the Sycamores dominated a Division II team — something ISU should do.

With the degree of difficulty ratcheted up significantly as ISU embarks on its Dick’s NIT Season Tipoff journey tonight at Louisiana State, how much of what the Sycamores did well Friday translates to what they hope they can do against a Southeastern Conference foe?

ISU coach Kevin McKenna thinks quite a bit, actually.

“I still like our guards and I think we can get in the paint and make plays. I think we can really spread out the floor with Jake [Kelly] and Harry [Marshall] and J.P. [Jordan Printy]. With the ball in their hands, there’s some good things that can happen in our spread [offense]. I think that translates; I think our depth translates,” McKenna said.

One number ISU put up, or didn’t as the case may be, jumped out at Marshall.

“We had six turnovers in a 40-minute game for a team that runs? That’s a big key. I think if we can take that down to LSU, and also, later on in the conference, and handle the ball night in, night out, we’ll be in great shape,” Marshall said.

The Preseason NIT — it is ISU’s first appearance in the 20-year history of the tournament — is a great opportunity for a program that feels it’s going places, with New York — site of the championship next week — the place ISU really wants to be.

“You only get so many big opportunities to do this in your career,” McKenna said.

“We win two games and we’re playing at Madison Square Garden. I’ve told them about what a thrill it is to be in New York. There’s a big pot of gold at the end of the tunnel after [today] and Tuesday’s games. I hope the guys are fired up about it. I’m getting to be an old man, I don’t get excited about much, but I’m fired up to be in this tournament.”

It won’t be easy. LSU was 27-8 last season, won the SEC Western Division, and lost 84-70 to North Carolina in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers have only two starters returning from that team. However, veteran standout senior forward Tasmin Mitchell (16.3 ppg, 7.2 rebounds) — who played on LSU’s Final Four team in 2006 — is one of them and is going to be a major headache for the Sycamores to contend with. Point guard Bo Spencer is steady and helped the Tigers enjoy the second-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the SEC last season.

LSU (1-0) trampled in-state foe Louisiana-Monroe 82-62 on Friday. Six-foot-7 forward Storm Warren had 15 points and 12 rebounds and will be a handful for the Sycamores. Spencer had 22 points to lead the Tigers.

The last time ISU played a SEC foe was Nov. 23, 2000, when the Sycamores fell 82-62 to Georgia at the San Juan Shootout. ISU has never played the Bayou Bengals.

ISU has lost four in a row against teams from the so-called major conferences. ISU’s last win came in 2007 when it beat Purdue at Hulman Center.

Whether ISU gets past LSU or not, its task doesn’t get any easier. The Sycamores will play either Western Kentucky or Wisconsin-Milwaukee in its second game on Tuesday at the Pete Maravich Center.

The Hilltoppers, who haven’t played a regular-season game yet, are a perennial power in the Sun Belt Conference and are getting recognition with votes in the national polls. WKU returns four of its five starters from last season’s 25-9 team, including leading scorer A.J. Slaughter, a guard who averaged 16 points per game last season. Forward Steffphon Pettigrew is also a threat; he averaged 12.7 points and 5.1 rebounds last season.

Before Butler rose to prominence, Milwaukee (1-0) was the standard-bearer in the Horizon League when Bruce Pearl coached there in the early part of the decade. The Panthers had a few down seasons once Pearl departed for Tennessee, but Rob Jeter got the program over .500 a year ago and the Panthers return six of their top seven scorers from last season.

The Panthers downed Division II Concordia (Minn.) 89-73 on Friday. Guard Ricky Franklin led Milwaukee with 21 points.

ISU caught a break from the NCAA when Dwayne Lathan’s NCAA-mandated suspension was cut from two games to one on Friday. Lathan’s athleticism and ability to rebound should help the Sycamores against the Tigers.

“It means a lot to Dwayne. Being a Louisiana kid, playing in that arena for him is going to be a big thrill,” McKenna said.

Dick’s NIT Season Tipoff • ISU at LSU

Tipoff — 8 p.m. today at Pete Maravich Center, Baton Rouge, La.

Tuesday — 5:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. vs. Western Kentucky or Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Broadcasts — Radio: WSDM (92.7-FM).

Last time out — ISU defeated Nebraska-Kearney 88-58 on Friday. LSU defeated Louisiana-Monroe 82-62 on Friday. Milwaukee defeated Concordia (Minn.) 89-73 on Friday.

Series — ISU has never played LSU. ISU is 1-3 against WKU and 5-2 against Milwaukee.

The players

Indiana State Sycamores (1-0) — G Harry Marshall (6-0, Sr., 10 ppg, 4 apg, 4 spg); G Jake Kelly (6-6, Jr., 16 ppg); G-F Dwayne Lathan (6-3, So., debut); F Carl Richard (6-5, So., 6 ppg) and C Brant Leitnaker (6-10, Jr., 2 ppg) are possible starters. G Rashad Reed (6-1, Sr., 14 ppg); G-F Aaron Carter (6-4, Jr., 10 ppg); G Jordan Printy (6-4, So., 11 ppg, 7 rpg); C Josh Crawford (6-11, Sr., 8 ppg, 7 rpg, 3 bpg) and C Isiah Martin (6-8, Jr., 6 ppg, 4 rpg) are key contributors off the bench.

Coach — Kevin McKenna (27-37 at ISU, 3rd year; 116-70 overall, 7th year).

LSU (1-0) — F Tasmin Mitchell (6-7, Sr., 15 ppg, 5 rpg); F Garrett Green (6-11, So., 3 ppg); F Storm Warren (6-7, So., 15 ppg, 12 rpg, 3 bpg); G Bo Spencer (6-2, Jr., 23 ppg, 5 apg); G Aaron Dotson (6-4, Fr., 6 ppg) are probable starters. Chris Bass (6-1, So., 7 ppg, 4 rpg) is a contributor off the bench.

Coach — Trent Johnson (28-8 at LSU, 2nd year; 187-129, 11th year)

Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1-0) — F Tony Meier (6-8, So., 11 ppg); F James Eayrs (6-7, Sr., 20 ppg, 10 rpg); G Deonte Roberts (6-3, Jr., 12 ppg, 5 rpg); G Ricky Franklin (6-1, Sr., 21 ppg, 6 rpg); G Jerard Ajami (6-2, Jr., 4 ppg) are probable starters. G Patrick Souter (6-0, Fr., 9 ppg) and G Lonnie Boga (6-3, Fr., 6 ppg) are contributors off the bench.

Coach — Rob Jeter (63-61, 5th year)

Western Kentucky (0-0) — F Sergio Kerusch (6-5, Jr., 11.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg in ‘09); F Steffphon Pettigrew (6-5, Jr., 12.7, 5.1 rpg); C Jeremy Evans (6-9, Sr., 8.8, 5.7 rpg); G A.J. Slaughter (6-3, Sr., 16 ppg, 3.6 apg); G Anthony Sally (6-2, Sr., 4.1) are possible starters.

Coach — Ken McDonald (25-9, 2nd year)

Injuries — For ISU, G Rashad Reed (knee), G Harry Marshall (foot), C Isiah Martin (knee) are all probable.

Keys to the game

• Kelly, who is still learning the ISU system, will need to continue to help the Sycamores by getting to the line off his drives.

• Newly active Lathan will have to help on the boards and not get too excited about his ISU debut and playing in his home state.

• Looking to future games, McKenna needs to maintain his substitution structure to keep legs fresh. ISU plays seven games in 16 days, a daunting task regardless of team depth.

Tidbit — The last time ISU won the opener of a non-exempt tournament was 2003 when ISU defeated Southeast Missouri State in the opening round of the New Orleans Shootout. The Sycamores played Milwaukee in the next round and lost in the last meeting between the two schools.

Next games — ISU and LSU play either WKU or Milwaukee Tuesday at the Maravich Center.

— Todd Golden