News From Terre Haute, Indiana

College

November 16, 2009

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

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

Text Only | Photo Reprints
College
  • 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.”

    February 10, 2012

  • SPT 020912 OLADIPO DRIVE.jpg 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.

    February 10, 2012 1 Photo

  • 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.

    February 8, 2012

  • 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.

    February 5, 2012

  • 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.

    February 4, 2012

  • 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.

    February 4, 2012

  • 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.

    February 4, 2012

  • 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.

    February 4, 2012

  • SPT 102111 FRANKLIN DEFENS.jpg 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.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • 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.

    February 3, 2012

  • 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.

    February 2, 2012

  • Wabash Valley verbal commitments

    February 2, 2012

  • 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?
     

    January 31, 2012

  • METRO ROUNDUP: Four from Rose receive weekly honors

    Four Rose-Hulman athletes earned Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference weekly honors, the HCAC announced Monday.
     

    January 31, 2012

  • 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.

    January 30, 2012

  • 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.

    January 29, 2012

  • 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.

    January 29, 2012

  • 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.

    January 29, 2012

  • 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.

    January 29, 2012

  • 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.

    January 27, 2012

  • SPT 120611 MATTOX PLEA.jpg 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.

    January 27, 2012 4 Photos

  • IU triumphs

    When Indiana’s Will Sheehey left the floor after receiving his second technical foul, the Hoosier fans cheered.

    January 23, 2012

  • 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.

    January 21, 2012

  • 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.

    January 21, 2012

  • ISU women look to reverse recent trend vs. Creighton

    The Creighton women’s basketball team has won three of their last four games in Hulman Center.  While the Bluejays have been one of the winningest programs in the Missouri Valley Conference — with at least 12 league wins in seven of the last nine seasons — the Bluejays’ success in Terre Haute would need to end if the Sycamores want to show that their 4-1 start to league play is not a fluke.

    January 20, 2012

  • SPT 011212 ZELLER BLOCK.jpg Hoosiers, Buckeyes meet after suffering upsets

    Ohio State standout Jared Sullinger blames himself for the fifth-ranked Buckeyes’ most recent loss.
    “There were times in the Illinois game where I just kind of took a break on the defensive end instead of the offensive end and it cost us,” Sullinger said, referring to a 79-74 setback on Tuesday.

    January 15, 2012 4 Photos

  • Rose drops pair to Transylvania

    Transylvania withstood a second half charge by Rose-Hulman to earn a 60-46 men’s basketball victory in a battle of Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference co-leaders Saturday.

    January 15, 2012

  • Bradley shoots down ISU women

    The Indiana State women’s basketball team ran into a hot-shooting Bradley team on Saturday afternoon, as the Sycamores dropped a road contest 79-58 inside the Renaissance Coliseum.

    January 15, 2012

  • Defense fails ISU again in loss at Southern Illinois

    Defense wins championships. So what does lack of defense do?

    January 14, 2012

  • SPT010612ISUWBBthomas2.jpg ISU women pick up big road win against defending champion Northern Iowa

    Brittany Schoen hit a 3-pointer to begin the second half that put Indiana State ahead 36-25. The senior’s shot and ISU’s stingy defense helped the Sycamores pull ahead by as many as 16 in the second half on the way to a 68-62 triumph at Northern Iowa.
    Indiana State moved into a tie for first place with a 4-0 record.

    January 13, 2012 1 Photo

Latest News
Multimedia

Like us on Facebook!
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
Join the Conversation
Helium
Front page
AP Video
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate' Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat $25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
NDN Video
Woolly Mammoth Caught on Camera? Sandusky makes a statement Did JLo 'Assault' Marc Anthony on Camera? Christie Brinkley's Runway Slip Toddler forced to run half-naked in snow Halle Wants to Leave the Country Northern Lights shine above earth Plane makes perfect belly landing Kris Jenner New Face of Arousal Oils Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames Trending: Zip it! What's in Steve Jobs' FBI file? SJP Talks About Replacing Demi Moore in 'Lovelace' Over 200 dead dolphins wash ashore Lady Gaga's Battle With Bulimia Evacuation at Sea Osama Bin Laden Zombie Movie: "Osombie" Teaser Released LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal VS Model Quits Over Religion Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News