Baton Rouge, La. — Depth is one thing. Indiana State’s men’s basketball team has plenty of that. So do many other college basketball programs.
It’s quality of depth that matters. If someone comes off the bench and there’s an immediate dropoff, or, if they can’t lift the team if the players they replaced on the floor are struggling, what does it matter how many bodies a team has?
Since he was activated from a one-game NCAA suspension, ISU swingman Dwayne Lathan has embodied quality of depth.
He had 14 points and four rebounds off the bench for the Sycamores in their 76-63 victory over Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He was 7 of 7 from the field.
In fact, Lathan hasn’t missed a shot as a Sycamore yet. He was 3-for-3 against LSU on Monday. The only miss he has is a free throw against LSU on Monday.
“He hasn’t missed a shot in two games ... I think we need to schedule more games in Louisiana,” ISU coach Kevin McKenna jested.
Lathan’s offense is obviously a big key, but it’s his energy that really matters.
When he entered the game against Milwaukee on Tuesday, the Sycamores were reeling. The Panthers jumped to a 12-3 lead against a Sycamore starting unit that came out flat. Along with Koang Doluony, who has also played well off the bench in the two games at LSU, Lathan changed the tenor of the game with his energy on both the offensive and defensive ends. He made a layup at the 15-minute mark to build on a Jake Kelly 3-pointer to cut ISU’s deficit to 12-8.
“I’m just trying to give the team anything I can give them [off the bench]. Whether its defense, rebounding, steals, trying to find the open man or scoring. I’m going to do whatever I can do to help this team. If it’s off the bench, so be it,” Lathan said.
Rashad Reed, who started on Tuesday, but who has come off the bench in ISU’s previous two games, is appreciative of the lift players like Lathan provide.
“We’ve got young guys like Dwayne and Koang who gave us a nice 1-2. It’s nice to have the depth, we need to make sure we’re all on the right page and focused,” Reed said.
As for Lathan’s perfect shooting, a lot of it has to do with good, aggressive choices as to when and how he goes to the basket. It’s something ISU’s other close-to-the-basket players are struggling with, but Lathan has had a knack for when to go to the hole, and when he does, how to position himself so he can convert.
“I’m mostly trying to take what the defense gives me and not try to force too much. When a call is made my way, I try to take whatever is available, whether it’s scoring or kicking. It happened to always be the right decision, so hopefully, I can keep it up,” Lathan said.
Lathan also made a big defensive play, sealing Milwaukee’s fate when he jumped in front of a Jerard Ajami pass with 2:30 to go and fed it to Brant Leitnaker for a dunk that put ISU up 10 and took away any chance the Panthers thought they had to mount a late comeback.
For Lathan, the trip to Louisiana has been a big thrill. The Chatham, La., native started his career at Louisiana Tech and was initially deeply disappointed when the NCAA slapped a suspension on him that would have kept him out of action against LSU on Monday.
“It’s a good feeling to be home. It’s been three months since I’ve seen my family, so it was good to see them. I’m just glad we pulled one out tonight for them,” Lathan said.
Todd Golden is sports editor of the Terre Haute Tribune-Star. He can be reached at (812) 231-4272 or todd.golden@tribstar.com. Check out Golden’s blog at blogs.tribstar.com/downinthevalley.
College
From the Press Box: Lathan’s energy off the bench big for ISU
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