TERRE HAUTE —
With Indiana State’s men’s basketball team playing just once a week in the first half of December, it’s given the players and the coaches ample time to get out their toolbox and go to work tinkering, tweaking and fixing.
ISU resumes game action at 2 p.m. today as it travels to Morehead State, the return game of a BracketBusters match-up from the 2011 season. But the focus through the course of practice wasn’t so much the Eagles as it was on the Sycamores themselves. There are six games of evidence to fall back on to point out things to improve upon.
“The biggest thing is we need to mature as a team. We make the same mistakes too many times. Guys take turns making the same mistakes and we can’t do that,” coach Greg Lansing said. “We have a really hard-working group, but we have to tighten things up in a lot of areas. We haven’t beaten a team that would finish in the top half of our league yet.”
How does that translate to practice time? Each unit was given something to improve upon. ISU forward R.J. Mahurin spoke for ISU’s bigs.
“We have to start contributing a little more. We have to start rebounding,” Mahurin said. “There’s a lot of little things we need to do that we haven’t been doing a good job of. We haven’t been boxing out on offensive boards. We have to dip in and seal guys. Just little things we haven’t been doing well.”
On the perimeter, ISU point guard Jake Odum has seen things that need to be tweaked.
“We’re watching film to understand what we’ve done well and what we’ve done poorly. We’ve been working hard on our spacing on the floor,” Odum said. “We’re getting shots up, but haven’t shot well so far. For us to be good, we have to knock down shots.”
If ISU is using torque wrenches and needle-nose pliers on various aspects of its game, it wants to take a band saw to its free throw shooting.
ISU is shooting just 65 percent at the line. Odum (77.6 percent) is the only Sycamore who is shooting better than 70 percent.
It wasn’t long ago (2010) that ISU was among the nation’s best free throw shooting teams, but that’s a distant memory. ISU is currently ranked 251st among 345 Division I teams.
Needless to say, free throw shooting has been an emphasis in practice. On Thursday, free throw shooting drills were conducted twice in the middle of regular drills. If you missed, the team ran.
“Free throws have been very poor. It’s embarrassing really,” Odum said. “But we’ve been in every morning. We’ve been shooting 100 free throws apiece between classes. That mental preparation and knowing we can knock them down is a key.”
Morehead State is coached by Sean Woods, who was recently suspended for a game for a sideline dust-up with one of his players in a game at Kentucky. The Eagles have not won since.
More germane to ISU is Morehead’s style under Woods, who played under Rick Pitino at Kentucky. The Eagles like to force mistakes by putting pressure on the ball.
“They’re going to pressure us and chase us all over the place. This is a game where you have to take care of the ball and not panic under that kind of pressure,” Lansing said.
n Future schedule — Lansing announced this week that ISU would be playing in the Great Alaska Shootout in the 2013-14 season and will play a two-for-one series against Purdue. That series won’t likely begin until 2014-15 at the earliest.
Butler will also make its BracketBusters return visit to Hulman Center and an additional home-and-home series was initiated with the Bulldogs.
But wait … there’s more.
ISU is also slated to play in Las Vegas in 2014-15 and in Cancun, Mexico in 2015-16. The Las Vegas tournament also allows ISU to host two teams before it plays in the desert.
“Doug Elgin [Missouri Valley Conference commissioner] wants us to play in a multi-team event every year, so I schedule them in advance. I want these guys to play in great venues and great tournaments,” Lansing said.
ISU at Morehead State
Tipoff — 2 p.m. at Ellis T. Johnson Arena, Morehead, Ky.
Broadcasts — Radio: WIBQ-FM 98.5. Twitter: @TribStarTodd
Last time out — ISU lost 77-68 in overtime to No. 18 New Mexico on Dec. 1. Morehead State lost 69-57 at home to North Dakota State on Wednesday.
Series — Morehead State leads 3-2. The Eagles won the last meeting 71-65 in 2011 at Hulman Center. ISU is 0-2 all-time at Morehead State.
The players
Indiana State Sycamores (4-2) — G Jake Odum (6-4, Jr., 15.2, 4.8 rpg, 4.7 apg), G Lucas Eitel (6-2, Jr., 8.3), F Manny Arop (6-6, Jr., 9.5, 6.5 rpg), F Jake Kitchell (6-10, So., 2.7) and C Justin Gant (6-8, So., 7.3, 5.3 rpg) are possible starters. F R.J. Mahurin (6-8, Jr., 9.3, 4.2 rpg), G-F Khristian Smith (6-6, Fr., 7.7), G Dawon Cummings (6-4, Jr., 5.3), G Devonte Brown (6-3, Fr., 2.5), F-C Rhett Smith (6-7, Fr., 0 ppg) and G Brandon Burnett (6-6, Fr., 0 ppg) are key reserves.
Coach — Greg Lansing (42-31 at ISU, 3rd year).
Morehead State Eagles (4-5) — G Devon Atkinson (6-1, Sr., 7.8, 4.5 apg), G Angelo Warner (6-3, So., 8.1), F Bruce Reed (6-7, Jr., 2.3), F Milton Chavis (6-6, Sr., 14.2, 4.4 rpg) and F-C Kahlil Owens (6-7, Sr., 6.4, 5.7 rpg) are possible starters. G Jarrett Stokes (6-1, Jr., 6.1), G Bakari Turner (6-4, Jr., 5.9), F Maurice Lewis-Briggs (6-8, Jr., 6.9), F Drew Kelly (6-7, Jr., 4.9), C Chad Posthumus (6-11, Jr., 6 ppg) and F Jason Holmes (6-9, Sr., 3 ppg) are key reserves.
Coach — Sean Woods (4-5 at Morehead State, 1st year; 54-85, 5th year overall).
Injuries — For ISU, C Mike Samuels (foot) is out. C Justin Gant (flu) is questionable.
Next — ISU plays at IUPUI next Saturday. Morehead State plays at South Dakota on Wednesday.
— Todd Golden
College
Indiana State men looking for maturation at Morehead State
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Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
Indiana State’s baseball was out of pitching, and after a loss to Wichita State on Thursday, the Sycamores were out of second-chances too at the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament. What the Sycamores weren’t out of was heart, guts and clutch performances from some unlikely sources. But in the end, Friday’s elimination game rematch against the Shockers was a sampling of ISU’s season overall — the Sycamores were out of luck.
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Metro Sports: Chalk up No. 5 for Liz Evans
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Four Indiana State athletes advance to NCAA outdoor track and field championships
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Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
Actually, he did far better than he ever has previously in an ISU uniform, but while Kuhlman’s gutty pitching effort spoke volumes, ISU’s bats remained ominously silent. -
Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship
Indiana State’s Wednesday morning wish list probably read something like this: a dominant complete game effort from starting pitcher Devin Moore, near-immaculate defense to support him, and a steady diet of clutch situational hitting from lineup spots one to nine.
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Terre Haute's Mascari running 10,000 meters for chance to get to Hayward Field
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Manaea's shoulder causing him latest pain
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ISU's Negele answers call in big way in wake of Manaea injury
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ISU baseball hoping Manaea can get its MVC Tournament moving in right direction
Indiana State’s baseball team has been waiting all season for its stars to align.
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ISU track sending record 22 to postseason
On the heels of their thrilling double victory at the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships both the Indiana State men and women moved up in the national rankings which were released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
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ISU's athletic treasure trove
Think of every championship that Indiana State has won in each of its sports, past and present. Think of every tournament — postseason or regular season — which the Sycamores have claimed as their own.
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Ort sets ISU RBI record in 16-7 win
Robby Ort celebrated his Indiana State baseball Senior Day on Saturday by becoming the Sycamores’ all-time leader in RBIs as ISU ended its regular season with a 16-7 win over Bradley at Bob Warn Field.
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Bradley ends 16-game MVC losing streak against ISU
Momentum was the only thing riding on Indiana State’s baseball game against Bradley on Friday. With a five-game winning streak going, ISU wanted to keep the good vibes going into next week’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
ISU couldn’t do it. -
Behind 16 hits and Manaea's pitching, ISU beats Bradley
Indiana State’s baseball team rode a wild ride of emotion on Thursday.
First came the public announcement that Bob Warn Field would host the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Later, Sean Manaea’s availability to pitch ISU’s series opener against Bradley was in doubt. -
Indiana State women add five transfers, including experienced D-I point guard
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Metro roundup: Woods softball takes seventh in national tournament
The St. Mary-of-the-Woods softball team finished seventh in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association softball tournament on Tuesday at Firestone Stadium.
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Metro Roundup: Indiana State’s Shakir Bell on Performance Awards watch list
College Football Performance Awards has announced its watch list for the 2013 CFPA FCS Running Back Award, and Indiana State’s Shakir Bell earned a spot on the list.
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ISU baseball team builds on success with 14-2 rout
Indiana State’s baseball victory over Alcorn State on Friday would take on more meaning Saturday if the Sycamores could build momentum and pick up on the good work they did in Friday’s ninth-inning rally.
Mission accomplished.
The Sycamores were aggressive from the opening inning at the plate and starting pitcher Devin Moore gave them eight valuable and effective innings on the mound as ISU defeated Alcorn State 14-2 at Bob Warn Field.
“It was a really good experience for everybody. It felt great to finally come out here and put some things together. It’s also really nice when your offense puts a lot of runs on the board,” Moore said.
Moore’s eight innings of work were as valuable as gold to an ISU team that is short on quality arms due to injury and ineffectiveness. He didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning and one of the two runs he conceded was unearned. -
Johnson, Lyke win MVC titles for ISU
Indiana State’s Felisha Johnson and Maurice Lyke were both crowned Missouri Valley Conference champions on Saturday during the MVC Track and Field Championships at Drake University.
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ISU earns badly-needed win
Alcorn State’s baseball team might be ranked in the bottom 10 in RPI and Indiana State might have never lost to a Southwestern Athletic Conference team. So it wouldn’t appear that a quality win was in the offing when Alcorn State visited Bob Warn Field on Friday.
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Metro roundup: RHIT’s Evans sets Div. III record in high jump
For the third time this season, Rose-Hulman senior Liz Evans topped the NCAA Division III all-time national record in the outdoor high jump Friday night.
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ISU’s Mascari and Hope win MVC track & field titles
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ISU pole vault tradition continues with help from its author
Pole vault is track and field for the adrenaline junkie, Indiana State senior Nicole Hope proclaimed during a recent practice at Marks Field.
To catapult oneself about 14 feet into the air with a large $500 fiberglass pole on a daily basis is a risky endeavor.
“We have to be fearless. You can’t be afraid at all,” said Hope, who has also catapulted herself into the NCAA’s elite in the event, ranking 15th in the NCAA with her leap of 13-feet, 9 1/4. -
Sycamores searching for answers after seventh loss in eight games
These are the bad times for the Indiana State baseball team.
The will is there for the Sycamores to pull out of their worst slump of the season, but the results are not. The suffering continued on Wednesday at Bob Warn Field as Eastern Illinois defeated ISU 5-3. -
METRO ROUNDUP: ISU men's track picked first in MVC Championships, women second
The Indiana State men’s track team has won the last two Missouri Valley Conference outdoor championships, but the women have not stood on the top podium since 1999.
That may change this year, but the Sycamores will face some stiff competition in their quest for the championships. -
North grad Welker helps Whitson earn first NCAA bid as coach
Eastern Kentucky girls golf coach Mike Whitson, an alumnus of his employer, enjoyed his stay in Terre Haute as coach of Indiana State, where he started the women’s golf program.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman wins HCAC all-sports trophy
Rose-Hulman has won the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference men’s all-sports trophy for the fifth time in the past six year, the league announced Monday.
Rose tallied 66.5 points for its finishes in 11 men’s sports, just ahead of Franklin with 66. Hanover was third with 53 points. -
METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman tennis falls in HCAC semifinal
Rose-Hulman’s hot streak in men’s tennis came to an end Saturday in the semifinal round of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament at the West Indy Racquet Club.
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Manaea fights off bad hip, wet weather to toss four innings
Mother Nature has been the bane of the Indiana State baseball team’s existence all season. Eight games wiped due to weather are a testament to that. So it was no surprise, though no less disappointing, when she didn’t deal Indiana State pitcher Sean Manaea the greatest hand on Saturday as he tries to recover from a hip injury.
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ISU track enjoys big night at IU's Billy Hayes Invitational
The Indiana State Sycamores either won or finished as the top collegian in 12 events, led by the record-breaking performance of senior Brandon Pounds at the 2013 Billy Hayes Invitational Friday at Indiana University.
Pounds broke his own school record to win the men’s hammer throw. - More College Headlines
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