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Indiana State University

ISU at Illinois State

Tipoff — 8:07 p.m. at Redbird Arena.
Broadcasts — TV: Fox Sports Midwest (satellite services), Time-Warner Channel 13 (Time-Warner cable). Radio: WSDM-FM 92.7. Twitter: @TribStarTodd.
Last time out — ISU lost 66-56 at home to Wichita State on Sunday. Illinois State is coming off a 77-60 loss at Drake.
Series — Illinois State leads 57-48. Indiana State has won the last two.

The players
Indiana State Sycamores (11-7, 2-5) — G Jake Odum (6-4, So., 10.1, 5.8 apg, 5.7 rpg), G Jordan Printy (6-4, Sr., 8.4 ppg), F Dwayne Lathan (6-3, Sr., 12.1, 4.9 rpg), F Carl Richard (6-5, Sr., 10.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and C Myles Walker (6-8, Sr., 8.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg) are possible starters. F R.J. Mahurin (6-8, So., 7.6), G Steve McWhorter (6-2, So., 4 ppg), C Jake Kitchell (6-10, Fr., 2.7 ppg), G Lucas Eitel (6-2, So., 2.3 ppg), C Justin Gant (6-8, Fr., 1.9 ppg), and F Koang Doluony (6-7, Jr., 0.9 ppg) could also see action.
Coach — Greg Lansing (31-21 at ISU, 2nd year).
Illinois State Redbirds (11-7, 3-4) — G Nic Moore (5-9, Fr., 9.2 ppg, 3.7 apg), G Tyler Brown (6-4, Jr., 12.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg), F John Wilkins (5-9, Jr., F Jon Ekey (6-7, So., 9.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and C Jackie Carmichael (6-9, Jr., 12.7 ppg, 8 rpg, 1.3 bpg) are the possible starters. G Anthony Cousin (5-11, Jr., 5.4 ppg, 2.7 apg), G Bryant Allen (6-0, So., 8.2 ppg) and C Jordan Threloff (6-10, Fr., 3.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg) are key reserves.
Coach — Tim Jankovich (94-57 at Illinois State, 5th year, and 147-114 overall, 8th year).
Injuries and absences — For ISU, F Carl Richard (back) is probable. G Jake Odum (foot) is probable.
Next games — ISU plays Saturday at Creighton, and Illinois State plays Saturday at Evansville.
— Craig Pearson

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January 18, 2012

ISU men on the defensive

Slowing down opponents hasn’t come easily this season

Craig Pearson The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — Indiana State has not been the same defensive team it was last season when the Sycamores led the Missouri Valley Conference in field-goal percentage defense.

When ISU had wing players with the size and athleticism of 6-foot-5 Aaron Carter and 6-6 Jake Kelly, its ability to contain and contest shots on the perimeter was one of its biggest strengths.

Through seven MVC games, ISU is fifth in the league, allowing opponents to shoot 45.6 percent — and the Sycamores are last in 3-point defense at 47 percent after the Shockers knocked down 10-of-20 from beyond the arc Sunday.

“We lost three good defenders, two that played significant minutes,” ISU coach Greg Lansing said. “They were our best guys on the ball. People have really come at us penetrating and spreading us out, attacking.”

The Sycamores are simply going to have to become a different type of defensive team this season, Lansing said.

“Guys are trying to find their roles. We have a lot of good players, but as far as defensive stopper types, it’s probably only two or three of them. It’s hard to keep all of them on the floor at one time,” Lansing said. “Opposing coaches are no dummies. They’re going right after matchups they like. They’ve been doing it and exploiting us.”

The Sycamores will have to turn that around to have a shot at repeating last year’s success. At 2-5 in the league heading into tonight’s game at Illinois State (11-7, 3-4), the Sycamores (11-7, 2-5) have time to reverse their fortunes, but that starts on the defensive end.

“The only chance we have to be good and win games is to be a good defensive team,” Lansing said.

Illinois State, trying to avoid a fourth straight loss tonight, is 8-2 at home this season. The Redbirds feature a lineup with good size up front. Jackie Carmichael is a 6-9, 240-pounder accompained by 6-7, 220-pound Jon Ekey.

Myles Walker, who had 14 rebounds Sunday, and ISU redshirt freshman Jake Kitchell, can also be important in ISU’s ability to improve at the defensive end.

Kitchell has seen how his role off the bench has the potential to help the Sycamores win basketball games. The 6-10 backup center tied his season-high with 13 minutes Sunday against Wichita State, posting six points, six rebounds and a blocked shot. Kitchell has posted 15 points in 29 minutes of action during MVC play.

“Kitch stays positive, he’s a great teammate. He’s continued to improve. Of anybody, he’s made the most of his minutes,” Lansing said.

Walker is a “great help defender,” Lansing said, and Kitchell said he can help ISU on the defensive end in similar fashion off the bench.

“Whether that’s going for the block when it’s there or it’s learning from R.J. and taking the charge,” Kitchell said. “Being the weakside defender and taking the charge is one of the biggest things I can do.

“It’s a lot of the two Es: energy and enthusiasm. I feel like I can come in and provide a spark.”

Kitchell may only see 10-15 minutes a game, but he can make the most of them. And if Walker finds himself in foul trouble, the freshman may have to step up.

“Kitch fights Myles every day in practice. He deserves some minutes. Until this point, [opponents] play small,” Lansing said.

“Just stay ready, bring some energy and do whatever I can for the team. It was a big game, I had some energy and came out and had some fun,” Kitchell said of the Wichita State game.

While the Sycamores played well against the highly touted Shockers, Illinois State is no slouch. The Sycamores won last season at Redbird Arena, 56-46, but Lansing thinks they’re a much-improved team.

 Freshman Nic Moore, a former Indiana prep standout at Warsaw, has taken over at point guard, providing stability to the Redbirds’ backcourt.

“A great, heady point guard that we really liked [in high school],” Lansing said. “It’s just the next task at hand to try to beat one of these Missouri Valley teams.”

 Junior college transfer Tyler Brown is another addition. He’s averaging more than 12 ppg and ranks second in the MVC in 3-pointers per game.

“We always felt that maybe they were missing a little something and he certainly added it this year,” Lansing said. “They were very talented last year, and with all the guys back from that team, just a versatile athletic, tough team to play.” 

A rigorous week for ISU continues after tonight with a trip to first place Creighton on Saturday. Two more losses, and the Sycamores will be 2-7 going into the second half of league play.

“Obviously we have scuffled. We came in with high expectations and we still have high expectations,” Lansing said. “This is a competitive group that’s disappointed with our record and some of our losses here in the conference. ”

Lansing and his teammates had a positive practice Tuesday, and will maintain a positive approach, he said.

“These guys are working hard to get better,” he said. “We know we’re a good team. We’ve got to forget about any negative thoughts or any negative comments about us. We’ve got to be positive. We’ve got to pull together. We’re going to do it with toughness and togetherness.”

Senior Dwayne Lathan’s comments are evidence that the Sycamores are “not deterred,” as Lansing says.

“We still have a great team. We’ve still got the second half of the conference schedule. We’ll just do what we can do, get as many wins as possible and get ready for St. Louis,” said Lathan, whose 14.6 scoring average leads ISU through seven MVC games. “We’re just going to be better on the defensive end and continue to be unselfish on the offensive end.”

At some point, Lathan expects ISU to turn the corner.

“It could be worse. Every game we’ve lost we’ve been right there. It’s mostly been some mental mistakes that cost us,” he said.

Justin Gant did not practice Tuesday due to a doctor’s recommendation. He and his mother Julie Gant were in an automobile accident.

The redshirt freshman was cleared to play tonight.

“She’s OK. Justin was very sore [Monday]. The doctors recommended we hold him out a day,” Lansing said.

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