TERRE HAUTE — Indiana State center Brant Leitnaker has been wearing his distinctive No. 0 uniform for the men’s basketball team since 2006.
He can’t believe its been that long either.
“I’ve been around for a couple of years now. It’s kind of strange, actually,” Leitnaker said.
Leitnaker has the longest tenure of anyone in ISU’s frontcourt — a unit that will be under the microscope to be productive given the infusion of depth and talent the Sycamores have at their guard spots.
Leitnaker is a junior by eligibility — he missed the 2007-08 season due to a foot injury — but he is a senior by experience. He’s played sparingly for most of his career — the center spot was Jay Tunnell’s domain through most of Leitnaker’s career — though the Lancaster, Ohio, native did start 12 games last year. Despite that, he still averaged just 9.5 minutes per game.
Leitnaker’s minutes declined as games went along because he didn’t have the stamina to play for long stretches. Leitnaker also made just 37 percent of his shots, a too-low percentage for someone who takes most of his shots within spitting range of the basket.
Leitnaker recognized these issues has done his best to try and rectify both.
“I’m lifting about four days a week and running a few days a week. I’m doing a lot of shooting, I’m trying to get myself into a routine so it’s all second nature when the season gets going,” Leitnaker said. “But what I really want to do is get strong and get in shape. The last few years I’ve broken down with not just my foot, but back injuries and whatever else. I’m trying to condition myself.”
Leitnaker should get more minutes this season. Tunnell’s graduation changes the entire face of the ISU frontcourt. Leitnaker is probably the closest thing to a traditional center ISU has — a 6-foot-10 big man, Leitnaker does most of his damage close to the basket. He differs somewhat from fellow posts Isiah Martin, who is more athletic, and Josh Crawford, who can occasionally stretch a defense with mid-range and outside jumpers. All, however, have the ability to block shots. Defense figures to be the standard by which ISU’s big men are judged. Leitnaker thinks it will be a big key as far as how ISU’s guards mesh with the big men.
“We definitely need to take up space in the middle and make it easy on the guards, because they’re going to be scoring a lot. We also have to make it easy for them on the defensive end and get some rebounds. We have some guards who can rebound, but we have to basically work as a unit. We need to focus less and guards and posts and just make sure we’re flowing together.”
A new challenge for the bigs will be running the floor. Given the infusion of athleticism — not only from Iowa transfer Jake Kelly, but from Louisiana Tech transfer Dwayne Lathan and from redshirt freshman Koang Doluony — ISU’s big men will be called upon to help as the Sycamores will like press more in 2010.
Leitnaker is more confident than ever than he can be a part of ISU’s quicker pace. That’s because he’s healthy entering a season for the first time since his freshman year.
“Everyone is healthy, everyone feels good, and it’s a big part of us coming together and being the team we can be. When we’re all on the floor, it makes it that much easier for all of us to be on the same page,” Leitnaker said.
n Media day — ISU’s men’s coach Kevin McKenna and ISU women’s coach Jim Wiedie head to St. Louis today for Missouri Valley Conference Media Day. Harry Marshall and Kelsey Luna are the Sycamores’ player representatives making the trip.
The official MVC preseason poll for both genders will be released. Conventional wisdom among those who cover the conference is that the ISU men could be anywhere from fourth to eighth. The women should likely be in the top five.
Indiana State University
Indiana State's Leitnaker working hard to get involved this season
- Indiana State University
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One out away from win, ISU falls to Boilermakers
So close, yet so close?
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Maynard to serve as interim president of ISU Foundation
The Indiana State University Foundation Board of Directors today announced the appointment of Jack Maynard to serve as the foundation's interim president. Maynard will remain provost and vice president of academic affairs for the university during his interim role with the foundation.
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Indiana State’s Rupe gets test today at No. 13 Purdue
Indiana State’s late-scheduled baseball game at No. 13 Purdue today has many benefits, not the least of which is that ISU’s NCAA Tournament chances increase merely by playing the game as the Sycamores’ strength of schedule gets a shot in the arm.
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Sycamores get brooms out: ISU needs 1 more win to claim MVC
Indiana State’s baseball team had won every Missouri Valley Conference series it had played this season, but one nagging thought was on the Sycamores’ minds as they suited up Sunday to play Southern Illinois.
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ISU rallies for 2nd straight MVC title
A strong Sunday performance lifted Indiana State’s men to a second straight Missouri Valley Conference track championship Sunday at Wichita State.
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Win over SIU puts Sycamores in first place
As Indiana State’s baseball team tried to climb to the top of the Missouri Valley Conference mountain on Saturday against Southern Illinois, it stood to reason that the air would get more rarefied as they neared the summit.
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ISU gives Bacus run support, win
Starting pitchers tread on shaky ground when the topic of run support comes up. To broach the topic if they’re not getting it can be a dicey proposition in the clubhouse.
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ISU adds showdown with Purdue
Butler’s overbooked baseball schedule is doing wonders for Indiana State’s baseball slate … and possibly … for ISU’s at-large chances for the NCAA baseball tournament.
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Metro roundup: ISU’s Lucas honored by Missouri Valley again
For the fifth time in the last nine weeks, Indiana State junior catcher Jeremy Lucas has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week.
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Bad day at the office: Factors within & beyond Sycamores’ control conspire in loss
Indiana State’s baseball team hasn’t chalked up many bad days during a 36-12 campaign, but Sunday’s 8-2 loss to Wichita State in the series finale between the two teams would be an exception.
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Three Sycamores get wins at IU
Three Sycamores posted wins in the Billy Hayes Invitational hosted by Indiana University Friday in the Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex.
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Rapid response lifts Sycamores over Shockers
At some point last week, the Indiana State right fielder previously known as Robby Ort decided to shorten his chosen name and identify himself as Rob Ort.
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Pickoff move a weapon for Manaea
If all Indiana State starting pitcher Sean Manaea did right for the Sycamores was to retire batters at the plate, no one would have any complaints.
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Sycamores top Shockers in 10 innings in MVC series opener
If free baseball is what you want, Indiana State has what you need. For the sixth time in the span of a month, ISU’s series opener went extra innings.
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ISU hurdler earns MVC track athlete of week honor
Indiana State sophomore Greggmar Swift has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Track Athlete of the Week, according to an announcement from the league office Tuesday.
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Greg Goode to return to Indiana State as governmental relations director
Greg Goode is returning to Indiana State University as its executive director for governmental relations, ISU President Dan Bradley announced today.
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ISU goes to well too many times
Perhaps the most unnecessary pursuit for a Wabash Valley sports fan during the now-completed weekend was watching the first few innings of nonconference college baseball between Indiana State and visiting Nebraska-Omaha.
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What do you want to be?
For more than 43 years more than 14,000 high school students have been able to explore what their future job could be like, experience college campus life and earn university credit during one-week seminars in the Summer Honors Program at Indiana State University.
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ISU baseball living on the edge
Indiana State’s baseball team got its game against Nebraska-Omaha in Saturday between morning and evening rain showers. But in the wake of another walk-off 3-2 victory against the struggling Mavericks, one might be forgiven if they felt the Sycamores are walking between the raindrops a bit.
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Providing perspective: ISU’s vets have 2009 as window into 2012
Indiana State’s baseball team has reached dizzying heights, but if the Sycamores have any trouble keeping their feet on the ground, they can turn to three teammates who can remind them how dangerous it can be to get complacent.
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Missouri State wins MVC golf championship as expected
Missouri State was a unanimous pick to win the Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Golf Championship, the pollsters citing their experience with four upperclassmen.
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Sycamores drop finale
Despite freshman Megan Stone hitting her second career home run in the last three games, the Indiana State softball team fell in the series finale 9-1 to Illinois State.
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ISU defined by resiliency as Illinois falls
If you had to pick one game that best exemplified Indiana State’s baseball season to date, you’d be hard-pressed to choose a better example than ISU’s 6-4 victory over Illinois at Bob Warn Field on Tuesday.
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Uphill Battle: ISU 23 strokes back of MVC leader No. Iowa
Indiana State maintained sixth place after two rounds of the Missouri Valley Conference Golf Championships, but the Sycamores face a tough challenge to move into the top half of the league after today’s final round at the Country Club of Terre Haute.
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Enter Cummings, exit McWhorter
All it took was a stat sheet to show Indiana State men’s basketball coach Greg Lansing the glaring need the Sycamores had as they built their 2013 team.
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TH golf community steps up for ISU
The Terre Haute golf community and the Indiana State women’s golf program can be a thriving partnership, and this week’s Missouri Valley Golf Championships have put that potential on display.
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ISU comes up big
Indiana State’s weekend baseball series with Dallas Baptist was ballyhooed as a make-or-break opportunity for the Sycamores to state their case for an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament.
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Sycamores tied for 6th in MVC
Indiana State got off to a solid start, but a rash of bogeys on the back nine slipped the Sycamores into a tie for sixth place after the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Golf Championships at the Country Club of Terre Haute on Sunday.
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ISU baseball drops weekend series opener to DBU
Indiana State and Dallas Baptist are playing this weekend at Warn Field for the opportunity to position themselves for a NCAA baseball tournament at-large bid.
The first statement was made by the visiting Patriots. - ISU football hopes to survive as well as evaluate
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