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
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Indiana State connects on all 12 of its 3-point shots vs. SIU and sets three NCAA records in process
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Perfect game: ISU shoots NCAA record 12-for-12 from 3-point range in win over SIU
Indiana State set an NCAA record for 3-point percentage and consecutive 3-pointers made Saturday afternoon in Hulman Center, connecting on all 12 attempts during a 78-68 win over Southern Illinois.
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MVC’s worst a tantalizing option for ISU
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Sycamores can’t slow down Stutz, Wichita State
All or nothing.
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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.
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McWhorter’s fortunes rise with ISU’s
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ISU grinds out win
Drake’s men’s basketball played three overtimes on Saturday; Indiana State played two on Sunday.
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Christmas came a bit late, or quite early, depending on your point of reference, but 27 recruits were welcomed to the Indiana State football program on National Signing Day at Hulman Center on Wednesday.
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After 2 wins, Indiana State isn’t rolling quite yet
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Sycamores need 2 overtimes to claim win at Evansville
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Schoen scores 1,000th point in ISU loss
Brittany Schoen scored a game-high 20 points Sunday, becoming the 24th Indiana State women’s basketball player to reach the 1,000-point career mark, but host Wichita State pulled away in the final minutes for a 74-63 win over the Sycamores in Koch Arena.
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Sycamores will have to match Aces’ toughness
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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.
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VICTORY! Sycamores shake losing streak against UNI
With 4 minutes, 20 seconds to go, Indiana State’s men’s basketball led by 10 points and seemed to be on their way to a comfortable victory over Northern Iowa.
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ISU not without options at quarterback
With the graduation of Ronnie Fouch, Indiana State coach Trent Miles has a big hole to fill at quarterback for the 2012 season.
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MVC play-in round a stronger possibility for ISU
If you’re familiar with the Beetle Bailey comic strip, a classic scene depicts Sarge hanging from a branch growing out of the side of a cliff with Beetle looking down from above.
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TILL IT'S OVER: Mahan’s emergence comes at a good time
In the preseason of her second year, Indiana State women’s basketball coach Teri Moren spoke with excitement about having more “pieces” to fit together for a winning puzzle.
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Halfway to ninth: No. 18 Creighton blows out ISU
The defensive job the Indiana State men’s basketball team did on Creighton super sophomore Doug McDermott might be the envy of the Missouri Valley Conference.
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TODD GOLDEN: Indiana State men caught between expectation, reality
The Missouri Valley Conference is hush-hush on how it puts together its matchups for the annual conference schedule.
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ISU women focusing on turnovers today
The ISU women will be concentrating on hanging on to the ball today against Drake in Hulman Center.
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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.
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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.
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Sycamores suffer MVC loss again
One percenters? Ninety-nine percenters? Indiana State’s men's basketball team finds itself in a different and unwelcome numerical category.
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ISU men on the defensive
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.
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