League of extraordinary gentlemen

Indiana State University

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Leadership conference: Indiana State's Jake Odum talks with coach Greg Lansing during the Sycamores' win over Evasnville, Jan. 19 at Hulman Center.

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February 6, 2013

League of extraordinary gentlemen

Odum, McDermott lead Sycamores, No. 16 Bluejays into Hulman Center matchup

Todd Golden The Tribune-Star The Tribune Star Wed Feb 06, 2013, 11:12 AM EST

TERRE HAUTE — Indiana State and 16th-ranked Creighton are more than just the sum of their best players — Jake Odum and All-American Doug McDermott.

The Bluejays (20-3, 9-2) wouldn’t be leading the Missouri Valley Conference and the Sycamores (14-8, 7-4) wouldn’t be the surprise team of the MVC if that were the case.

Their team-wide strength is what makes tonight’s 7 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference showdown at Hulman Center so eagerly anticipated.

But when you boil it down, Odum and McDermott are the players that have to be stopped first if their opponent wants to be successful. They’re both among the MVC’s elite class of players. They both have a Mensa-level of basketball IQ, and that combined with their physical skills, helps both of them change the geometry of the game.

Odum does so thanks to his 6-foot-4 frame, his ability to contort himself into advantageous positions with the ball in the lane, and his excellent court vision.

McDermott does so thanks to his intelligence with and without the ball, his versatility as a threat inside the paint and out, but perhaps most of all, because he is uncanny when it comes to putting himself in a good catching and finishing position in the paint. He converts at a robotic rate.

Both players command the respect of the other team. As well they should.

“I think Jake Odum is as good as its gets. I’ve always been a huge fan and still am,” Creighton coach Greg McDermott said.

“He makes other guys better, he can score himself and he has a way of controlling a game, especially in tight games and the late stages of games,” McDermott continued. “He has a way of making plays for his team or for himself.”

ISU’s Doug McDermott mission is a difficult one. If McDermott was only a threat as a post player, he’d be difficult enough. But McDermott also converts 51 percent of his 3-point attempts.

No one player will guard McDermott. As they have in the past, ISU will come at him in waves to try and take him out of his considerable comfort zone. ISU will have to help the helper away from McDermott.

“He’s really good at ducking in the right time. He’s always two passes ahead waiting for the ball to swing,” ISU forward Justin Gant said. “We have to work the whole possession. We have to take him off his cuts and keep him away from the basket where he can do so much damage.”

The list of teams that have solved the McDermott riddle is extremely short.

“The tough thing with him is you can’t rest for a second. He’s smart and he’s a relentless worker. He posts and he never stops and he can shoot the three. He’s probably the most efficient player on the most efficient offensive team in the country,” ISU coach Greg Lansing said.

Creighton — the best 3-point shooting team in the nation at 44.9 percent — has had uncommon stability in its starting lineup. McDermott, center Gregory Echenique, and guards Austin Chatman, Jahenns Manigat and Grant Gibbs have started all 23 games for the Bluejays.

Creighton is 13th in the coaches poll and 16th in the Associated Press poll. If the coaches poll is used, Creighton is the highest-ranked team to play at Hulman Center since Tulsa in 1985. (Butler was ranked 14th in the AP poll in a 2006 visit.)

It is conceivable, but by no means a sure thing, that it could be Creighton’s last visit to Hulman Center. The Bluejays have been rumored to be a candidate to join the Big East breakaway conference of Catholic schools. Creighton — a Catholic Jesuit university — is the lone full-member of the MVC with a religious affiliation.

ISU is champing at the bit to prove that its overtime loss to Drake last Saturday was a temporary blip. The team and Lansing have downplayed the game’s role on the Sycamores’ possible NCAA Tournament at-large chances — preferring the one-game-at-a-time approach — though a win over the Bluejays would provide a big boost.

With one of the largest crowds in recent Hulman Center history expected — ISU has promoted a Black Out for the game and upper level seats are also being sold for $5 — the Sycamores expect to be energized.

“It’s fun to come home and play a big game like this. It’s even more fun when the crowd gets into it if we see a couple extra thousand in the seats. I don’t know if the community realizes how much that helps us. We want to show these fans we’re a good team and we’re going to compete for the conference championship,” Odum said.

Greg McDermott doesn’t have to be convinced that the Sycamores will be ready. Odum in particular.

“When you take care of the basketball the way that they do and when you have a point guard who has a calmness about the way he runs his team, you’re always going to be in a position to win. This is a very good basketball team with terrific leadership and that starts with Jake Odum,” McDermott said.

Blackout Hulman Center

• Indiana State fans are asked to wear black to Hulman Center for tonight’s game.

• Tipoff: 7 p.m.

• Upper level tickets are just $5

No. 16 Creighton at Indiana State

Tipoff — 7 p.m. at Hulman Center.

Broadcasts — TV: none over-the-air, streamed on ESPN3. Radio: WIBQ-FM 98.5. Twitter: @TribStarTodd

Last time out – ISU lost 74-71 in overtime to Drake and Creighton defeated Bradley 75-58 on Saturday.

Series – Creighton leads 52-24. The Bluejays won 79-66 on Jan. 5 in Omaha, Neb. ISU last won at Hulman Center against Creighton in 2011.

The players

Indiana State Sycamores (14-8, 7-4) — G Jake Odum (6-4, Jr., 13.9, 4.5 rpg, 4.3 apg), G Devonte Brown (6-3, Fr., 4.2), F Manny Arop (6-6, Jr., 12.9, 5 rpg), F R.J. Mahurin (6-8, Jr., 9.2) and C Justin Gant (6-8, So., 8.4, 5.1 rpg) are possible starters. G-F Khristian Smith (6-6, Fr., 5.7), G Dawon Cummings (6-4, Jr., 5.6), G Lucas Eitel (6-2, Jr., 4.5), F Jake Kitchell (6-10, So., 3 ppg), G Brandon Burnett (6-6, Fr., 0.5) and F-C Rhett Smith (6-7, Fr., 0 ppg) are key reserves.

Coach — Greg Lansing (52-37, 3rd year at ISU).

No. 16 Creighton Bluejays (20-3, 9-2) — G Austin Chatman (6-0, So., 8.4), G Grant Gibbs (6-5, Sr., 8.1, 5.8 apg), G Jahenns Manigat (6-1, Jr., 5.6), F Doug McDermott (6-8, Jr., 24 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and C Gregory Echenique (6-9, Sr., 10 ppg, 7.1 rpg) are possible starters. F Ethan Wragge (6-7, Jr., 9 ppg), G Avery Dingman (6-6, So., 5 ppg) and C Will Artino (6-11, So., 3 ppg) are key reserves.

Coach — Greg McDermott (73-25, 3rd year at Creighton, 352-220, 19th season overall).

Injuries – For ISU, C Mike Samuels (foot) is out.

Next — ISU plays host to Southern Illinois and Creighton plays host to Illinois State on Saturday.

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Indiana State University

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.

May 25, 2013
Four Indiana State athletes advance to NCAA outdoor track and field championships
Three Indiana State seniors and a freshman have punched their tickets to the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in two weeks at Eugene, Ore., with their Friday efforts in the 2013 NCAA East Preliminary at Aggie Stadium on the campus of North Carolina A&T.

May 25, 2013
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.
But this is the 2013 Sycamores, after all, and after a season in which seemingly little has gone right, it appears its stars will remain crossed at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.

May 21, 2013 1 Photo
ISU sending largest group yet 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).

May 21, 2013
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.

May 19, 2013 9 Photos 2 Links
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.

May 19, 2013
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.

May 18, 2013
Indiana State to host 2014 MVC baseball tourney
Build it… and they will come. The Missouri Valley Conference and Indiana State University made that famous line from the movie “Fields Of Dreams” reality Thursday.

May 17, 2013
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.

May 17, 2013 1 Photo
TODD GOLDEN: Don't give up on ISU baseball just yet
If you had to pick one word that would describe the 2013 Indiana State baseball season, it would have to be frustration.

May 16, 2013
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.

May 12, 2013
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.

May 11, 2013 1 Photo
ISU’s Mascari and Hope win MVC track & field titles
Indiana State produced two champions during the opening day of action in the Missouri Valley Conference track and field championships Friday at Drake. Freshman John Mascari, a Terre Haute native, won the men’s 10,000-meter race and Nicole Hope won the women’s pole vault for the second time in three seasons.

May 11, 2013
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.

May 10, 2013 1 Photo
Lansing looking for more home games for next fall
Indiana State’s men’s basketball team is looking for a few good games.
Home games that is.
The Sycamores have filled in most of the blanks in their nonconference schedule, but as ever, ISU coach Greg Lansing would like to visit the friendly confines of Hulman Center a bit more often.

May 3, 2013
ISU baseball gets back into rhythm with victory
Baseball is a rhythm game. With contests every day or five times a week in the case of many college programs, you have the chance to build on success or wallow in a slump.
Mother Nature took that rhythm away from Indiana State’s team last week. After a 7-1 loss to Indiana on April 24, ISU was supposed to play a three-game series at Tennessee-Martin, but it was wiped out by rain.
So the rhythm was disturbed, but perhaps that wasn’t a bad thing.
ISU was in a five-game losing streak before its unintended vacation and the Sycamores made a move in the right direction Wednesday with a 7-0 win over DePauw at Bob Warn Field.
“It was a disappointing weekend. We went all the way down to Tennessee and didn’t get to play. We sat around in the hotel room. We came here and it was still raining. It was nice to get out and see some live pitching,” ISU center fielder Landon Curry said.

May 2, 2013 2 Photos
Metro roundup: ISU hands out spring awards
The Indiana State University athletic community, along with family, friends and fans, paused Tuesday night to honor the spring sports teams at the Terre Haute Savings Bank Spring Sports Banquet.
Most of the ISU teams are still in competition with the baseball team having 13 games left of its regular-season schedule before beginning the Missouri Valley Conference tournament May 21, the softball team with just three games left of the docket this coming weekend against Southern Illinois and the track and field program with just one more meet before beginning its postseason events.
The ISU women’s golf team is the team that has ended at this time, with the group recording a sixth-place finish at the MVC championships one week ago.

May 2, 2013
Indiana State loses 2 in MVC softball
Indiana State aspired to upset Illinois State to get at least a doubleheader split in Missouri Valley Conference softball Thursday at Price Field as the Sycamores opened an eight-game season-ending homestand.
Paige Schreiner hit a two-run blast over the left-field fence in the fifth inning and junior Shelby Wilson delivered a sizzling RBI triple down the right-field line in the sixth as ISU ended the day playing well against the league’s highest-scoring offense.
The result was still a 5-3 loss to the Redbirds (26-18, 11-6 Missouri Valley Conference) as freshman Halle Humphrey gave up four runs in the first two innings. Humphrey, called upon to pitch the opener as well — she’s the only full-time pitcher remaining on the team — gave up six runs and eight hits as the Sycamores dropped a 6-1 game to start the day.

April 26, 2013
ISU, MVFC brace for change at FCS football level
It seemed so far-fetched.

Internet rumors circulated that Indiana State had been approached by the Sun Belt Conference to bring the Sycamores’ football team into the Sun Belt’s fold.

The Sun Belt is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision. Bowl football. Big boy football … and all it entails.

April 21, 2013
ISU football in good spirits after healthy Spring Game
Was Saturday afternoon’s weather an omen for Indiana State football as the Sycamores wrapped up spring practice with the annual Blue-White Game at Memorial Stadium? After several practices conducted in less-than-perfect conditions, they’d like to think so.

April 21, 2013
Loyola ready to take big step
Loyola University and the Missouri Valley Conference took their first steps together Friday and the MVC is hoping the Ramblers don’t have to take too many baby steps before they become a competitive part of the conference.

April 20, 2013 1 Photo
Sanford wraps up first spring with ISU
The final day of Indiana State football’s first Mike Sanford experience is upon the Sycamores.

April 20, 2013
Lansing excited about Etherington's signing with Sycamores
The spring signing period for men’s basketball is usually a time to use available scholarships to load up on junior college additions and transfers.
To find a diamond-in-the-rough at the high school level who can give you four years? That’s harder to come by.

April 18, 2013 1 Photo
Creighton sweep puts ISU in thick of things
In a difficult early-season Missouri Valley Conference schedule, Indiana State took its lumps. Unenviable back-to-back trips to contenders Missouri State and Wichita State had ISU reeling with five straight MVC losses eight days ago.

April 15, 2013
Second City in the Valley: Loyola joins the MVC
For the first time in its history, the Missouri Valley Conference will have a home in the Second City.
The Chicago Tribune confirmed Saturday via a Loyola University source that the Ramblers will replace Creighton as the MVC’s 10th team. Loyola — a member of the Horizon League — will join the MVC effective July 1.
Indiana State Director of Athletics Ron Prettyman — who was part of the MVC search committee that scouted potential replacements for Creighton — confirmed Sunday that the Ramblers were in the MVC loop.

April 14, 2013
Sycamore baseball holds off Creighton rally
By his own estimation, Indiana State baseball coach Rick Heller has been involved in close to 2,000 baseball games. If anyone has seen it all on the field, he’d be as good a candidate as any.

April 14, 2013
Devin Moore pitches gem in 6-1 victory over Creighton
A hip injury suffered by Indiana State ace starting pitcher Sean Manaea shuffled the Sycamores’ starting rotation for the second weekend running as it opened a Missouri Valley Conference home series against Creighton on Friday.

April 13, 2013 3 Photos
Sanford gets 2nd look at Sycamores
In the immediate aftermath of a practice, game, or in Friday’s case for Indiana State, a scrimmage, most football coaches defer to the film to paint a true picture of what was and wasn’t done. ISU coach Mike Sanford is no different. With the flurry of activity on both sides of the ball, it’s hard to get a true evaluation of anything watching it live.

April 13, 2013
ISU center FN Lutz glad to be back in the middle of things
For someone who missed an entire season due to a knee injury, Indiana State center FN Lutz has certainly kept himself visible since then.

April 12, 2013 2 Photos
METRO ROUNDUP: ISU's Brandon Pounds the top collegian in Sea Ray relays
Indiana State senior Brandon Pounds was the top collegian in the men’s hammer throw and fellow senior Felisha Johnson opened up the Sycamores’ three-day competition at the University of Tennessee’s Sea Ray relays with a second-place finish in the women’s hammer throw.

April 11, 2013
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