TERRE HAUTE —
Six-foot-10 … cubed.
In a bevy full of daunting numbers Indiana State’s men’s basketball team faces at it plays its season-opener at UCLA at 11 p.m. tonight, that might be the most terrifying of all.
The Bruins offer a myriad of challenges for the Sycamores, but their 6-10 trio of Travis Wear (11.5), David Wear (10.2), and center Joshua Smith (9.9) is biggest of all, literally and figuratively.
Given that ISU’s frontcourt was depleted by the loss of their sole true center Mike Samuels, UCLA’s 6-10 threesome will be hard to contend with.
“They’re huge. Other than Smith, these are guys who are really mobile and can run as good as guards,” ISU coach Greg Lansing said.
“They can handle the ball like guards,” Lansing continued. “They shoot like guards and they’re athletic as crazy. Smith is just a really big super-talented big man that would be hard for anyone to defend.”
Charged with dealing with UCLA’s big front line is a combination of Jake Kitchell, Justin Gant, R.J. Mahurin and Rhett Smith. The Sycamores know that while they can’t match the size, they have to at least be prepared.
“Coach Lou [Gudino] and I talk a lot about being a block-out big. To work positioning, because I’m not going to sky over someone to get a rebound,” Kitchell said.
“I think this week, more than any other, we need to focus on positioning and making sure we’re getting our guys and blocking them out. Keeping those big guys off the boards is a tough task, but we’re up for it,” he added.
UCLA’s excellence doesn’t stop with its frontcourt. North Carolina transfer Larry Drew II will make his debut. Drew averaged six assists per game as sophomore with the Tar Heels.
Highly-touted freshman Kyle Anderson, one of the nation’s most coveted recruits, will also make his debut. Then there’s junior Tyler Lamb (9 points per game), UCLA’s most experienced guard. He is nursing a knee injury, but might play tonight.
“The backcourt is really deep and then you throw one of the best coaches in the country? We’ll have our hands full. I respect them a ton,” Lansing said.
Up in the air is the status of 6-6 swingman Shabazz Muhammad, who was rated by some recruiting services as the No. 1-rated player coming out of high school.
Muhammad was initially ruled out due to a shoulder sprain. Moreover, Muhammad has yet to be cleared by the NCAA after questions have arisen about Muhammad receiving alleged impermissible compensation, which threatens his amateur status.
However, reports of out the Los Angeles media indicated Wednesday that Muhammad might be healthy enough to play if cleared by the NCAA in-time.
Finally, ISU was chosen to open the newly-renovated Pauley Pavilion. Legendary former UCLA coach John Wooden began his career at ISU — coaching from 1946-48 — and the Sycamores were deemed most appropriate to re-open the iconic facility.
Given that UCLA is the most decorated college basketball program of all-time, with 10 national titles won under Wooden, it’s a safe bet that the pomp and circumstance will be high when Pauley Pavilion is re-christened.
“This will be our first go-around, and it’s tough that it’s against one of the top teams in the country in that environment, but maybe you’re more locked-in and focused a bit?” Lansing said.
Odum, a veteran of spotlight wins in the 2011 MVC Tournament and in an upset win over ranked Vanderbilt a year ago, wouldn’t have ISU’s opener play out any other way.
“I love playing games like this. I get to put that chip on my shoulder and that’s what all of the guys on the team should do. We’re all at a mid-major program because those upper-tier teams didn’t think we were good enough. So we have to go out and prove we can play,” Odum said.
“We’re not individually better than each one of them, so it’ll take a whole team effort. Any five guys put together as a team can be better than any five they have out there,” Odum added.
n TV clearance — The ISU-UCLA game is scheduled to be broadcast on Fox Sports Midwest.
On satellite services, the game will go on as planned. On cable, the Indiana Pacers’ 8 p.m. game against Minnesota is not expected to interfere with the broadcast.
Sports
Indiana State men face huge UCLA team in season opener
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On the scoreboard: Terre Haute South's Justin Jenkins (6) celebrates the Braves' first run with teammate Jacob Johnson during the Braves' sectional game against North on Wednesday at South.
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North baseball pulls away from South in sectional opener
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Terre Haute North burst through that crack in the bottom of the second inning Wednesday evening at Terre Haute South, scoring seven two-out runs and going on to a surprisingly easy 12-2 victory over the host Braves. -
Blank, Mundy named McMillan Award winners
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Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship
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West Vigo baseball advances with 10-0 win behind Stewart's two-hitter
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The Vikings scored four runs in the first inning of the first sectional game and went on to defeat Brown County 10-0 in five innings with Kevin Stewart hurling a two-hitter. -
Terre Haute South tennis claims regional crown
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
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Terre Haute's Mascari running 10,000 meters for chance to get to Hayward Field
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Big group of Wabash Valley boys head to Evansville looking for state berths
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West Vigo comes up short against 19-9 Brown County softball
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The Eagles bested the Vikings 7-5 and will meet South Vermillion, a 12-7 winner over Owen Valley, for the sectional championship on Thursday starting at 6 p.m.
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Valley baseball teams have been keeping busy heading into sectionals
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North baseball pulls away from South in sectional opener
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
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Terry enjoys strong year with Wildcats, and still enjoying suiting up to play
South Vermillion’s Tim Terry is the longest tenured coach in Wabash Valley high school baseball as his Wildcats are set to begin sectional play Thursday against Owen Valley.
But on the Yankees, a 35-and-over team in the Terre Haute Men’s Senior Baseball League, Terry is “just a youngster” if you ask Larry Roesch, his 68-year-old teammate on the Volkers Group Yankees. -
Softball sectionals up for grabs
All three Vigo County high schools and Northview appear to have a realistic chance of winning sectional championships in softball this week.
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Indiana State baseball series canceled
Heavy rain from Thursday through Saturday has forced Indiana State and Tennessee Martin to cancel their three-game weekend baseball series in northwest Tennessee.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman baseball to play DePauw on Thursday after Tuesday's rain
The Rose-Hulman baseball team has rescheduled its non-conference game with DePauw to Thursday night.
The start time remains 7 p.m. for the single nine-inning game that was originally scheduled for today. Tuesday’s scheduled Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game at Anderson was moved to Sunday because of rain.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
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North baseball pulls away from South in sectional opener
In high school baseball little things mean a lot, and the crack in the door doesn’t have to be open very wide.
Terre Haute North burst through that crack in the bottom of the second inning Wednesday evening at Terre Haute South, scoring seven two-out runs and going on to a surprisingly easy 12-2 victory over the host Braves. - Blank, Mundy named McMillan Award winners
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- College
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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.
-
Terre Haute's Mascari running 10,000 meters for chance to get to Hayward Field
Indiana State freshman and Terre Haute North graduate John Mascari is among the enormous group of Sycamores competing this weekend at the NCAA East Preliminary. The top 48 NCAA track and field competitors in each event on this half of the United States are narrowed down to 12 who will compete at the NCAA meet at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
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Manaea's shoulder causing him latest pain
Indiana State pitcher Sean Manaea has battled through so many aches and pains during the 2013 season that it can be hard to discern the serious pain from the pain he pitches through.
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ISU's Negele answers call in big way in wake of Manaea injury
When Indiana State starting pitcher Sean Manaea slumped on the mound in obvious pain after he took his warm-up pitches, red flags raised for ISU’s Missouri Valley Conference tournament hopes.
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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.
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.
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Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
In its rich 43-year history, the Tony Hulman Sprint Car Classic has long carried on a strong local racing tradition.
From its early beginnings starting in 1971, the U.S. Auto Club-sanctioned event has been the annual centerpiece of the racing calendar at the Terre Haute Action Track as well as a key stop on the USAC sprint schedule and one of the most sought after wins in big league sprint-car racing. - Shooters compete to fight cancer
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
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Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts received high marks for the impact players the team added through the NFL draft.
Of the 10 players selected, five ended up either starting or seeing extensive playing time (quarterback Andrew Luck, tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and running back Vick Ballard) during the Colts’ 11-5 season.
While this year’s class may not rival that group in terms of name recognition and flash, it may produce just as many major contributors once the 2013 season gets underway. - Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
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Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
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Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex went through plenty of trials and tribulations during the summer of 2012.
The team got off to a sluggish start to settle for third place during the first half of the Prospect League race, but manager Brian Dorsett rallied the troops to a second-half title. - Metro Roundup: Dorsett, Rex players honored in Prospect League postseason awards
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
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Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
While the Indianapolis Colts put their rookies and a handful of second-year players through workouts this weekend at the team’s Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, a pair of first-year coordinators are getting a chance to do some valuable on-field work as well.
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Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
- Auto Racing
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
In its rich 43-year history, the Tony Hulman Sprint Car Classic has long carried on a strong local racing tradition.
From its early beginnings starting in 1971, the U.S. Auto Club-sanctioned event has been the annual centerpiece of the racing calendar at the Terre Haute Action Track as well as a key stop on the USAC sprint schedule and one of the most sought after wins in big league sprint-car racing. - Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
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