SETTING THE STAGE
Indiana State continues year two of the Greg Lansing era on Thursday, November 24, when the Sycamores battle Texas Tech in the opening game of the 2011 Old Spice Classic. Tip-off is set for Noon (ET). The game can be seen live on ESPN 2 as well as ESPN3.com with Bob Picozzi and Tim Welsh on the call. The game will also be broadcast live locally on the radio via ESPN Radio 92.7 FM, as Brian Fritz and Matt Renn describe the action with an internet broadcast available on GoSycamores.com. Additionally live stats for the contest can be found at GoSycamores.com.
THE TEXAS TECH SERIES
Indiana State leads the all-time series against Texas Tech by a 1-0 margin. The only previous meeting between the two clubs came on December 29, 1971 with Indiana State earning an 88-84 victory at the All-College Tournament in Oklahoma City, Okla.
THE HEAD COACHES
INDIANA STATE: Greg Lansing (South Dakota, '90)
- at Indiana State: 24-14 (Second Season)
- Overall: 24-14 (Second Season)
- vs. Texas Tech: First Meeting
- vs. Big 12: First Meeting
TEXAS TECH: Billy Gillispie (Texas State, '83)
- Overall: 143-85 (8th Season)
- at Texas Tech: 3-0 (First Season)
- vs. Indiana State: First Meeting
QUICK HITS
- Indiana State is 4-0 for the first time since 2005-06 when they won their first eight games of that season.
- The Sycamores won their road opener this year at Louisiana-Monroe by the score of 71-59 on November 14. It marked the first time the Sycamores won their road opener since 2005.
- Indiana State has won one game by five points or less this season, upping their total of close victories to 36 since 2005.
- In the November 18 victory over Ball State, the Sycamore bench accounted for 30 points, outscoring the starters who posted 27.
- Senior Jordan Printy has 163 career 3-pointers, which is second most all-time in the history of the program. Printy has recorded three consecutive double digit scoring performances.
- The Sycamores have recorded more free throws made than their opponents in all four games this season.
An Indiana State Win Over Texas Tech Would ...
• Give Indiana State a 5-0 record to start to the season for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign when the Sycamores opened that year with an 8-0 mark.
• Improve the Sycamores to 5-3 in games played on a neutral court under Greg Lansing.
• Give the Sycamores two all-time wins against Texas Tech in two tries.
• Be the Sycamores first victory under second-year head coach Greg Lansing against a member of the Big 12 Conference.
The Indiana State Head Coach
Indiana State head coach Greg Lansing (South Dakota, 1990) is 24-14 (.632) overall in his second season as a head coach. He is 12-6 all-time in MVC games, including a 7-2 mark at home and a 5-4 mark on the road. During his career, he is 13-3 in all home games, 7-8 on the road, 4-3 in neutral court contests and 10-3 in games decided by five points or less. Lansing is 0-0 all-time against Texas Tech, and has not faced off against a member of the Big 12 Conference. With the Trees, Lansing is 0-2 in overtime games and 18-0 when holding teams to 63 points or less. Thursday's game is Greg Lansing's 39th as Indiana State head coach. Lansing is the second head coach to lead the Sycamores to the NCAA Tournament in their rookie campaign in the history of the program, with the other being Bill Hodges leading ISU to a 33-1 record and a Final Four appearance in the 1979 NCAA Tournament. Lansing was just the 14th rookie head coach in the history of the MVC to lead his team to 20 victories during their debut season.
Television Particulars
Thursday's game can be seen live nationally on ESPN2 as well as online at ESPN3.com.
A Little History
Indiana State is currently in its 116th season of college basketball at the school. The Sycamores are 1,372-1,180 all-time on the hardwood. Indiana State's game at Oral Roberts last season was the historic 2,500th game in the history of the program.
Against The Big 12 Conference
Indiana State is 5-6 all-time against current members of the Big 12 Conference, including a 1-0 mark versus Thursday's opponent, Texas Tech. Indiana State has not faced a member of the Big 12 Confence since March 16, 2001 when ISU downed Oklahoma in the first round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament in a game played in Memphis, Tenn. Versus members of the Big 12 Conference, Indiana State is 1-0 vs. Baylor, 0-1 vs. Iowa State, 1-1 vs. Kansas State, 0-1 vs. Missouri), 2-2 vs. Oklahoma, 0-1 vs. Texas and 1-0 vs. Texas Tech.
Sycamores 4-0 For First Time Since 2005
Indiana State has opened the 2011-12 campaign with victories over Eastern Illinois Louisiana-Monroe, Ball State and Green Bay. The Sycamores are off to a 4-0 start to a season for the first time since the 2005-06 season when the Trees opened with an 8-0 ledger.
Printy's Heroics And Late Game Defense Key Against Green Bay
Indiana State's Jordan Printy hit four 3-pointers to lead the Sycamores with 12 points in the 57-56 victory over Green Bay. Printy drained his final 3-pointer with 15 seconds remaining to down the Phoenix in heroic fashion. Also key in the Sycamores' victory over Green Bay was a strong late-game defensive performance which held the Phoenix without a field goal over the final 2:32 of the game and limited them to just eight points in the final eight minutes.
Printy Moving Up Indiana State 3-Point List
Indiana State junior Jordan Printy currently has 163 career 3-pointers and recently passed Eddie Bird for second on the ISU all-time list. Printy is one of just 14 Sycamores in the history of the program to hit at least 100 3-point field goals in a career. Printy needs 120 more to tie Michael Menser for first on the ISU all-time 3-point list with 283. Additionally, Printy is the older brother of Iowa women's basketball sophomore Jaime Printy who was the 2010 Big Ten Freshman Of The Year. The Iowa women's basketball team received an at large bid into the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament also last season made Jordan and Jaime the only brother/sister combo in the Big Dance in 2011.
Good Starter On The Battery
Indiana State is 2-0 on the season when the Sycamores' starting five outscores the opponents' starting five. ISU's starters outscored the opponent's at Louisiana-Monroe and against Green Bay this season. Under second-year head coach Greg Lansing, the Sycamores are 14-2 when the ISU starting five scores more than their opponent's counterparts.
63 Is The Magic Number
Indiana State is 3-0 this season when holding an opponent to 63 points or less. Under second-year head coach Greg Lansing, the Sycamores are a perfect 18-0 when allowing less than 63 points to the opposition (including a 8-0 mark when holding teams to 53 or less).
"Justin" Case
Indiana State freshman Justin Gant posted five blocked shots in the Sycamores' 57-50 home court victory over Ball State on November 18. Gant's five blocked shots are the most by a Sycamore since Josh Crawford tallied seven against Evansville in 2010 and was just one shy of the ISU freshman of six held by Isiah Martin who had six against Creighton in 2008.
Road Warriors
Under second-year head coach Greg Lansing, the Sycamores are 7-8 in all road games and have won each of their last four true road games dating back to last season and including this year's 71-59 victory at ULM. With its win over ULM, the Sycamores won their first road game of the year for the first time since 2005 and have now won each of their last three road games over Sun Belt Conference foes dating back to 2009.
Jake Odum Named To Preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference Squad; Sycamore Picked Third
Jake Odum was one of two sophomores league wide to be named to the 2011-12 Preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference Team as voted upon this fall by league head coaches, media and sports information directors. Odum was named to the league's honorable mention squad as well as to the all-freshman, all-newcomer and all-defensive squads one year ago as a freshman. Odum headlined a group of five players selected to the 2011-12 MVC Preseason All-Conference Team. Joining Odum were Creighton's Doug McDermott, Wichita State's Toure' Murry, Evansville's Colt Ryan and Missouri State's Kyle Weems. Weems is the league's preseason player of the year. As a team, Indiana State was picked to finish third in the Missouri Valley Conference race behind Creighton and Wichita State. The Sycamores third place prediction is tied for its highest since the league began using preseason polls in 1985.
New King Of The Four-Point Play
Indiana State redshirt freshman RJ Mahurin learned a few trick from Aaron Carter, a graduated player who had eight career four-point plays. Mahurin posted two 4-point plays during his freshman season, one each in ISU's games against Drake and Bradley. His two 4-point plays have each come in the first half of the two contests in which he has been fouled while stepping out for a 3-pointer, has been fouled and has converted the ensuing free throw. Mahurin was fouled on a 3-point attempt against Illinois State, and made all three of his free throws. He is already at it again this year as he was fouled on a 3-point attempt against Ball State, missed the shot, but made all three of his awarded free throws.
Sycamore Signees
Indiana State second year head coach Greg Lansing announced a pair of signees during the NCAA Early Signing Period in November of 2011. ISU has inked TJ Bell (Charleston, Ill./Charleston HS) and Rhett Smith (Sullivan, Ind./Sullivan HS) to national letters of intent and they will begin their Sycamore careers as freshman in time for the 2012-13 campaign.
Bell is a 6-8 guard/forward who will begin his senior season at Charleston (Ill.) High School later this month. He was listed early in his career as one of the Top 25 players in the state of Illinois and averaged 13.9 points as well as 8.2 rebounds as a junior. Bell was named to the All-Apollo Conference in 2011 for his Charleston team which finished with a 16-13 record.
Smith is a 6-7 post player who will begin his senior campaign next week for Sullivan High School and head coach Jeff Moore. He has been the Golden Arrows leading scorer each of his first three seasons of playing at the varsity level. He averaged 17.3 points per game last season as a junior despite missing playing time due to a hand injury. Smith connected on 61.6 percent of his shots from the field. He scored a season-best 28 points against West Vigo during the 2010-11 campaign.
Up Next
Indiana State continues play in the 2011 Old Spice Classic held at the HP Fieldhouse this week in Orlando, Fla. ISU will play its second game of the Classic on Friday, November 25. Tip-off is set for either Noon or 2:30 p.m. (ET) and will be televised on the ESPN Family Of Networks.
