Ace Hunt
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- A challenging slate is unveiled as the Sycamore Basketball non-conference schedule was announced today (June 28) by seventh-year head coach Greg Lansing. Including an exhibition contest, which will be announced later this summer, plus nine Missouri Valley Conference games the Sycamores will grace the Hulman Center a total of 15 times during the 2016-17 campaign.
"We have once again put together one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country, a factor which has helped us reach the NCAA or NIT Tournament in three of the last six seasons," Lansing said. "This will prove to be a very difficult schedule, but that is the way that we like to do it. Lou Gudino does an unbelievable job putting our schedule together. This will be exciting season for Sycamore fans."
The action begins at Northern Illinois on Friday, November 11 when the Sycamores travel to DeKalb, Ill., for its season opener. The Huskies will return the favor in a same-season, home-and-home, when they come to Hulman Center on Wednesday, November 30. ISU will play each of its first two contests on the road as they travel to in-state rival Ball State on Tuesday, November 15.
The home opener will come in a window between November 19-21 when they host a NCAA Division II team inside Hulman Center. The game date and opponent will be announced later this summer when that game contract is finalized.
The Sycamores will battle a talented field at the 2016 Advocare Invitational at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., from Nov. 24-27. The bracket will be announced at a later date but the field includes Florida, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Miami (Fla.), Seton Hall, Stanford, Quinnipiac and the Sycamores. Indiana State placed third in the event back in 2011 with victories over Texas Tech and Fairfield.
After the home game on Nov. 30 against Northern Illinois, the Sycamores will travel to Utah State on Saturday, December 3 to participate in the Missouri Valley/Mountain West Conference Challenge. ISU returns home on Wednesday, December 7 when they host Big East foe Butler and the homestand continues on Sunday, December 11 as Western Kentucky comes to Hulman Center.
"When you have a strong reputation like our program does, it becomes very difficult to schedule home games against quality teams," Lansing stated. "We look for home-and-home series like we have done this year, including the completion of the series against Butler. We've also added Ball State and Valparaiso which gives us three good games against in-state programs. We are always looking for good quality home games, and we appreciate the opportunity to play some really great programs at Hulman Center this year."
The non-conference schedule rounds out with a trip to Valparaiso on Saturday, December 17 and a home contest against Eastern Illinois on Wednesday, December 21.
Season ticket information for Sycamore Basketball will be released soon as well as game times. For those living outside the Wabash Valley, all home games will be broadcast to a global audience on The Valley On ESPN3.
Last season, the Sycamores reached the MVC Tournament Semifinals for the fourth time in the last six campaigns. This year, 10 returnees and three newcomers will be on the roster for the Sycamores. Leading the way will be junior Brenton Scott, who is the only returning First or Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference performer back across the league.
