TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State is set to start the 2023-24 schedule on Monday night as the Sycamores welcome St. Mary-of-the-Woods to Hulman Center for the season opener. Tipoff between the Sycamores and the Pomeroys is set for 7 p.m. ET and will be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
 
Single Game and Season Tickets Still on Sale
Those seeking more information on single game and season tickets can call 877-ISU-TIXS or email ISU-Tickets@indstate.edu. Fans can also buy season tickets online by clicking HERE.
 
Game Day Promotions, Giveaways, and Sponsor
Indiana State's game day promotions for the 2023-24 season opener include Non-Profit Night. The game day giveaway is an ISU Sycamore Crossroads Cream Ale T-Shirt while supplies last. Monday night's game day sponsor is WTWO.
 
About the Series
It marks the first all-time meeting between the two programs in their respective histories as the Sycamores welcome their local NAIA foe. The two teams have not lined up on the court prior to the Monday night game.
 
About St. Mary-of-the-Woods
St. Mary-of-the-Woods will play three separate Division I teams on the 2023-24 schedule this season. The Pomeroys will face the Sycamores and Morehead State (Dec. 14), while previously taking on Valparaiso (Nov. 1) in an exhibition contest.
 
SMWC currently competes in the NAIA's River States Conference. The Pomeroys were selected 13th overall in the preseason poll as voted on by the league's head coaches. SMWC head coach Jesse McClung is in his first year as head coach with the Pomeroys. He joined the institution by way of a successful stint as the associate head coach at Marion University with the team posting a 124-38 record over the last six seasons.
 
The Pomeroys welcomed 12 transfers/newcomers to the 2023-24 roster including former Indiana State commit Lincoln Hale (Linton HS). SMWC fell in their Nov. 1 exhibition at Valparaiso, 82-71.
 
First Time Opponents on the Schedule
The ISU-SMWC marks the first of two first-time opponents Indiana State will open the season with as the Sycamores make their first trip in program history to Tuscaloosa, Ala. on Friday night to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. The game between ISU and Alabama will be streamed live on the SEC Network Plus.
 
Nonconference Under Coach Schertz
Indiana State boasts a 17-12 mark in nonconference play under Coach Schertz dating back to the start of the 2021-22 season. The Sycamores went 8-5 in nonconference competition last season including winning each of the first four games last season.
 
ISU won its first four nonconference games against Green Bay (80-53), Ball State (83-71), North Dakota State (101-75), and East Carolina (79-75). The Sycamores took their first loss against Kansas City at the Gulf Coast Showcase last year in Estero, Fla. inside Hertz Arena. Indiana State went 4-1 last season in nonconference play inside Hulman Center and is 9-1 overall in nonconference home games under Schertz. The lone loss came last season on December 22 against Northern Illinois, 67-57.
 
First Action in front of the Fans
The Sycamores did not play in a preseason open exhibition in the 2023-24 offseason, but Indiana State did compete in two closed door scrimmages against both Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati. Stats were not kept in either competition.
 
Preseason All-Conference Recognition
The Sycamores placed three on the Missouri Valley preseason All-Conference team as voted on by the league's head coaches, SIDs, and media members. Julian Larry (G) and Robbie Avila (C) were both named to the conference's Second Team, while newcomer Isaiah Swope (G) earned Third Team honors. Swope was additionally named the projected College Blue Ribbon MVC Newcomer of the Year by the organization.
 
The Sycamores (402) were selected fourth overall in the conference's preseason poll finishing behind Drake (558), Northern Iowa (524), and Bradley (487) in the rankings.
 
2023-24 Conference Schedule Format
The Sycamores are scheduled to play 20 conference games in an unbalanced schedule format for the second consecutive season as the Valley announced the conference schedule this fall.
 
The Sycamores schedule will feature home-and-home contests with nearly every member of the MVC this season with the exception of Northern Iowa and Illinois State. ISU will travel to UNI on January 7, while hosting Illinois State inside Hulman Center on February 13.
 
Bringing You the Call
The Sycamores welcome a new voice to the call on 105.5 The Legend this season as Indiana State alum Joey O'Rourke will take the reins as the men's basketball play-by-play announcer for the year. O'Rourke brings a wealth of experience to the program and will look to further enhance ISU's radio efforts and provide a consistent voice to the action this season.
 
The Sycamores will also utilize the talents of play-by-play announcers Brian Jennings and Brendan King, as well as analysts Brian Giesen and Matt Renn on ISU's Valley on ESPN broadcast calls this season.
 
Forest On-Court Promotions
Additional features for the 2023-24 season will include on-court promotions for The Forest members throughout the season including the Labor Link Half-Court Shot, the Starry Scramble, the EPIC Insurance Putt, the Jackie Moon Free Throw Challenge, and the Meijer Forest Member of the Game.
 
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on the Sycamore Men's Basketball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from both the App Store and the Google Play Store.