Published: November 22, 2009 11:45 pm         

Ability to get to the line has served ISU men's basketball well in 3-1 start

Sycamores resume Preseason NIT at WKU against Coastal Carolina

The Indiana State men’s basketball team has averaged 68.5 points per game this season. What’s been the biggest offensive highlight?

A Harry Marshall drive to the bucket? A Rashad Reed 3-pointer? A Dwayne Lathan in-your-face dunk?

Those have all been important to the Sycamores, but what’s really been the engine behind ISU’s offense is the unglamorous, often-overlooked free throw.

The Sycamores have gone to the line 95 times in four games, 20 more times than their opponents. ISU went to the line more than its opponent in every game save last Tuesday’s game against Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Free throw opportunities are one thing, but ISU is making them too. The Sycamores have made 73 of 95 at the line (76.8 percent), with nearly as many makes as their opponents have attempted.

“We have a number of guys who can go in and create contact. It’s one of our philosophies is to try and be aggressive going to the basket. We’re making our free throws at a good clip,” McKenna said.

Jake Kelly has been the most prolific Sycamore at the line. The junior has made 24 of 28 at the stripe, twice as many attempts as anyone else on the Sycamores. His 85.7 free throw percentage is second only to Brant Leitnaker, who has made 87.5 percent in 20 fewer attempts.

With Kelly still trying to get acclimated to ISU’s offensive sets and trying to find a rhythm within them — Kelly is shooting 39.3 percent from the field — his ability to get to the line is a major reason he’s the team’s second-leading scorer at 12 points per game. Half of his points have been scored at the line.

“It’s really important, especially when we can get teams in the bonus so we’re shooting two. It puts good players on the bench and gets them to be hesitant on defense,” Kelly said.

Kelly’s familiar crossover move is what gives him the space to get to the basket, but actually drawing the right kind of contact to draw a foul is an ability some players never master.

“I think its my footwork and making sure I take a good angle off of a guy. I want to go right off the shoulder and make sure I get in front of him after I’m able to get past him. That way, he has to foul you because he can’t stop you once he gets to your shoulder,” Kelly said.

McKenna anticipates that’s teams will change their defenses to counter ISU’s drives to the bucket, so the Sycamores must adjust too.

“Teams are going to sink in there even more, so we need to kick it out and make our open shots,” McKenna said. “The guys are doing a good job figuring it out as we go along.”

• ISU resumes Preseason NIT — ISU had hoped to spring a Louisiana surprise and put itself in a New York State Of Mind in week two of the Dick’s NIT Season Tipoff. A loss to LSU ensured that the Sycamores would be in a Bowling Green State Of Mind at Western Kentucky for two games.

While the trip to WKU doesn’t have the same ring to it as a trip to New York for the Preseason NIT championship would have, it doesn’t mean the Sycamores won’t be in for a challenge at Diddle Arena as they got a tough consolation round draw.

ISU (3-1) plays Coastal Carolina at 5:30 p.m. today and will play host WKU at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the consolation round. Neither team is to be slept on.

CCU (3-1) is coached by former Clemson and Auburn coach Cliff Ellis, one of the few coaches in college basketball history to reach the 600-win mark. The Chanticleers boast forward Joseph Harris, who averages 15.8 points and 12.3 rebounds, and is the first go-to big man the Sycamores have faced.

WKU (1-1) lost to LSU by the same margin ISU did (11 points) and the game was similar as the Hilltoppers were within range of the lead in the final minute. One major difference is that the Hilltoppers did a better job than the Sycamores did on the boards against the Tigers. Forward Sergio Kerusch (19 ppg, 7.5 rpg) will be difficult for ISU to match inside. Slashing guard A.J. Slaughter (20.5 ppg) is WKU’s meal ticket and he will be an interesting defensive matchup for ISU.

The most formidable foe of all might be Diddle Arena itself. WKU’s record there is 498-131 since the building opened in 1963 and ISU would be the team standing in the way of Diddle Arena win No. 500 if the Hilltoppers defeat Cal State-Northridge on Monday. WKU has won 14 in a row at home and hasn’t lost there since Feb. 23, 2008.

ISU could be without forward Carl Richard, who played through a left shoudler injury he suffered at LSU last week in ISU’s 65-60 win over Colorado State on Friday. McKenna said Richard, who did not take part in any contact practice activities on Sunday, is day-to-day.



Dick’s NIT Season Tipoff

ISU vs. CCU & WKU at WKU

Tipoff — 5:30 p.m. today at Diddle Arena, Bowling Green, Ky., vs. Coastal Carolina, 8 p.m. Tuesday vs. Western Kentucky.

Broadcasts — Radio: WSDM (92.7-FM). Live blog: blogs.tribstar.com/downinthevalley

Last time out — ISU defeated Colorado State 65-60 on Friday. Coastal Carolina defeated Voorhees 99-56 on Saturday. WKU lost to LSU 71-60 last Tuesday.

Series — ISU is 1-0 against Coastal Carolina. The Sycamores defeated the Chanticleers in 2004. ISU is 1-3 against WKU.



The players

Indiana State Sycamores (3-1) — G Harry Marshall (6-0, Sr., 10.8 ppg, 4 rpg), G Rashad Reed (6-1, Sr., 9.5), G Jake Kelly (6-6, Jr., 12.0), G-F Dwayne Lathan (6-3, So., 14.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and C Brant Leitnaker (6-10, Jr., 3.8) are possible starters. G-F Aaron Carter (6-4, Jr., 6.7), F Carl Richard (6-5, So., 2.8), F Koang Doluony (6-8, Fr., 3.8), G Jordan Printy (6-4, So., 4 ppg, 3.8 rpg), C Josh Crawford (6-11, Sr., 3.5) and C Isiah Martin (6-8, Jr., 2.5) are key contributors off the bench.

Coach — Kevin McKenna (28-37 at ISU, 3rd year, 117-70 overall, 7th year).

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (3-1) — F Joseph Harris (6-5, Sr., 15.8 ppg, 12.3 rpg), G Mario Edwards (6-3, Sr., 10.3), F Logan Johnson (6-6, Sr., 8.3), G Kierre Greenwood (6-2, Fr., 5.5) and C Sam McLaurin (6-8, Fr., 4.0) are probable starters. F Chad Gray (6-7, Fr., 14.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg), G Dexter Moore (6-2, So., 8.3) and G Danny Nieman (6-1, Fr., 4 ppg) are contributors off the bench.

Coach — Cliff Ellis (27-36, 3rd year at CCU, 628-365 overall, 36th year)

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (1-1) — F Sergio Kerusch (6-5, Jr., 19 ppg, 7.5 rpg), F Steffphon Pettigrew (6-5, Jr., 7.5), C Jeremy Evans (6-9, Sr., 5 ppg), G A.J. Slaughter (6-3, Sr., 20.5), G Anthony Sally (6-2, Sr., 1 ppg) are possible starters. F-C Cliff Dixon (6-10, Jr., 5.5) and C Nemanja Milosevic (6-8, Sr., 3.5 ppg, 4 rpg) are contributors off the bench.

Coach — Ken McDonald (26-10, 2nd year)

Injuries — For ISU, F Carl Richard (shoulder) is questionable.



Keys to the game

• CCU forward Joseph Harris is the first go-to big man the Sycamores have faced all season. ISU has played good defense so far, but the call for defensive prowess is on the shoulders of Brant Leitnaker, Josh Crawford and Isiah Martin to step up, especially with Richard hampered by a sore left shoulder.

• ISU might have a tougher home-court advantage to overcome against WKU than it did against LSU last week. ISU must continue to play sound defense to keep the athletic Hilltoppers in check, especially all-everything guard A.J. Slaughter.

Tidbit — The last time ISU won three games in what would now be called a non-exempt tournament was in 1956 when ISU went 3-0 to win the Midwest Tournament at ISU Arena. The Sycamores defeated Georgetown (Ky.), Muskingum and Emporia State. In its Division I era, the Sycamores have never won three non-exempt games in one season, though ISU has gone 2-0 in several tournaments, the last time coming famously in 1999 when ISU won the Indiana Classic at Bloomington.

Next game — ISU will travel to Arkansas State on Nov. 29.

— Todd Golden