Anyone betting Indiana St vs Ill St

Big week for ISU starts at Illinois State

TERRE HAUTE — As Indiana State’s men’s basketball team tackles its two most important games of the season this week with Friday on its mind, Indiana State guard Harry Marshall made it abundantly clear on how he feels about potentially giving the Sycamores a boost.

“I feel 110 percent mentally,” Marshall said.

Marshall’s physical percentage is another matter, but given the stakes for the Sycamores this week, starting with tonight’s game at Illinois State, Marshall likely doesn’t care much about the percentages.

ISU (16-12, 8-8) goes into its final two Missouri Valley Conference games with its destiny in its own hands. If the Sycamores defeat the Redbirds tonight or Missouri State at home on Saturday, they will avoid the Thursday opening round of the MVC Tournament for the first time since 2001 and start its MVC Tournament journey in the Friday quarterfinals.

If the Sycamores earn a sweep of its two games and Illinois State loses its final two games, the Sycamores can be seeded as high as third in St. Louis. ISU can also slip as low as the No. 9 seed too, but help for the Sycamores’ undermanned eight-man rotation could be on the way.

“Tomorrow is a perfect time for us to show we’re one of the top teams in the Valley,” ISU senior Rashad Reed said. “It’s one of the most important games of the season. I’m confident what we’ve been doing lately with the guys we’ve had can carry over when we get guys back we haven’t had.”

Marshall and ISU swingman Dwayne Lathan are officially questionable for tonight’s game, but both practiced on Tuesday at Hulman Center before the team left for Normal, Ill. Both Marshall and Lathan were fitted with new braces for their injuries — Marshall hurt his right foot, Lathan his left hand — and both players gave the new braces positive reviews on Tuesday. Marshall said he was about 80 percent physically. Lathan was able to shoot with minimal difficulty.

For Marshall, the urgency is palatable. The senior is running out of time in his ISU career. Though he was originally thought to be out four-to-six weeks when he suffered the stress fracture in his foot on Feb. 3, Marshall was determined to make it back before then.

“When they told me I was out four to six weeks, I made up my mind that I was going to be playing before that. It was hard for me to be off the court, but I feel good now knowing that I was able to come back and help this team not only win these last two games, but also, to help them win the tournament,” Marshall said.

With ISU’s undermanned crew having gone 2-3 in Marshall and Lathan’s absence, ISU has played well in two of the three losses, maintaining rhythm should Marshall and Lathan return is one thing ISU coach Kevin McKenna has to think about.

“It’s always a concern. In Harry’s case, if he plays, he’ll be able to control the game because he handles the ball. Dwayne is a little bit different in terms of playing the wing and getting into a rhythm. We’ll see how they feel tomorrow,” McKenna said.

• Illinois State on a roll — Although ISU has its destiny in its own hands as far as avoiding the MVC play-in round, it won’t be easy. Illinois State (20-8, 10-6) has won five in a row and can finish as high as second in the conference if Wichita State falters down the stretch.

The Redbirds have one of the best inside-outside combinations in the conference with center Dinma Odiakosa and guard Osiris Eldridge. ISU held Eldridge without a field goal in ISU’s 72-65 victory in Terre Haute on Feb. 3 (the last time Illinois State lost), but Odiakosa scored 21 points in the ISU win. The 6-foot-8, 255-pound Odiakosa got to the line 13 times and made 11 against the Sycamores in the last meeting.

“The problem with him is he’s so big and he does so many things to anchor their offense. You really have to key on him, but they also have perimeter guys who can hurt you too,” McKenna said.

Odiakosa is starting to get consideration for MVC Player of the Year and Illinois State coach Tim Jankovich won’t argue with anyone who feels the Nigerian senior deserves the honor.

“I’m glad he’s in the conversation. From his freshman year to now, he’s just had the perfect graph of improvement. In the last month, he’s played as well as anyone in our conference,” said Jankovich during Tuesday’s MVC coaches teleconference.

ISU has won three in a row over Illinois State. Since Jankovich and McKenna came into the league for the 2007-08 season, no game has been decided by more than seven points.

“I guarantee that seven-point game was closer than that too,” said Jankovich, who is right, the Redbirds were within a possession of the lead late in ISU’s victory on Feb. 3. “A lot of it has to do with the competitiveness of both teams. Some of it is coincidence too.”



ISU at Illinois State

Tipoff — 8 p.m. at Redbird Arena, Normal, Ill.

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

Last time out — ISU lost to Green Bay on 60-59 and Illinois State defeated Morehead State 71-62 on Saturday.

Series — Illinois State has a 55-46 lead. ISU has won three in a row in the series, including a 72-65 victory at Hulman Center on Feb. 3.

The players

Indiana State Sycamores (16-12, 8-8) — G Jordan Printy (6-4, So., 6.8 ppg, 2. rpg); G-F Aaron Carter (6-4, Jr., 6.4); G Rashad Reed (6-1, Sr., 10.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg); F Carl Richard (6-5, So., 8 ppg, 5.4 rpg); and C Brant Leitnaker (6-10, Jr., 3.1) are possible starters. G Harry Marshall (6-0, Sr., 14 ppg, 4 rpg); F Dwayne Lathan (6-3, So., 11.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg); F Koang Doluony (6-8, Fr., 3.9); C Josh Crawford (6-11, Sr., 3.8) and C Isiah Martin (6-8, Jr., 3.5) are key contributors off the bench.

Coach — Kevin McKenna (42-49 at ISU, 3rd year; 131-82 overall, 7th year).

Illinois State Redbirds (20-8, 10-6) — G Osiris Eldridge (6-3, Sr., 16 ppg, 3.9 rpg); G Alex Rubin (6-1, Jr., 5.2); G Lloyd Phillips (5-10, Sr., 10.6 ppg, 4.3 apg); F Jackie Carmichael (6-9, Fr., 6.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg); C Dinma Odiakosa (6-8, Sr., 12.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg) are possible starters. G Austin Hill (6-1, Fr., 6.3); F Kellen Thornton (6-7, So., 4.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg); G Justin Clark (6-4, Fr., 1.6); F Tony Lewis (6-7, Jr., 6 ppg, 5.1 rpg) are key contributors off the bench.

Coach — Tim Jankovich (68-28, 3rd year at Illinois State, 171-99 overall, 9th year).

Injuries — For ISU, G Jake Kelly (knee) is out for the season. F Dwayne Lathan (hand) and G Harry Marshall (foot) are probable. For Illinois State, F Bobby Hill (knee) is out for the season, G Austin Hill is questionable.

Keys to the game

• Don’t let Odiakosa get ISU’s big men into foul trouble. ISU has had success recently partly because it hasn’t had foul trouble. Odiakosa can single-handedly get any or all of ISU’s big men in trouble if the Sycamores aren’t careful.

• Keep the same mindset. If Marshall and Lathan play or to whatever degree they do, the Sycamores who have been playing in their place need to maintain their focus. If they can, ISU can be dangerous.

Tidbit — ISU is second in the nation in free throw shooting at 77.3 percent, second only to BYU at 77.6 percent.

Next games — ISU plays host to Missouri State and Illinois State plays at Northern Iowa on Saturday.

— Todd Golden

Larry Bird #33....

I am taking ISU +10

 BOL UNC

Quote Originally Posted by jasonhunter:

I just did some research and this guy is like 2 for his last 20, with a bunch of big unit losses like last night with Michigan. My friend mustve been screwing with me.

No...Your friend just has bad timing.  Those who were here when times were good had a really good ride.