Missouri Valley Team Preview (Indiana State Sycamores)

In March 2001, Indiana State defeated Oklahoma State in the first round of the NCAA before losing to Gonzaga in the second round.  Since then, the Sycamores have gone 22-64 overall and 11-43 in the Missouri Valley Conference, with 5 of those wins against one team, Evansville.  Looking at this team, it may win more than the 4 “W’s” it has averaged in conference play the last 3 years, but it won’t be easy.Anything good about the Sycamores has to start with 6’5″ Junior Guard/Small Forward David Moss.  Two years ago he was the Valley Freshman of the year, and last year finished in the top 10 in 6 statistical league categories.  He finished the year averaging 13.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.5 apg, and 1.6 spg.  Last season he missed 3 games with off the court issues.  Should he manage to keep his head on straight, Moss has 1st team all Valley talent.  Moss’ troubles last year coincided with the team’s 11 game losing streak.  If anything good from the team’s perspective came from that, it was discovering the scoring capabilities of 6’1″ Sophomore Eric Gray.  Gray, who played at the same high school as Moss, Thornwood in Chicago, stepped up when Moss was out, and carried it through the rest of the year.  He finished with a 7.6 ppg average, but scored in double figures in 8 of the final 12.  He led the team with 44 3’s.  6’2″ Sophomore Tyson Scnitker started at the point from day one, and ended his Freshman year averaging 5.5 ppg and 2 apg.  3 newcomers are expected to see time in the backcourt as well.  Freshmen Gabrielle Moore 6’0″ from Little Rock, Arkansas, 6’4″ Zach McGrath from Mountain Home, Arkansas, and 6’0″ Logan Whitman from Brazil, Indiana, all come in with reputations for being very good long distance shooters in high school.  

The frontcourt will be anchored by 6’7″ Senior Amani Daanish.  He was named to the Valley All-Newcomer team after transferring from Cowley CC in Los Angeles.  He averaged 7 ppg and 5 rpg, leading the team in the second category.  He’ll get help from 6’9″ Senior Jerod Adler.  He put up almost 4 ppg and 3 rpg.  After those two, the choices up front get real slim.  6’9″ Freshman Mick Yelovich, who hasn’t even practiced yet because of a bad back, better get well quick because he will have to contribute right away since the only other body on the roster over 6’4″ is 6’7″ Junior Darron Evans, who is also out with an injury (dislocated kneecap) for 2-3 more weeks.  Evans appeared in 26 games last year, but averaged less than 2 ppg.  

48, 39, 42, 44, 44, 39, 37, 50, and 47.  What are those numbers you ask?  Those are some of the point totals under Indiana State’s name on the scoreboard at the end of games.  In one-third of their games, they didn’t surpass 50 points!  The ugliness goes on and on.  They finished last in scoring, rebounding, rebounding margin, assists, free throw %, and near the bottom in several others including attendance, where they finished next to last with just a tad over 4,000 per game.  The points per game may increase somewhat with the infusion of the new shooters, but the thinness in the front line may deliver even worse numbers in the rebounding categories.  It is not a good time to be a Sycamore fan.

PROJECTED LEAGUE FINISH:  9TH  (5-13)