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Indiana State Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Sycamores

By Harry Schroeder

Mar 5, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Indiana State Sycamores guard Julian Larry (10) drives to the basket as Evansville Aces guard Jawaun Newton (3) defends during the second half at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Indiana State Sycamores guard Julian Larry (10) drives to the basket as Evansville Aces guard Jawaun Newton (3) defends during the second half at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Head coach Matt Painter of the Purdue Boilermakers (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Head coach Matt Painter of the Purdue Boilermakers (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Very challenging opponents

Schertz didn’t take the easy way out during his first season in Terre Haute. At least six of the Sycamores’ non-conference foes were in the upper half of last year’s N.E.T rankings. They open at an improved Green Bay and then travel to 14th ranked Purdue. Some people believe that ranking isn’t good enough for this year’s Boilermakers. After the Sycamores’ home opener against Hanover, ISU plays five straight away from the Hulman Center.

The Sycamores are participating in the Myrtle Beach Invitational where they drew Old Dominion (132 in the N.E.T.) and then tangle with either Porter Moser’s Oklahoma (36) or East Carolina (175). A third game in that difficult multi-team event follows.

After those Thanksgiving tests, the Sycamores travel to Ball State for a game with the (179) Cardinals. A December first Missouri Valley Conference opener at Moser’s old team, Loyola interrupts non-conference play.

Miami of Ohio (182) visits Indiana State basketball in early December marking the second game other than Hanover (Division III) that is outside the upper half of last year’s NCAA NET ranking, the Redhawks are just three slots into that lower half.

Schertz’s road warriors head to Fargo, North Dakota for a game with Summit League power North Dakota State (157), and then the schedule starts to even out. Home games with Alabama A&M (325) and Oakland City (NAIA) lead into a road contest at Northern Illinois (339).

ISU finishes non-conference play with a game at (268) Coppin State.