[January 1, 2025] Indiana State (8-5) vs Bradley (11-2)

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Agree. JD has been really good off the bench. TOTALLY different player than Bledson but I think JD thrives off the bench like Bledson did. He provides scoring when some starters are on the bench and has a high motor around the rim that he takes advantage of when some opponents are fatigued.

Don't really know what's going on with Vorst. He looked more smooth than Harding at the beginning of the year then the injury came and now can hardly find the court. Is he still banged up a little or is just too far behind after missing a ton?

I would have to guess between his injuries and poor play that Graves just has a lot more trust in the more experienced Harding. I'm okay with JD not starting as well - he's been an absolute handful in the pick and roll. Things really open up for Teel when JD is in the game.

That production from a 5th year guy playing 40 minutes in two games and only having 1 point is no bueno. Like you gotta be better than that bro.

 

[jturner38]

Agree. JD has been really good off the bench. TOTALLY different player than Bledson but I think JD thrives off the bench like Bledson did. He provides scoring when some starters are on the bench and has a high motor around the rim that he takes advantage of when some opponents are fatigued.

Don't really know what's going on with Vorst. He looked more smooth than Harding at the beginning of the year then the injury came and now can hardly find the court. Is he still banged up a little or is just too far behind after missing a ton?

Vorst had been playing catch up since the injury and trying to get in shape. Quite frankly Harding (at the time} and JD have been playing better than him. Vorst got in past 2 games and really has not looked good. Of course he needs some run to work through that but he's been really bad. That's a tough one. But if Harding is no longer producing for us then yeah might as well get Vorst some more minutes.

 

[jturner38]

Also something that I noticed and I didn't catch it live but Montgomery wasn't scoring when Camp was guarding him. Camp's been playing better D compared to the start of the season. Still has room for improvement but that was a shock to me.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

One last thing before I just move on mentally from this game... People want to talk about the Sycamores completely melting down - Bradley lead by 6 with under 2:10 in regulation - 5 points and the ball with under a minute.

Indiana State showed a lot of grit to fight back in that game multiple times in the second half. I just refuse to be upset with that effort yesterday - hate the outcome but loved the fight.

 

[SycamoreBlue3209]

I would have to guess between his injuries and poor play that Graves just has a lot more trust in the more experienced Harding. I'm okay with JD not starting as well - he's been an absolute handful in the pick and roll. Things really open up for Teel when JD is in the game.

That production from a 5th year guy playing 40 minutes in two games and only having 1 point is no bueno. Like you gotta be better than that bro.

What’s really impressive for JD is what he has done the last two games against probably the best big man defense we will face all year in OSU and BU. At 6’6 I worried his post game wouldn’t be effective, but he has been highly productive against B10 bigs and I would assume Hannah/Thomas are probably the best defensive big combo in MVC.

I thought JD looked bad the first couple games-lots of travels, indecisive, not finishing, but now you just chalk that up to not having a lot of game action in over a year and first long look against D1 comp.

He is literally one of our most important pieces this season providing that scoring punch and toughness off the bench.

 

[BlueBleeder]

One last thing before I just move on mentally from this game... People want to talk about the Sycamores completely melting down - Bradley lead by 6 with under 2:10 in regulation - 5 points and the ball with under a minute.

Indiana State showed a lot of grit to fight back in that game multiple times in the second half. I just refuse to be upset with that effort yesterday - hate the outcome but loved the fight.

ABSOLUTELY! The reason that loss hurt so bad was because of how hard they guys played to even have a chance. Yes, a bad mistake and some poor execution happened late, but damn that was an awesome effort and game. We didn't shoot particularly well either and it was still a great game. Disappointed, yes......but the amount of improvement in 2 months is worth being excited about. I can't imagine we won't continue to improve, especially with defensive schemes and late game execution. Time to start a new streak!

 

[jturner38]

What’s really impressive for JD is what he has done the last two games against probably the best big man defense we will face all year in OSU and BU. At 6’6 I worried his post game wouldn’t be effective, but he has been highly productive against B10 bigs and I would assume Hannah/Thomas are probably the best defensive big combo in MVC.

I thought JD looked bad the first couple games-lots of travels, indecisive, not finishing, but now you just chalk that up to not having a lot of game action in over a year and first long look against D1 comp.

He is literally one of our most important pieces this season providing that scoring punch and toughness off the bench.

Actually UE has the best big defensive combo as they lead the lead in blocks.

 

[Huff77]

100% I think this reads to a definitive change in culture over the past few years. Dont want to make this about Schertz or Lansing or Graves, but we're not that far removed from seeing ISU teams fold when the "better" team hits that run end of game. I don't know if it's coaching, or recruiting better, but it's definitely a change.
Think about being a Bradley fan here...in April this conference was theirs on a platter...now? I'd be nervous.

 

[SycamoreBlue3209]

Actually UE has the best big defensive combo as they lead the lead in blocks.

Maybe statistically in blocks, but you think overall, they are a more stout front court?

Evansville lost 80-30 @ OSU. I would lean OSU/BU bigs are tougher for a 6’6 PF, small ball 5.

 

[jturner38]

Maybe statistically in blocks, but you think overall, they are a more stout front court?

Evansville lost 80-30 @ OSU. I would lean OSU/BU bigs are tougher for a 6’6 PF, small ball 5.

They don't play good team defense or hadn't but they still protect rim somewhat decent. I wouldn't look at that game to judge. Overall as in complete game no. Defensively if it's one thing they can do that is block shots. But that maybe because they are tall more so them actually being good defensive players.

 

[MovingScreenOfDeath]

As disappointed as I was driving home last night, I want to keep perspective that a month and a half ago we were saying "I don't know if I see more than 6 winnable games on the schedule the rest of the season"

 

[sycamorebacker]

Yeah really. I think he’s been much better the last 2-3 games though

I guess so! I'm satisfied with .633. When is the last time our 2 leading scorers were .641 and .633?

 

[sycamorebacker]

delete

 

[Bluethunder]

As disappointed as I was driving home last night, I want to keep perspective that a month and a half ago we were saying "I don't know if I see more than 6 winnable games on the schedule the rest of the season"

Speaking of the game against FAU, watching them right now against Memphis and they don’t look anything like the team we saw in Xenia, but for different reasons. Down 71-48.

Easy to see that State has improved much more than the Owls have so far this year.

 

[bluestreak]

Kind of off track with this discussion, but can we give some kudos to HCMG, and in fact the entire coaching staff? I know his decision not to call a TO in the last game is aurgueable, but what the hell, in MHO this staff has worked a semi-miracle compared to what most of us anticipated. In particular JO's work in-game with the players is really interesting to watch. Its obvious the he has the players ears and attention. As a side note - a poster on the SLU site wondered if they hired the wrong ISU coach...

 

[sycamore_21]

I am glad JO speaks up. He is always up talking to the guards or Graves telling him what he sees. If he could give 50% of his bball knowledge to Teel/LeGree we will be just fine.

 

[Huff77]

Did we all see the coaching staff huddle after the game ended and does anyone have knowledge of what was being said?

 

[EvilleSycamore]

Did we all see the coaching staff huddle after the game ended and does anyone have knowledge of what was being said?

Yep! The conversation was are we going to the Terminal or the Bally asked by Coach Furr. Coach Odum chimed in and said Coach Slessinger needs to buy the first pitcher in which he argued back. Coach Graves broke it up and said “we still have all that NIL money so I’ll buy the first pitcher AND a 10 inch deluxe pizza with BBQ at the Bally! “My lip reading is a little rusty but that’s what I think I read……

 

[jturner38]

Wonder if we had any recruits visiting tonight? Would have been a heck of a game for them to be at.

I posted on the recruiting tab. 2027 recruit.

 

[jturner38]

Yup on it… I really feel like people on this forum have been directly responsible for some of the positive social media impact we’ve experienced over the last couple years.

Got to keep it going - not seeing the same level of energy or push. I get it this team is not as good as the last couple seasons and all the reasons. But these guys are 2-0 in the Valley and playing really hard for InState. I’d say they’re playing slightly to well above the celing at this point. It deserves an effort locally from our fans.

You want to be respected in the Valley and nationally this is a game your fan base has to show up for. Anything shy of 6,000 is unacceptable.

1000% and here’s some validation to this on my next post.