[January 14, 2026] Indiana State (8-9) vs Illinois State (12-5)

[SycamoreStateofMind]

You have to really appreciate the Sycamore experience. You lose Saturday to one of the worst teams in the country every single year and tonight you beat one of the best teams in the conference that really was a must win road game if they want to keep pace - of course.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Great win! Was driving and when they got Vorst out, I thought we would fold. Game ball to ESB!

 

[sycamorebacker]

Where the hell has that level of execution and ball security been? I mean for real.

At 1-5; that's what you call back against the wall. IL St shot 55% with 8 TO's. That's what you call the power of the home court.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

At 1-5; that's what you call back against the wall. IL St shot 55% with 8 TO's. That's what you call the power of the home court.

Brother… where was “the power of the home court” Saturday? That’s what you call waking the fuck up and not playing like shit - home or away. Let’s just call a spade a spade.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Plus minutes from ESB, Sivert, Hall and I thought a really good game again from Young - that young man () has been through the ringer with us, he’s been benched, he’s been six man, he gets the start again tonight - I thought it was some of his best minutes as a Sycamore that’s the guy they thought they were getting you just gotta do it night in and night out.

You score 94 points with Clank going 1-10 with 5 points… You have to feel really really good about that.

 

[Prisonmate]

Did someone on the team have a birthday? They played like they were trying to get a birthday win for someone. Incredible effort.

 

[CoachShipp]

The MVC is just some gritty, blue collar basketball...gotta work for literally EVERYTHING most nights.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Did someone on the team have a birthday? They played like they were trying to get a birthday win for someone. Incredible effort.

You weren’t dreaming… @IndyTreeFan its his birthday he’s practically on the team. On the bench like his nephew but he’s on the team

Happy Birthday ITF! Cheers buddy

 

[sycamorebacker]

Brother… where was “the power of the home court” Saturday? That’s what you call waking the fuck up and not playing like shit - home or away. Let’s just call a spade a spade.

I agree. A spade is a spade. On the good side - if all teams played to their potential every game you could just play a tournament and the season would be over and there would be no reason to play a season.
I have no idea if we are going to be able to consistently put the pieces together. You can see improvement in some of the individual players. Still not satisfied giving up that many points. You can't do that often and win.

 

[SycamoreSuperFan]

6 turnovers in the game… That will get it done. Where the hell has that level of execution and ball security been? I mean for real.

Now we just need this more consistently

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Now we just need this more consistently

Ain’t no doubt… The Valley is pretty meh haven’t seen the Racers play yet will get a glimpse of that Saturday - but you just put up 94 on a team that had lost 2 straight and really needed to show the fuck up and win - your best player went 1-10. A lot to feel good about.

I feel a billon times better about this effort than I did the triple OT loss to Bradley and the win vs. Belmont - we got a lot of help from the stripes in both of those games. Tonight was the opposite of that. Vorst had foul trouble and eventually fouled out vs one of the best bigs in the Valley. Like they dealt with some adversity.

I also pat myself on the back because Jason and ITF and all these other tools () will not. I told you all with Vorst - just play D normally quit trying to have him protect himself against fouling out. What happens? He fouls out and Enel easily has the best game of his career. Just roll the ball out and play - quit getting cute. Vorst put up the same consistent numbers he’s been putting up he was awesome - just tell him go play D normally and we will live with the result.

*Harding needs another to make sure that wrist is good. I’d give him 8 weeks or so need him healthy for the Natty.

 

[Blue Streaker]

Props to Sterling. I’ve been harder on him than any other individual player. 14 pts 5-7 shooting 5 assists and 0 turnovers in a starting role.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Love that Rake is on the call. Guy knows more about Indiana sports top-to-bottom than just about anyone else.

Not sure any team in the Valley has had a better guy on the call than him.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Well, as bad as it looked for a bit there, we have done a decent job here and barring something crazy should win this one!

Just making my way through the game thread.

It really never looked “bad” to be honest… touch and go a bit down the stretch but that was easily our best game of the year nothing about it was “bad”.

 

[RunSyc]

 

[RunSyc]

 

[sycamore_21]

Watching replay now. Appears we’ve worked on our pick and roll offense. Ball handler actually uses the screen and the picker moves after the screen to create space/pop out/cut

Our spacing is wonderful in the first half

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Player of the game was ILState athletic trainer wearing the n95 mask. Legend. Read the room, bro Halloween was like four months ago.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Watching replay now. Appears we’ve worked on our pick and roll offense. Ball handler actually uses the screen and the picker moves after the screen to create space/pop out/cut

Our spacing is wonderful in the first half

I went to the game and I’m rewatching it as well. I need therapy.

 

[sycamore_21]

I went to the game and I’m rewatching it as well. I need therapy.

You love ball