Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball

Indiana State Sycamores basketball is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2011.
The Sycamores' first season was 1896, making them the oldest basketball team in the NCAA along with Bucknell, Minnesota, Washington and Yale; however, the records from 1896 to 1899 have been lost over time. The Sycamores boast two College Players of the Year, 14 All-Americans, 42 1,000-point scorers, and 1,600+ victories.
In addition, the Sycamores have 28 postseason appearances with six national championship appearances. Seven Sycamores were members of the 1951 Pan-American Games gold medal-winning team. The Sycamores' most memorable season was 1978–79, when unanimous National Player of the Year Larry Bird led an undefeated team to its first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament appearance, as well as the AP and UPI national titles. However, it lost the national title game versus the Magic Johnson-led Michigan State team; and ended the season with a record of 33–1. Their performance was the deepest run by a first-time participant in the Division I tournament, and one of only three times that a first-time team has advanced as far as the Final Four. They would not have another postseason appearance until 2000.
The Sycamores were the national runner-up in the NCAA College Division in 1968; they won the NAIA national championship in 1950, had NAIA Finals appearances in 1946 and 1948 and NAIA National semifinals appearances in 1949 and 1953. Most recently, the Sycamores were the 2024 NIT National Finalist. Over the decades, the Sycamores were led by All-Americans Larry Bird, Duane Klueh, Dick Atha, Lenny Rzeszewski, Butch Wade and Jerry Newsom. As the program transitioned from NAIA to the NCAA, one final NAIA highlight was Ray Goddard leading the entire nation in free-throw percentage during the 1961–62 season. Former head coaches include Hall of Famer John Wooden, Purdue All-American Dave Schellhase, Glenn M. Curtis and well-known college coaches such as Bob King, Royce Waltman, Tates Locke and Ron Greene. Former assistants include collegiate head coaches such as Rick Ray, Rob Flaska, Jim Saia, Stan Gouard and Benjy Taylor, Thad Matta, Kareem Richardson, Phil Hopkins, Mel Garland, and ABA/NBA Great Mel Daniels.
The Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball team currently play their home games at the Hulman Center.

WWW gosycamores.com/index.asp...

Postseason

Division I NCAA tournament results

The Sycamores have appeared in four NCAA Division I Tournaments. Their combined record is 5–4.

1979	1	Regional Quarterfinals Regional Semifinals Regional Finals Final Four National Championship Game	Virginia Tech Oklahoma Arkansas DePaul Michigan State	W 86–69 W 93–72 W 73–71 W 76–74 L 64–75
2000	12	First round	Texas	L 61–77
2001	13	First round Second round	Oklahoma Gonzaga	W 70–68 ^OT L 68–85
2011	14	First round	Syracuse	L 60–77

NIT results

The Sycamores have appeared in five National Invitation Tournaments. Their combined record is 5–5.

1977	First round	Houston	L 82–83
1978	First round Quarterfinals	Illinois State Rutgers	W 73–71 L 56–57
2013	First round	Iowa	L 52–68
2014	First round	Arkansas	L 71–91
2024	First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship Game	Southern Methodist Minnesota Cincinnati Utah Seton Hall	W 101–92 W 76–64 W 85–81 W 100–90 L 77–79

CBI results

The Sycamores have received two College Basketball Invitational berths. Their combined record is 1–2.

2010	First round	Saint Louis	L 54–63
2023	First round Quarterfinals	USC Upstate Eastern Kentucky	W 67–62 L 88–89^OT

CIT results

The Sycamores appeared in one CollegeInsider.com Tournament. Their record is 0–1.

2012

First round

Robert Morris

L 60–67

Division II NCAA tournament results

The Sycamores have appeared in three NCAA Division II basketball tournaments. Their combined record is 5–4. They hosted the Great Lakes Regional during the 1966–67 Tournament.

1966	Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game	Southern Illinois Lamar	L 65–83 L 78–93
1967	Regional semifinals Regional Finals	Luther Valparaiso	W 109–88 L 77–80
1968	Regional semifinals Regional Finals National Quarterfinals National semifinals National Championship Game	South Dakota State Illinois State UNLV Trinity Kentucky Wesleyan	W 101–83 W 98–93 W 94–75 W 77–67 L 52–63

NAIA Tournament results

The Sycamores appeared in the NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament 12 times. They reached the NAIA Final Four five times. The Sycamores combined NAIA Tournament record is 25–12. Indiana State is the only team to finish as the National Runner-Up in the NAIA and both the NCAA DI and DII tournaments.
Indiana State won 7 NAIA District 21 titles

1942	First round Second round Quarterfinals	Wisconsin–Stevens Point Simpson Hamline	W 83–45 W 51–43 L 41–45
1943	First round	Northwest Missouri State	L 28–37
1946	First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship Game	St. Cloud State Houston Dakota Wesleyan Pepperdine Southern Illinois	W 62–51 W 62–43 W 55–34 W 56–43 L 40–49
1948	First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship Game	St. Francis BYU San Jose State Hamline Louisville	W 72–40 W 82–68 W 59–52 W 66–65 ^OT L 70–82
1949	First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Third Place Game	Eastern New Mexico Loyola Emporia State Regis Beloit	W 60–42 W 78–5–8 W 67–66 L 45–48 ^2OT L 59–67
1950	First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Championship Game	Delta State Arkansas Tech Baldwin–Wallace Tampa East Central State	W 65–59 W 87–79 W 61–39 W 73–69 W 61–57
1952	First round Second round	Farleigh Dickinson Southwest Missouri State	W 79–72 L 64–82
1953	First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals National Third Place Game	Midwestern State Arkansas Tech Findlay Southwest Missouri State East Texas State	W 100–76 W 100–81 W 106–70 L 78–84 W 74–71
1954	First round	Geneva	L 82–88
1959	First round Second round	Morningside Georgia Southern	W 87–67 L 70–73
1962	First round	Winston-Salem	L 71–83
1963	First round Second round	Parsons Carson-Newman	W 78–77 L 63–70

1936 Olympic trials

Coach Wally Marks' 1935–36 Sycamores gained national attention when they participated in the first national post-season collegiate basketball tournament. The winning team would earn the right to name five players to represent the United States in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, the first Games to feature the American sport of basketball. By earning the bid, the Sycamores joined a select group of college teams hand-picked by the Amateur Athletic Union, the U.S. governing organization.
The Olympic team members were selected from the best AAU teams and winners of the national collegiate tournament conducted in eight regional districts. The Sycamores earned a bid by winning two games in Indianapolis and advanced to the district finals and were pitted against Coach Jim Kelly's DePaul Blue Demons, at the Chicago Armory, DePaul's home court. Despite vaulting to a 10–0 lead, maintaining a 16–10 halftime advantage and outscoring the hosts from the field, Marks' cagers lost on a long shot in the waning moments of the game, 29–28.

1936 United States Olympic Trials

First round
Second round
Third round

Miami
Augustana
DePaul

W 45–27
W 30–26
L 28–29

1951 Pan American Games

The 1949–50 squad won the NAIA 1950 National Championship. Subsequently, Coach John Longfellow and eight Sycamore players were invited to represent the United States in the inaugural Pan American Games, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Sycamores Roger Adkins, Dick Atha, Richard Babcock, Bob Gilbert, Tom Kern, Gene Lambdin, Ed Longfellow, and Cliff Murray represented the United States and Indiana State University. The United States defeated the national teams of Ecuador, Cuba, Panama and Brazil to reach the championship game against Argentina. The Americans defeated the hosts,, for the gold medal.

USA Basketball players (10)

Roger Adkins – 1951 Pan American Games
Dick Atha – 1951 Pan American Games
Richard Babcock – 1951 Pan American Games
Bob Gilbert – 1951 Pan American Games
Tom Kern – 1951 Pan American Games
Gene Lambdin – 1951 Pan American Games
Ed Longfellow – 1951 Pan American Games
Cliff Murray – 1951 Pan American Games
Larry Bird – 1977 World University Games
Larry Bird – 1978 World Invitational Tournament
Carl Nicks – 1979 Select Team.
Larry Bird – 1992 Olympic team, a.k.a. "The Dream Team"

Other national teams (2)

DeCarsta Webster – Icelandic national basketball team
Manny Arop – Canadian University National Team, Canadian Junior National Team, Canadian U-19 National Team, Canadian U-18 National Team

Arenas

Year	Home	Capacity
1973–present	Hulman Center	10,200
1962–1973	Indiana State College Arena	4,800
1928–1962	Indiana State Teacher's College Gymnasium	3,000
1923–1928	Terre Haute William H. Wiley High School Gymnasium	1,600
1895–1923	Indiana State Normal School North Hall	unk

Player of the year

National awards

National Player of the Year (2)

Duane Klueh – 1948 NAIB Player of the Year Helms Foundation
Larry Bird – 1979 consensus

Retired numbers

Five Sycamore players have had their numbers retired by the school. Jerry Newsom is the latest, with his number 41 retired by the school on February 19, 2022.

All-Century Team

In 1899, basketball became a Sycamore tradition; in the first official game, State defeated the Terre Haute YMCA by a score of 20–17; in 1999, to recognize the first century of intercollegiate basketball, a panel selected the following All-Century Team.
In addition, 'All-Decade' teams were selected for the following:

1910s–1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

The rosters and more information can be found in the Winter 1999 issue of the 'Indiana State University Alumni Magazine.

All-Americans (17)

CoSIDA Academic All-Americans (4)

Dan Bush 1972
Mike Route 1976
Greg Thomas 1993
Matt Renn 2001

NCAA Post-Graduate scholarship (2)

Dan Bush 1972
Steve Reed 1981

All-Conference (35)

Only players selected for the conference first team are displayed; for second team and honorable mention, please consult the Indiana State Men's basketball media guide at www.gosycamores.com

Career leaders

Blocked shots

A bronze statue of Larry Bird by sculptor Bill Wolfe was dedicated on November 9, 2013, prior to the annual men's basketball with Ball State University. The statue honors Bird's legendary status in the Holy Land of Basketball _ INDIANA.

Coaching leaders

The Sycamores have been led by 26 different Head Coaches through their history, the top 16 coaches; in terms of wins; are listed below.

Years	Coach	Wins	Losses	Pct.
1955–1967	Duane Klueh	182	122	.599
2010–2021	Greg Lansing	181	164
1997–2007	Royce Waltman	134	164	.450
1938–1946	Glenn M. Curtis	122	45	.731
1948–1954	John Longfellow	122	64	.656
1967–1974	Gordon B. Stauffer	121	92	.568
1927–1931, 1933–1938	Wally Marks	91	59	.607
1978–1982	Bill Hodges	67	48	.582
2021–2024	Josh Schertz	66	40	.623
1975–1978	Bob King	61	24	.718
1918–1923	Birch Bayh	57	24	.704
1989–1994	Tates Locke	50	88	.411
1912–1917	Alfred F. Westphal	47	23	.671
1946–1948	John Wooden	44	15	.746
2007–2010	Kevin McKenna	43	52	.453
1982–1985	Dave Schellhase	37	48	.435
2024–	Matthew Graves	14	18	.438
31 seasons	16 other coaches	171	280	.380
1896–Present	PROGRAM TOTALs	1,610	1,370

Leaders in BOLD

A bronze statue of Coach John Wooden by sculptor Blair Buswell was dedicated when the newly renovated Pauley Pavilion opened on October 26, 2012, a men's basketball was played at the UCLA arena between Indiana State and UCLA on November 9, 2012. The game honored Wooden's coaching career at both schools.

Coach of the Year

National (2)

Bill Hodges – 1979 AP, UPI, The Sporting News.
Josh Schertz – 2024 Hugh Durham Award

Conference (9)

Josh Schertz – 2024 Missouri Valley Conference: League Media & Coaches
Kevin McKenna – 2010 Missouri Valley Conference: CollegeInsider.com
Royce Waltman – 2000 Missouri Valley Conference: League Media & Coaches
Tates Locke – 1991 Missouri Valley Conference: League Media & Coaches
Bill Hodges – 1979 Missouri Valley Conference: League Media & Coaches
Duane Klueh – 1959, 1963, 1966, 1967 Indiana Collegiate Conference: League Media & Coaches

Sycamores in the professional leagues

Draft history

18 Indiana State players have been drafted by the BAA, NBA, ABL, ABA and NDBL and NBA G League. Jerry Newsom was drafted by the Indiana Pacers of the original ABA in the 1968 ABA draft. Ray Goddard was drafted by the Kansas City Steers in the 1962 ABL draft

BAA | NBA Regular Draft

Year	Round	Pick	Overall	Player	Team
2022	1	19	19	Jake LaRavia	Minnesota Timberwolves
1983	3	5	52	Winfred King	Boston Celtics
1980	1	23	23	Carl Nicks	Denver Nuggets
1980	6	17	132	Alex Gilbert	Milwaukee Bucks
1978	1	6	6	Larry Bird	Boston Celtics
1978	6	9	129	Harry Morgan	San Antonio Spurs
1968	6	10	74	Jerry Newsom	Boston Celtics
1968	19	2	209	Rich Mason	Chicago Bulls
1967	7	5	72	Butch Wade	New York Knicks
1953	6	–	50	Dick Atha	New York Knicks
1950	4	4	40	Len Rzeszewski	Fort Wayne Pistons
1949	7	1	54	Duane Klueh	Boston Celtics
1949	8	4	61	Bob Royer	Providence Steam Rollers

NBDL | NBA G League Draft

Year	Round	Pick	Overall	Player	Team
2013	7	13	113	Dwayne Lathan	Rio Grande Valley Vipers
2011	2	2	18	Jake Kelly	Texas Legends
2011	7	15	110	Harry Marshall	Canton Charge

ABA Draft

Year	Round	Pick	Overall	Player	Team
1968	6th – 10th	unk	55th or lower	Jerry Newsom	Indiana Pacers

ABL Draft

Year	Round	Pick	Overall	Player	Team
1962	11th	unk	unk	Ray Goddard	Kansas City Steers

Sycamores in the NBA">National Basketball Association">NBA

Fifteen former Sycamores have played in the NBA and its predecessors, the, and the ABA. They are:

Dick Atha: 1955–56 – New York Knicks; 1957–1958 – Detroit Pistons
Ken Bannister: 1984–1986 – New York Knicks; 1987–1989 – Los Angeles Clippers
Larry Bird: 1979–1992 – Boston Celtics
George Chestnut: 1933–1937 – Indianapolis Kautskys
Doyle Cofer: 1948–49 – Detroit Vagabond Kings
Rick Darnell: 1975–1976 – Virginia Squires
John Hazen: 1948–1949 – Boston Celtics
Harold Johnson: 1946–1947 – Detroit Falcons
Duane Klueh: 1949–1950 – Denver Nuggets; 1950–1951 – Fort Wayne Pistons
Jake LaRavia: 2022–present – Memphis Grizzlies
John Miklozek: 1936–1937 – Indianapolis Kautskys
Carl Nicks: 1980–1982 – Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz; 1982–1983 – Cleveland Cavaliers
George Pearcy: 1946–1947 – Detroit Falcons
Henry Pearcy: 1946–1947 – Detroit Falcons
Bob Royer: 1949–1950 – Denver Nuggets

NBA, ABA, BAA, NBL, Champions

Sycamores in other professional leagues

45+ Indiana State players have played in foreign leagues; DeCarsta Webster and Brad Miley both won titles in Iceland, David Moss, Jayson Wells, and Djibril Kante have each won multiple championships in European and South American leagues

Jerod Adler – BBC Nyon – Basket-club Boncourt – Switzerland League A
Manny Arop – Norrköping Dolphins – Sweden – Basketligan; Webmoebel Baskets – Germany – ProA; Niagara River Lions – National Basketball League of Canada
Keenan Barlow – Dublin – Ireland – Premier League (Ireland)
Jordan Barnes – Paderborn Baskets – Germany ProA ; Giessen 46ers – Germany Bundesliga ; Coosur Real Betis – Spain Liga ACB ; Petkim Spor – T-TBL
Xavier Bledson – Tampereen Pyrintö – Korisliiga ; BK Iskra Svit – Extraliga
Kelyn Block – Lausanne MB – Switzerland League A; Nanterre 92, UJAP Quimper 29 – France; Premijer liga BiH
Devonte Brown – Paderborn Baskets – Germany ProA ; OKK Sloboda Tuzla – Bosnia-Herzegovina Premijer liga BiH
Aaron Carter – Grand Rapids Danger ABA
Joshua Crawford – Ehime, Kumamoto Volters Japan – B.League; MBK Baník Handlová Extraliga; BC Nevėžis LKL ; BC Beroe, BC Balkan NBL
Jim Cruse – Diadolle Asptt Dijon – France N3
Amani Daanish – Segamat, Mississauga Power – Canada, Island Storm – Canada, Saint John Riptide – Canada Salon Vilpas Vikings – Finland – 1st Division
Trenton Gibson – Feyenoord Basketball – Belgium –, Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen – Belgium –
Alex Gilbert – Played in the Úrvalsdeild karla and the Icelandic Division I in Iceland with Njarðvík and Grindavík
Nate Green – Pallalcesto Amatori Udine, Olimpia Milano, Fortitudo Pallacanestro Bologna, S.S. Felice Scandone – Italy Lega Basket Serie A; Columbus Riverdragons, North Charleston Lowgators – USA – NBDL; Canberra Cannons Australia – National Basketball League (Australia)
Lamar Grimes – Marinos de Bolivar BPC, BK Iskra Svit Extraliga; Al Jaysh Army SC – Qatar – D1
Steve Hart – Fayetteville Patriots – – USA – NBDL
Cam Henry – Skyliners Frankfurt – ProA Germany –, VfL Kirchheim Knights – ProA Germany –
Djibril Kante – Malvin Montevideo – Uruguay – LUB; Atenas Córdoba – Argentina – LigaA
Jake Kelly – Texas Legends PAOK – Greece – Greek Basket League;
Tyreke Key – Leuven Bears – Belgium –, Raptors 905 – G League
Jake Kitchell – Slavia TU Košice – Slovakia – SBL
Winfred King – Nuova Pallacanestro Gorizia, CB Breogán, CB Collado Villalba, APU Udine, Pallacanestro Firenze, Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C.
Julian Larry – Uni Baskets Münster, ProA
Dwayne Lathan – BC Sokhumi Superliga Rio Grande Valley Vipers – USA NBDL ; Osaka Evessa – Japan – bj league
Cade McKnight – Iraurgi SB – Spanish LEB – Spain –
Brad Miley – With Valur and Keflavík in Iceland and with Geelong Supercats in Australia 1982
Courvoisier-McCauley – Résidence Walferdange
Todd McCoy – Delaware Destroyers- USA EBA and NPBL
Gabriel Moore – ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen, Soba Dragons Rhoendorf – Germany – ProB
Steve McWhorter – Den Bosch Basketball DBL
David Moss – Basket Brescia Leonessa, EA7 Emporio Armani Milano, Montepaschi Siena – Italy – SerieA
Jake Odum – Banvit B.K. Turkey ; s.Oliver Würzburg ; Medi Bayreuth ; PAOK – Greece – GBL
Larry Sample – New York Nationals – – opponent/foil to Harlem Globetrotters
Khristian Smith – SLUNETA Ústí nad Labem, NBL
Paul Stroud – Washington Generals/New York Nationals – – opponent/foil to Harlem Globetrotters
Matt Renn – Valence Condom Castera RGB – France – N2
Emondre Rickman – Surrey Scorchers – United Kingdom ; S.C._Lusitânia – Portugal ; Ovarense Basquetebol P-LPB
Kailex Stephens – Feniks 2010 – Macedonian Super League – Macedonia
Devin Thomas – BMS Herlev Wolfpack – Denmark
Myles Walker – Oliveirense – Portugal LPB
DeCarsta Webster – 20-year career in Iceland in the Úrvalsdeild karla and the Icelandic Division I
Jayson Wells – 13-yr career in foreign leagues; some teams include: Poltava-Basket Poltava – Ukraine – Superleague; Maccabi Rishon – Israel Premier League
Christian Williams – Telstar Hesperange of the Total League
Trent Williams – United Basketball – BNXT League
Max Woolsey Boston Whirlwinds – United States – opponent/foil to Harlem Globetrotters
Trent Wurtz – Musel Pikes – Luxembourg – Total League, Christchurch Cougars – New Zealand – NBL,

Basketball Hall(s) of Fame

Hall of Fame Sycamores
Thirty-two former Sycamores players and coaches have been inducted into various Halls of Fame; they are:

Basketball Hall of Fame">Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame">Basketball Hall of Fame (3)

John Wooden Player, 1961; Coach, 1973—The first person to be inducted as Coach & Player.
Larry Bird Player, 1998
Mel Daniels Player, 2012

[National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame] (2)

John Wooden – 2006
Larry Bird – 2009

[NAIA Hall of Fame] (4)

Duane Klueh – 1955
Clemens 'Lenny' Rzewszewski – 1956
John Longfellow – 1960
John Wooden – 2009

National Small College Basketball Hall of Fame (2)

Clarence Walker – 2018
John Wooden – 2018

[Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame] (4)

Larry Bird – 1997
Duane Klueh – 2006
John Wooden – 2009
Bob King – 2014

In addition to the Conference Hall of Fame; the MVC selected an All-Centennial Team in honor of the Conference's 100th Anniversary;
the Sycamores had three players named to that team; Larry Bird, Carl Nicks and John Sherman Williams.

[Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame] (40)

Source:

Indiana State University Hall of Fame (42)

Individuals
Teams

1978–79 Men's Basketball Team

Larry Bird, Tom Crowder, Eric Curry, Alex Gilbert, Bob Heaton, Brad Miley, Carl Nicks, Rod McNelly, Rich Nemcek, Steve Reed, Bob Ritter, Leroy Staley, Scott Turner. Trainers: Bob Behnke, Rick Shaw. Head Coach: Bill Hodges. Assistant Coaches: Mel Daniels, Terry Thimlar. Graduate Assistant Coach: Danny King.

1949–50 Men's Basketball Team

Jim Berger, Richard Campbell, Dan Dimich, Bob Gilbert, Jim Hans, Buren Hooper, Max Hungerford, Bill Jagodzinski, Jerry Kunkel, Gene Lambdin, Ed Longfellow, Don McDonald, Dick Pattengale, Jim Powers, Jack Reece, Len Rzeszewski, John Scott, Clarence Walker. Managers: Stan Jacobs, John Sweet. Head Coach: John Longfellow. Assistant Coach: Max Andress.

1967–68 Men's Basketball Team

Daniel Chitwood, Michael Cooper, Ken Haas, Fred Hardman, Rodney Hervey, Steven Hollenbeck, Howard Humes, John McIntire, Richard Mason, Jerry Newsom, Gerald Novak, Mike Phillips, James Waldrip, Don Weirlich, Thomas Zellers. Head Coach: Gordon Stauffer. Assistant Coach: Melvin Garland.

Iowa High School Athletic Association Basketball Hall of Fame

Greg Lansing

In popular culture

During the Quantum Leap episode, The Leap Home: Part 1 – November 25, 1969 ; the father of lead character Dr. Samuel Beckett remarks that while "Sam will likely end up at Harvard, I know he's still hoping for a basketball scholarship from Indiana State."