The last time the Creighton Bluejays played the Sycamores of Indiana State, CU could not get its game together early and went to the locker room down 7 points. Though they came out fast and furious in the second half and Kenny Lawson recorded his second career double-double, those efforts were not enough to avoid dropping a New Year’s Day road game 70-64.
The Sycamores were already shorthanded going into that matchup with the Bluejays, as ISU was without standout transfer Jake Kelly. A little more than one month later, two more of Indiana State’s best players join Kelly on the bench for the Sycamores’ showdown with Creighton. So with only eight players suiting up as they walk into the Phone Booth Tuesday night, how will this team hold up? Do they have enough healthy bodies to take another game from the Bluejays?
The answers might be hard to come by, but we have someone Golden to shine some light on the situation. That would be Todd Golden from the Terre Haute Tribune Star. The beat writer for the Sycamores stopped by WBR to share some insight as to how this team is responding to the adversity and where Kevin McKenna has the program headed in the future.
White & Blue Review: With the performance the Sycamores had last game against the Bluejays in Terre Haute, what was the biggest key in winning that game?
Todd Golden: Creighton was really inconsistent in that game, no one ever got into a flow. At the time, ISU had Dwayne Lathan, so he played a role, but really, ISU just plays better at home, like most teams.
WBR: What was the team’s mood last week, following Harry Marshall and Dwayne Latham’s injuries and then opening a big lead at WSU only to lose down the stretch? How are McKenna and his squad dealing with these setbacks?
TG: The mood was light, sort of a gallows humor. The team knows what it’s up against, but McKenna has done a good job keeping the team on task.
WBR: Who must step up in the absence of Kelly, Marshall, and Latham to give this team chances to win in February? Printy and Richard doubled their scoring averages against WSU and Reed was over his average, too. What combinations are important for McKenna’s strategy during the next few weeks?
TG: Combinations don’t really come into play with this team. Like Creighton, McKenna likes to rotate guys in and out and with only eight of them, substitutions will have as much to do with fatigue and foul trouble as it does any kind of grand plan. Aaron Carter was sort of the designated sixth man at Wichita State, but Indiana State is going to need contributions from everyone to keep its head above water.
WBR: How has freshman Koang Doluony, being from Omaha, come along so far in his first year of play? What kind of potential does he have?
TG: Koang is getting his big chance now. He’s shown flashes as a 3-point shooter and as a defender, but like any freshman, he’s had moments where he’s struggled too. He fits McKenna’s philosophy to have athletes who can play both ends of the floor. I see him as someone who help in the press and who can spread the floor.
WBR: What is the climate like surrounding the program right now, from the perspective of the fans? What do the fans expect of the program?
TG: The fans don’t expect much now, considering the injuries. Prior to that, breaking ISU’s eight-year streak of losing seasons was the goal. I think fans are reasonably happy with McKenna and they should be. In the last calendar year, ISU is 22-12.
WBR: How does coach McKenna feel about playing these games against his friend and former boss, Dana Altman? Why do you think he took a head coaching job in the same conference?
TG: He downplays it, but I think he enjoys it and probably dreads it all at once. Enjoys it because he likes to compete, dreads it because he has an immense fondness for Creighton, as one would after spending so much time with CU’s program as a player and assistant coach. As for taking a head coaching job, it was an opportunity to coach at the Division I level in a quality conference.
WBR: What are the weaknesses of the Sycamores that the Bluejays can take advantage of?
TG: Obviously, depth. Creighton goes 12-deep at times and will press. ISU’s injury woes play right into their hands.
WBR: What does next year’s recruiting class look like for the Sycamores?
TG: ISU went big with its recruiting class. Jake Kitchell, a big from South Central High School in northern Indiana, is someone they’re counting on. They also have a JUCO big (Myles Walker) coming in from South Plains JC as well as a point guard, Steve McWhorter, who is from Racine, Wis. Because McKenna has redshirted so many players (four in this freshman class alone), it somewhat minimizes the impact freshmen have to have in ISU’s program.
WBR: What is your final prediction? What does Indiana State have to do to win the game in Omaha?
TG: Creighton should be favored, if only because its at home. Indiana State has to shoot well and not get fatigued against Creighton press and depth.
