TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — In 49 other states, it's just basketball — but this is Indiana.
The old adage typically turns our attention to the Indiana Hoosiers, the Purdue Boilermakers or the Butler Bulldogs. In 2024, the Indiana State Sycamores are commanding its attention.
Quietly having one of its best seasons ever, ISU is looking to get back to the NCAA Tournament for just the fifth time in program history.
When you think of Indiana State and that unique shade of blue, you think of Larry Bird, and it probably stops there. However, there's something special going on in Terre Haute this season.
"We felt really good about how we did in the portal," head coach Josh Schertz said. "But you never know — until you get them on campus — how it's going to mesh together. When two-thirds of your team is new, there's a lot of unknowns."
Coming off a 23-win season, the Sycamores lost 80% of its scoring, but the culture remained the same.
"Our culture is big. In the locker room, everyone gets along, everyone hangs out," junior forward Jayson Kent said. "You'll see grad transfers hang out with freshmen. Everybody is just so collected. We support each other's success. Nobody gets down like, 'Why is he playing over me?' We will push you no matter who it is, from the top guy all the way down to the walk-ons. The love through this team is special."
That special culture has bred special results. ISU has burst onto the scene this season. The Sycamores are 18-3 overall, with a 9-1 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play. The only losses coming to Michigan State, #24 Alabama and Drake. Not to mention, a sterling 9-0 record at the newly-renovated Hulman Center, which is now starting to sell out for games. It's one of the best marks through 20-plus games this program has ever seen, and the community is taking notice.
"It's a group that the community can really wrap their arms around, and I think they have. That's just great to see," Schertz said. "I know Terre Haute. They love basketball. I know there's a great history and tradition, from Larry Bird to John Wooden to Clarence Walker. This is a place filled with a lot of basketball icons that's had some great teams and great pockets. What it hadn't had was sustained success."
"When we came here, that was the goal. That was the objective," Schertz said. "Look, we're a long way away from that, but certainly to see the community rally around the team — I believed if we gave them a good product, in terms of the way we played and the kids we had, that we could get the support of the community. It turned out to be everything I thought it may be — and even a little bit more — when I first took over."
From 11-20, to 23-13, to now 18-3 in Schertz's third year at the helm, the Sycamores are well on their way. The driving force — an NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time in over a decade.
"Our goal is we want to get to the NCAA Tournament and advance. You never want to put ceilings on yourself. You want to get to the tournament and win games and go as far as you can. You saw what happened last year with Florida Atlantic and San Diego State playing in the Final Four — there's nothing outside of your reach," Schertz said.
"Seeing where we are right now is fantastic. To give these fans — who I know, we have a lot of diehards who have been supporting this program for a long time — to give them that experience again would be tremendous. We have a long way to go to get there. There's a lot of games ahead and a lot of basketball to be played," Schertz said. "What we think is that we're a team that is good enough to win a championship and get to the NCAA Tournament and advance once we're there."
Indiana State continues its journey this season eyeing its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011.
