Ace Hunt
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The Indiana State basketball program, under the direction of third-year head coach Greg Lansing has announced its complete 2012-13 schedule.
The season gets underway with an exhibition contest on November 1 against Lewis which begins at 7:05 p.m. (ET) inside Hulman Center.
The regular season begins on November 9 at UCLA. Both UCLA and Indiana State have been led by head coach John Wooden, with Wooden leading the Sycamores during the 1946-47 and 1947-48 campaigns. The two teams have played just once in the past when the Bruins earned a 112-76 victory in Terre Haute on December 5, 1964.
"This is going to be a lot of fun for our fans to be able to experience something like opening at UCLA," Lansing said. "With coach Wooden having started his career at Indiana State coupled with the fact that they have completely renovated Pauley Pavilion it is going to be a special night for both programs. They are going to have some of the all-time UCLA greats back for that game so it will be a neat experience to be able to see some of those guys. It is an unbelievable challenge for us to start our season there against one of top teams in the entire country."
The campaign continues with two consecutive home games for the Sycamores against Winthrop (Nov. 13) and Truman State (Nov. 17). ISU will battle in-state rival Ball State on the road on Nov. 20 before returning home to take on High Point (Nov. 25).
ISU will welcome former Indiana star Steve Alford and his New Mexico team to Hulman Center on December 1 in the Sycamores' annual appearance in the MVC/Mountain West Challenge Series. Tip-off is set for 2:05 p.m. (ET).
The Sycamores will then travel to Morehead State on December 8 for a return game in the Bracketbusters series. ISU then travels to IUPUI on December 15.
Indiana State will travel to Honolulu, Hawaii to participate in the Diamond Head Classic from Dec. 22-25 in games that will be nationally televised on the ESPN Family Of Networks. ISU will take on Ole Miss in front of ESPNU cameras on December 22 to open their play in the tournament and will also play games on December 23 & 25.
"This is an extremely difficult non-conference schedule that we have put together this season," Lansing said. "It is going to be great to have coach Alford back in the state of Indiana with a New Mexico team that is going to be ranked in Top 25 this season. It will also be good for the program to participate in another ESPN Tournament over the Christmas week in Hawaii. We have tough road games at Ball State and Morehead State scheduled as well. So, this will be a difficult non-conference slate, but hopefully it will be one that the fans will enjoy."
Missouri Valley Conference play begins on December 30 when they host Illinois State at 1:05 p.m. (ET). ISU then will go on a two-game road swing beginning at Northern Iowa (Jan. 2) and concluding at Creighton on Jan. 5.
Bradley comes to Hulman Center on Jan. 9 before travelling to Southern Illinois for a Jan. 12 contest. ISU will return home on Jan. 16 to take on Missouri State before also taking on Evansville at home on January 19.
The Sycamores will play a single road contest at Illinois on Jan. 22 before returning home for its second game of the season against Northern Iowa on Jan. 26.
ISU will conclude play in the month of January on the 29th as they travel to Wichita State and also begin February on the road at Drake on Feb. 2.
Creighton and Southern Illinois will visit Hulman Center on Feb. 6 and Feb. 9 respectively as the MVC slate continues before travelling to Missouri State on Feb. 12.
ISU stays on the road to battle Bradley on Feb. 16 and returns home to face the Shockers on Feb. 19. The Sycamores will then take a break from the league schedule to participate in the Bracketbusters series between a window of Feb. 22-24 and will then host Drake on Feb. 27.
The Sycamores will travel to in-state MVC rival Evansville on March 2 to wrap up conference play during Wildcard Weekend.
"The league is so good and during this process I am never one to worry too much about where and when we play each opponent because we have to play each of the league schools twice anyway," Lansing commented. "I really appreciate the work of Doug Elgin and Jack Watkins as well as the entire Missouri Valley staff because this job has to be as difficult as it gets. We open up against a very good team here and then go on road to play the top teams in the league. It won't get any easier as we move through the schedule and that is what is great about the MVC."
All institutional as well as Missouri Valley Conference and other national television broadcast dates will be announced at a later date.
The annual Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Tournament will be held from March 7-10 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
