2023–24 Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball team

2023–24 Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball
Missouri Valley champions Ball Dawgs Classic champions
NIT, runner-up
Conference	Missouri Valley Conference
Record	32–7 (17–3 MVC)
Head coach	Josh Schertz (3rd season)
Associate head coach	Matthew Graves
Assistant coaches	Justin Furr Antone Gray
Home arena	Hulman Center

2023–24 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Indiana State	17	–	3		.850			32	–	7		.821
Drake †	16	–	4		.800			28	–	7		.800
Bradley	13	–	7		.650			23	–	12		.657
Northern Iowa	12	–	8		.600			19	–	14		.576
Belmont	12	–	8		.600			20	–	13		.606
Southern Illinois	11	–	9		.550			19	–	13		.594
Illinois State	9	–	11		.450			15	–	17		.469
Murray State	9	–	11		.450			12	–	20		.375
Missouri State	8	–	12		.400			17	–	16		.515
Evansville	6	–	14		.300			17	–	18		.486
UIC	4	–	16		.200			12	–	21		.364
Valparaiso	3	–	17		.150			7	–	25		.219
† 2024 MVC tournament winner

The 2023–24 Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball team represented Indiana State University during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Sycamores, led by third-year head coach Josh Schertz, played their home games at the Hulman Center in Terre Haute, Indiana as members of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). The team finished the season 32–7, 17–3 in MVC play to win the regular-season championship. They defeated Missouri State^[1] and Northern Iowa^[2] before losing to Drake in the MVC tournament championship game.^[3] They received a bid to the National Invitation Tournament as a No. 1 seed. They defeated SMU,^[4] Minnesota,^[5] Cincinnati^[6] and Utah^[7] to advance to the NIT championship game. There they lost to Seton Hall.^[8]

On February 12, 2024, the Sycamores were ranked in the AP poll for the first time since the 1978–79 season.^[9] Consecutive losses to Illinois State and Southern Illinois right after they were ranked took them out of the poll after just one week.

On March 17, in a move that drew criticism, Indiana State was omitted from the NCAA tournament by the selection committee, instead receiving a bid to the National Invitation Tournament as a No. 1 seed.^[10] The Sycamores were the highest NET-ranked team (at 28 nationally) to miss the NCAA tournament.

On April 6, head coach Josh Schertz left the school to become the head coach at Saint Louis.^[11] On April 11, the school named associate head coach Matthew Graves the team's new head coach.^[12]

Previous season

The Sycamores finished the 2022–23 season 23–13, 13–7 in MVC play, to finish in fifth place. They defeated Evansville in the opening round of the MVC tournament^[13] and Belmont in the quarterfinals,^[14] before losing to top-seeded Bradley in the semifinals.^[15] They received an invitation to play in the CBI, where they defeated USC Upstate in the first round,^[16] before falling to eventual tournament runner-up Eastern Kentucky in overtime in the quarterfinals.^[17]

Roster

2023–24 Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown G 0 Xavier Bledson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) RS Sr Lincoln Memorial Gainesville, GA G 1 Julian Larry 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jr iSchool Entrepreneurial Academy Frisco, TX G 2 Isaiah Swope 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Jr Southern Indiana Newburgh, IN G 3 Ryan Conwell 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So South Florida Indianapolis, IN G 5 Jaden Schertz 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 165 lb (75 kg) So Cumberland Gap High School Harrogate, TN F 7 Augustinas Kiudulas 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Fr BC Rytas Vilnius, Lithuania G 10 Eli Shetlar 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Andover High School Wichita, KS F 11 Aaron Gray 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jr Niagara Providence, RI G 12 Masen Miller 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jr Truman State Iowa City, IA G 13 Cooper Bean 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Noblesville High School Noblesville, IN G/F 20 Jayson Kent 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Bradley Oak Forest, IL C 21 Robbie Avila 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) So Oak Forest High School Oak Forest, IL F 23 Jaden Daughtry 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Fr Hargrave Military Academy Richmond, VA G 24 Jake Wolfe 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) RS Sr Morehead State Aurora, IL F 35 Derek Vorst 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Fr Rossford High School Rossford, OH	Head coach Josh Schertz (Florida Atlantic) Assistant coach(es) Matthew Graves (Butler) Justin Furr (Wingate) Antone Gray (Rhode Island College) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster Last update: November 17, 2023

Schedule and results

Date time, TV	Rank^#	Opponent^#	Result	Record	Site (attendance) city, state
Regular season
November 6, 2023* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+		Saint Mary-of-the-Woods	W 90–60	1–0	Hulman Center (4,388) Terre Haute, IN
November 10, 2023* 8:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+		at No. 24 Alabama	L 80–102	1–1	Coleman Coliseum (10,900) Tuscaloosa, AL
November 14, 2023* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+		IUPUI	W 96–57	2–1	Hulman Center (3,470) Terre Haute, IN
November 21, 2023* 6:30 p.m., FloHoops		vs. Rice Ball Dawgs Classic	W 103–88	3–1	Dollar Loan Center  Henderson, NV
November 22, 2023* 7:00 p.m., FloHoops		vs. Pepperdine Ball Dawgs Classic	W 90–82	4–1	Dollar Loan Center  Henderson, NV
November 24, 2023* 2:00 p.m., FloHoops		vs. Toledo Ball Dawgs Classic	W 76–74	5–1	Dollar Loan Center  Henderson, NV
November 28, 2023 7:00 p.m., ESPN+		Southern Illinois	W 77–48	6–1 (1–0)	Hulman Center (4,009) Terre Haute, IN
December 2, 2023 2:00 p.m., ESPNU/ESPN+		at Bradley	W 85–77	7–1 (2–0)	Carver Arena (5,639) Peoria, IL
December 5, 2023* 8:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Northern Illinois	W 90–67	8–1	Convocation Center (1,242) DeKalb, IL
December 9, 2023* 2:00 p.m., ESPN+		Southern Indiana	W 98–54	9–1	Hulman Center (4,369) Terre Haute, IN
December 16, 2023* 1:45 p.m., Peacock		vs. Ball State Indy Classic	W 83–72	10–1	Gainbridge Fieldhouse (16,812) Indianapolis, IN
December 19, 2023* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+		Tennessee State	W 90–69	11–1	Hulman Center (4,291) Terre Haute, IN
December 30, 2023* 2:00 p.m., FS1		at Michigan State	L 75–87	11–2	Breslin Center (14,797) East Lansing, MI
January 3, 2024 7:00 p.m., ESPN+		Evansville	W 87–73	12–2 (3–0)	Hulman Center (4,457) Terre Haute, IN
January 7, 2024 3:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Northern Iowa	W 77–66	13–2 (4–0)	McLeod Center (3,891) Cedar Falls, IA
January 10, 2024 8:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Drake	L 78–89	13–3 (4–1)	Knapp Center (4,069) Des Moines, IA
January 13, 2024 2:00 p.m., ESPN+		Belmont	W 94–64	14–3 (5–1)	Hulman Center (5,963) Terre Haute, IN
January 16, 2024 7:00 p.m., ESPN+		Missouri State	W 88–66	15–3 (6–1)	Hulman Center (4,803) Terre Haute, IN
January 21, 2024 5:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Murray State	W 72–63	16–3 (7–1)	CFSB Center (6,017) Murray, KY
January 24, 2024 8:00 p.m., ESPN+		at UIC	W 89–83	17–3 (8–1)	Credit Union 1 Arena (2,174) Chicago, IL
January 27, 2024 6:00 p.m., ESPN+		Bradley	W 95–86 ^OT	18–3 (9–1)	Hulman Center (8,223) Terre Haute, IN
January 31, 2024 7:30 p.m., ESPN+		at Belmont	W 78–72	19–3 (10–1)	Curb Event Center (2,263) Nashville, TN
February 3, 2024 6:00 p.m., ESPN+		Drake	W 75–67	20–3 (11–1)	Hulman Center (8,332) Terre Haute, IN
February 7, 2024 7:00 p.m., ESPN+		Valparaiso	W 101–61	21–3 (12–1)	Hulman Center (5,716) Terre Haute, IN
February 10, 2024 6:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Missouri State	W 73–71	22–3 (13–1)	Great Southern Bank Arena (3,517) Springfield, MO
February 13, 2024 7:00 p.m., ESPN+	No. 23	Illinois State	L 67–80	22–4 (13–2)	Hulman Center (5,988) Terre Haute, IN
February 17, 2024 8:00 p.m., ESPN+	No. 23	at Southern Illinois	L 69–74	22–5 (13–3)	Banterra Center (6,019) Carbondale, IL
February 21, 2024 8:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Valparaiso	W 83–64	23–5 (14–3)	Athletics–Recreation Center (2,428) Valparaiso, IN
February 24, 2024 6:00 p.m., ESPN+		UIC	W 88–73	24–5 (15–3)	Hulman Center (8,061) Terre Haute, IN
February 28, 2024 8:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Evansville	W 85–67	25–5 (16–3)	Ford Center (6,419) Evansville, IN
March 3, 2024 2:00 p.m., ESPN+		Murray State	W 89–77	26–5 (17–3)	Hulman Center  Terre Haute, IN
MVC tournament
March 8, 2024 1:00 p.m., MVC TV	(1)	vs. (9) Missouri State Quarterfinals	W 75–59	27–5	Enterprise Center  St. Louis, MO
March 9, 2024 3:30 p.m., CBSSN	(1)	vs. (4) Northern Iowa Semifinals	W 94–72	28–5	Enterprise Center  St. Louis, MO
March 10, 2024 2:00 p.m., CBS	(1)	vs. (2) Drake Championship	L 80–84	28–6	Enterprise Center  St. Louis, MO
NIT
March 20, 2024 7:00 p.m., ESPN+	(1)	SMU First round – Indiana State Bracket	W 101–92	29–6	Hulman Center (6,421) Terre Haute, IN
March 24, 2024 2:00 p.m., ESPN2	(1)	Minnesota Second round – Indiana State Bracket	W 76–64	30–6	Hulman Center (8,239) Terre Haute, IN
March 26, 2024 9:00 p.m., ESPN	(1)	(2) Cincinnati Quarterfinals – Indiana State Bracket	W 85–81	31–6	Hulman Center (8,057) Terre Haute, IN
April 2, 2024 7:00 p.m., ESPN	(1)	vs. (2) Utah Semifinals	W 100–90	32–6	Hinkle Fieldhouse (8,889) Indianapolis, IN
April 4, 2024 7:00 p.m., ESPN	(1)	vs. (1) Seton Hall Championship	L 77–79	32–7	Hinkle Fieldhouse (9,100) Indianapolis, IN
*Non-conference game. ^#Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Eastern.

Sources:^[18][19]

Rankings

See also: 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	Final
AP	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RV	RV	23	—	RV	RV	RV	RV	—	RV
Coaches	—	—	—	—	—	—	RV	—	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	24	—	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV

References

1. Montgomery, Seth (March 8, 2024). "Sycamores advance to semifinals in MVC Tournament with win over Missouri State". Indiana State University Athletics. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
2. Montgomery, Seth (March 9, 2024). "ISU headed to Championship Sunday in Arch Madness; Face Drake for the tournament title". Indiana State University Athletics. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
3. Montgomery, Seth (March 10, 2024). "ISU falls in MVC tournament title game despite erasing 18-point deficit in second half". Indiana State University Athletics. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
4. Rush, Nick (March 20, 2024). "Kent's career night, lights out second half send the Sycamores past SMU". Indiana State University Athletics. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
5. Rush, Nick (March 24, 2024). "Sycamores advance to NIT Quarterfinal with victory over Minnesota". Indiana State University Athletics. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
6. Montgomery, Seth (March 26, 2024). "Indiana State earns trip to Hinkle for NIT Final Four with victory against Bearcats". Indiana State University Athletics. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
7. Montgomery, Seth (April 2, 2024). "Sycamores earn first-ever trip to NIT Championship with win over Utes". Indiana State University Athletics. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
8. Intemann, Kieran (April 4, 2024). "Indiana State concludes storybook season with NIT championship heartbreaker". Indiana State University Athletics. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
9. Marshall, John (February 12, 2024). "No. 23 Indiana State ranked for first time since 1979; UConn remains No. 1 in AP Top 25". Associated Press.
10. "March Madness? Indiana State, three 20-win Big East teams among those omitted on Selection Sunday". AP News. March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
11. "Saint Louis hires Schertz away from Indiana State". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 6, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
12. Bennett, Mark (April 11, 2024). "Matthew Graves Sycamores' next coach, takes over program in state of flux". Terre Haute Tribune-Star. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
13. Kunstmann, Codie (March 2, 2023). "Sycamores set MVC Tournament record, roll past Evansville to advance to quarterfinals". Indiana State University Athletics. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
14. Organ, Mike (March 3, 2023). "Belmont basketball loses to Indiana State 94–91 in MVC quarterfinals". The Tennessean. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
15. Eminian, Dave (March 4, 2023). "'One more': Bradley survives scare to advance to MVC championship game". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
16. "Indiana State takes down South Carolina Upstate 67–62 in CBI". USA Today. March 18, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
17. "Eastern Kentucky defeats Indiana State 89–88 in OT in CBI". CBS Sports. March 20, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
18. "2023-24 Men's Basketball Schedule". Indiana State University Athletics. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
19. "Indiana State Sycamores Schedule 2023-24". ESPN. Retrieved November 17, 2023.