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Home > SECWB News & More! > SEC Teams > Vanderbilt > Vanderbilt vs. Indiana State University Preview
Vanderbilt vs. Indiana State University Preview
by LeAnne Harrington, SECWB.com
Posted: November 13th, 2007 @ 11:24pm
The Vanderbilt Commodores (#20 AP, #17 ESPN/USA Today) take their 2-0 start on the road to face the Indiana State University Sycamores (1-0) on Wednesday evening, Nov. 14 in Terre Haute, IN. Vanderbilt is facing another quality non-conference opponent in ISU, who finished with a 19-11 record last year and have been picked to finish third in the Missouri Valley Conference this season. The Sycamores are coached by Jim Wiedie, a 2-time MVC Coach of the Year. In his eight years at the helm, he has led the Sycamores to 2 MVC regular season championships, 3 MVC Tournament finals and 3 appearances in the WNIT. With their disappointing lack of post-season play last year, the Sycamores served notice in their first game that they are out to change things around this year: they defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff by a score of 89-55 on Sunday.
ISU is led by senior center Laura Rudolphi, a pre-season All-MVC pick; sophomore guard Kelsey Luna, who led the MVC and was ranked in the Top 20 nationally in 3-point shooting last season; and senior guard Angela Phillips, #2 in the MVC in 3-pointers, and also in the Top 20 in the nation last year. Luna was also voted the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year for the 2006-2007 season.
Probable starters for ISU (with first game stats in parentheses): 62 senior center Rudolphi (19 points, 3 rebounds, 9-of-9 free throws), 55 sophomore guard Kelsey Luna (12 points, 2 assists, 2 steals), 55 senior guard Angela Phillips (13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists), 57 junior guard Leah Phillips (6 points, 6 rebounds), and 510 junior forward Kara Schilli (2 points, 7 rebounds). First off the bench will probably be 61 sophomore forward Maria Olsthoorn (15 points on 11-of-11 free throws, 3 assists, 3 steals).
Probable starters for Vanderbilt (with season averages in parentheses): 64 senior center Liz Sherwood (10 ppg, 5 rpg); 61 junior forward Christina Wirth (14.5 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 apg); 59 junior guard Jennifer Risper (7 ppg, 6 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.5 spg); 58 sophomore guard Jessica Mooney (8 ppg, 3 rpg); and 511 point guard Jence Rhoads (3.5 ppg, 3 rpg, 4.5 apg). First off the bench will probably be 59 sophomore guard Merideth Marsh (11 ppg, 3.5 apg).
My prediction: Vanderbilt may have their hands full with this ISU team. Besides Luna and Phillips, almost the entire Sycamore roster is able to step outside the arc and drain the three. But if too much emphasis is put on the perimeter, Rudolphi can and will do some damage from the inside. Vanderbilt cant afford any defensive lapses and wont be able to coast like they did in their last game against Furman. Vanderbilt also better be prepared for their first outing of the season in a packed hostile gym. ISU averaged 3,610 fans per game last year, and this years game may be even better attended, since ISU is doing a $1 ticket promotion to pack the gym. But ultimately, I believe the Commodores will prevail with superior athleticism and experience.
Game time is set for 7:05 EST in Hullman Center.
Game notes: Vanderbilt and ISU have met only one time previously, with the Commodores winning 89-75 last year in Nashville.
Fun facts:
*Indiana State University is the alma mater of NBA legend Larry Bird, who played there from 1976-1979 before going on to superstardom with the Boston Celtics. Bird led his 1979 ISU team to the National Championship game, where they lost to the Michigan State Spartans, led by Earvin Magic Johnson. Bird, in only 3 seasons at ISU, became the fifth highest scorer in NCAA history, averaging 30.3 ppg for his collegiate career.
*John Wooden coached and was athletic director at ISU from 1946 to 1948 before going to UCLA where he became known as The Wizard of Westwood," winning an unprecedented 10 National Championships with the Bruins.
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