October 30, 2006
Men’s Basketball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDIANA STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL PICKED TO FINISH TENTH IN MVC

ST. LOUIS, MO - The Indiana State men’s basketball team has been picked to fi nish tenth in the Missouri Valley Conference’s annual preseason poll as voted upon by league head coaches, sports information directors and media representatives.

Under 10-year head coach Royce Waltman the Sycamores return a trio of starters and nine returning letterwinnners from a squad that finished last season 13-16. The Trees started with their best start since the 1978-79 season at 8-0, before closing out with a victory in the opening round of the conference tournament versus Drake. Senior Trent Wurtz returns from a season in which he averaged 7.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He finished the campaign ranked 11th in the MVC in rebounding. Junior Gabe Moore enters the season needing just 20 steals to move into the school’s career Top 10 list. He has tallied 83 pilfers during his fi rst two seasons in the program. Sophomore Jay Tunnell returns after being named to the All-MVC Freshman team one year ago.

Creighton was picked to win the league for the fi rst time since 2002. Rounding out the poll were Southern Illinois, Wichita State, Missouri State, UNI, Evansville, Drake, Bradley, Illlinois State and the Sycamores.

The Sycamores will open the regular season on November 14 with a contest against Western Michigan at Hulman Center. The highlights of the non-conference portion are road contests at Indiana and a visit from Purdue to Hulman Center on December 28. Indiana State opens play this Saturday, November 4 when they host Missouri Southern in their lone exhibition contest of the season. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. (ET).