Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Basketball Teams Gear Up For Hoosier Hysteria
10/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 4, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana men's and women's basketball teams are geared up for another exciting season of IU hoops, as the 2005-06 campaign officially gets underway with Hoosier Hysteria, set for Friday, Oct. 14, at Branch McCracken Court at Assembly Hall. Due to new NCAA rules which allows basketball teams to begin practice earlier than midnight, the box office will open at 7 p.m., the doors to Assembly Hall will open at 8:15 p.m., with introductions of the team's beginning at approximately 9 p.m.
After the introduction of the men's and women's teams at 9 p.m., they will participate in events such as a three-point competition, spot shot, dunk contest and a short scrimmage. Cost for entrance will be two canned food items or $2 per person. All proceeds will go to the hurricane relief effort and the Hoosier Hills Food Bank.
IU head coach Mike Davis returns eight letterwinners from a season ago, including four starters from last year's National Invitation Tournament team. Sophomore D.J. White, the 2005 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American, returns as the team's leading scorer (13.3), rebounder (4.9) and shot-blocker (2.2).
White is joined by fellow returning starters Robert Vaden, A.J. Ratliff and Marshall Strickland. Vaden returns as the team's second-leading scorer and rebounder, with averages of 10.2 points and 4.3 boards per contest. Ratliff led the team in three-point percentage (.436), while Strickland was the team-leader in assists per game (3.4).
Additionally, transfers Lewis Monroe and Marco Killingsworth are fifth-year seniors who display leadership and maturity. Killingsworth, a 6-8, 265-pound forward, joins White to form one of the premier frontcourts in the nation. The Montgomery, Ala., native is coming off the Big Ten Foreign Tour where he led the team with 15.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per contest. He became only the third Indiana player in Tour annals to lead the squad in scoring after tallying double figures in all five contests to post a team-best 76 points (1991 - Greg Graham, 19.0 and 1992 - Matt Nover, 17.3). Monroe was a three-year starter at Auburn and was the floor general in the Tigers' 2003 Sweet 16 appearance.
Other returnees include sophomore James Hardy, senior Sean Kline and juniors Errek Suhr and Roderick Wilmont, each of whom averaged at least seven minutes per contest a year ago. Newcomers to this year's team include Earl Calloway, a JUCO All-American at Georgia Perimeter in 2005, and true freshmen Ben Allen, Cem Dinc and Joey Shaw. Allen (Australian U-21 National Team) and Dinc (Turkey National Team) have both competed in international events, while also competing against some of the best players in the world. Shaw, a native of Pheonix, Ariz., is considered by many as one of the top shooting guards in western region.
"This is something that is exciting for the fans, as well as the players," IU head coach Mike Davis said. "Our team has worked really hard this offseason, and we are excited for the players returning as well as the newcomers. I think this could be one of the best teams I have coached since I have been at Indiana."
The women's side shares the same type of excitement as the men's team heading into the new season. First-year head coach Sharon Versyp and her staff have hit the ground running and are anxious to get the season started, as Indiana returns 10 letterwinners from last season, including three starters. Throw in four talented newcomers to the mix, and the Hoosiers are on the right track to turning the program around.
Leading the returnees are seniors Cyndi Valentin and Jenny DeMuth. Valentin was tabbed a Big Ten Honorable Mention selection the past two seasons. The Bloomington, Ind., product averaged 15.0 points per game for IU last season and is coming off a successful summer in which she led the Big Ten Foreign All-Stars in scoring with 15.0 points per game. She also competed in the FIBA games with the Puerto Rican National team.
No one will be more eager to step back on the court than DeMuth. Indiana's leading scorer from two seasons ago, DeMuth sat out the 2004-05 season with a knee injury. The Highland, Ind., native was the only Big Ten player to rank in the top five in scoring and rebounding during her junior year.
In addition to Valentin and DeMuth's assets, senior center Angela Hawkins, junior center Sarah McKay and junior guards Annika Boyd and Leah Enterline will also add depth for the Hoosiers.
One of the top rebounders in the Big Ten, Hawkins not only led IU in rebounding, but also finished eighth in the conference last season, averaging 7.0 rebounds per game. She also started all 28 games for the Hoosiers.
The 6-7 McKay, played with the Canadian National Team at the World University Games this past summer, and Versyp hopes she brings that experience back with her on the court this season.
Boyd, IU's fourth-leading scorer from a year ago, started eight of 27 games in 2004-05. Enterline started 16 games for the Hoosiers in 2004-05 and averaged 3.5 points per contest.
Versyp and her staff welcome four talented newcomers to the program. Kelly McManmon (Lee, Mass/Lee), Tara Miller (Ramsey, Ind./North Harrison), Kimberly Roberson (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) and Whitney Thomas (Bloomington, Ind./North) will each play a valuable role in the program's growth. Miller and Thomas sat out their senior seasons due to injuries, but have worked hard in the off season to get their game back.
McManmon and Roberson will add immediate help to the Hoosiers' scoring attack. McManmon averaged 22.6 points per game her senior year at Lee High School, and Roberson, a 2005 first team all-state and Indiana All-Star, averaged 18.1 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game at Cathedral.
Versyp is not only anxious to officially begin the 2005-06 campaign, but it also marks her Hoosier Hysteria debut.
"Of course every coach gets excited for the first official practice of the season," Versyp said. "But being a new head coach brings even more excitement to the table. I am looking forward to officially starting the season and showcasing the talent our team has in front of all our fans at Hoosier Hysteria."
