Barnes, Key eager to get Sycamore back on track
Everything was going very smoothly for Jordan Barnes and Indiana State during the first seven weeks of last season.
The Sycamores improved to 8-3 after defeating UNLV, 84-79, on Dec. 23, at the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. Barnes scored 28 points on 11-for-15 shooting in that game.
That served as the pinnacle of last season for Barnes and Indiana State. The Sycamores did not win back-to-back games again as Barnes’ scorching shooting touch suddenly went cold.
“We couldn’t find a rhythm last season. I know this year is going to be different,” Barnes said.
Beginning with an 83-69 loss to TCU on Christmas Day, Indiana State lost eight of 11 games. Barnes went into a 10-for-46 slump from 3 and was unable to regain his prolific shooting touch.
Head coach Greg Lansing expects Barnes, a 5-10 senior guard, to bounce back and join All-Conference teammate Tyreke Key to form a dynamic tandem capable of producing a memorable season.
“I’ve never been around a duo that is in the gym as much as these guys. And I’ve been around this a long time; I’m a coach’s kid,” Lansing said.
“They challenge themselves and push each other. No one has put the time into their craft as much as these guys.”
The Sycamores finished 15-16 last season (7-11 MVC), capped by a 77-55 loss to Valparaiso in the first round of the MVC Tournament in St. Louis.
“We planned on being here (St. Louis) until the championship game,” Key said at the recent MVC Media Day.
Indiana State went 9-5 at the Hulman Center in Terre Haute. The Sycamores’ home arena is now undergoing major renovations, preventing Indiana State from playing home games before Nov. 30.
“You drive by, and it makes you a little nervous,” Lansing said. “It’s an open-air atrium right now. It’s progress, and it’s much needed. When it’s done, it’s going to be beautiful.”
The Sycamores were selected sixth in this season’s MVC Preseason Poll. Indiana State has been to the NCAA Tournament just once in the past 18 years, and not since 2011.
“I look forward to being completely energized and part of the conference race this year,” Lansing said. “We have the ability to get back where we belong.”
He added: “This group probably has more motivation than any other group I’ve been around. They want to do something special this season.”
Key, a junior guard, showed vast improvement last season. He led the Valley in scoring at 17.4 points per game and is a candidate to win the league's Larry Bird Trophy, awarded to the most outstanding MVC men's basketball player.
“I’ve been working on knowing how to read the right plays, and be able to move around without the ball,” he said. Key shot 44.8 percent from 3-point range last season and played a league-high 34.3 minutes per game.
“When he even hits the rim while shooting in practice, I’m surprised,” Lansing said.
Barnes was 34-for-67 from 3-point range after 11 games last season while averaging 21.5 points in that span.
“JB going into Christmas last year was one of the best 3-point shooters in the country,” Lansing said.
However, Barnes would reach 20 points only twice the rest of the season. He finished with a scoring average of 14.6 points, down from 17.4 the previous season. His 215 career 3s are easily the most of any current MVC player. But, his 3-point percent fell to 33.3 after shooting 42.1 in his sophomore season.
The team’s other returning starter is 6-6 senior guard Christian Williams. He averaged 7.9 points and 5.5 rebounds a year ago. In the frontcourt, senior 6-7 center Bronson Kessinger is also back.
Returning sophomore guard Cooper Neese (8.2 ppg) gives Lansing another quality shooting option. Neese was a star player at Cloverdale High School and is the seventh all-time leading scorer in Indiana high school history.
Lansing, entering his 10th season, has a career mark of 148-142, including 88-40 at home. Previously, he was the team’s associate head coach for four seasons .
The Sycamores open their season on Nov. 9 at Dayton, followed by a marquee game at Louisville on Nov. 13. They begin Valley action on Dec. 30 when Indiana State hosts Southern Illinois.