2020-21 Finish: 15-10; 11-7 MVC (4th)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  6/8
Starters Returning/Lost:  3/2

For the first time in 12 years, the Indiana State basketball team will open the year under new leadership as first-year head coach Josh Schertz takes over the reins of the program. Schertz takes over after a 13-year run at NCAA Division II Lincoln Memorial University where he had a career record of 337-69 (.831) en route to four national coach of the year honors. Schertz led the Railsplitters to 10 NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, won 14 total conference championships and three Southeast Regional titles, and had five seasons of 30-or-more victories.

Schertz returns three starters from the 2020-21 season in which the Sycamores finished fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference. First Team All-MVC honoree Tyreke Key (17.2 ppg) will return for a fifth season while being joined in the backcourt by Cooper Neese (9.5 ppg) and Julian Larry (4 ppg). 

A fifth-year senior guard for the Sycamores in 2021, Key paved the way for ISU in 2020-21 averaging a team-high 17.2 points per contest. Along with his scoring output Key also pulled down 5.3 rebounds and two assists per game. A Celina, Tennessee product, Key led the MVC with 33.9 minutes per game while increasing his scoring output to 18.6 points per game during conference action. The fourth-fastest player to join the 1,000-point club in program history, Key sits sixth all time with 1,650 career points -- needing 22 points to pass Butch Wade (1,672) and 110 points to pass Brenton Scott (1,760). 

Neese and Larry each started 21 games for the Sycamores in 2020-21. A Cloverdale, Indiana native, Neese shot 41.2 percent from the field, 39.1 percent from behind the arc and 81.6 percent from the free-throw line while scoring in double-digits in 10 games. Larry was steady at the point guard position, averaging four points, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game. The only other returning for ISU that saw game action was walk-on Sam Mervis. Returning forwards Kailex Stephens and Nick Hittle each missed the year with injuries. 

Eight new faces joined the Sycamores this season including three from Schertz’ program Lincoln Memorial: Xavier Bledson, Cameron Henry and Simon Wilbar. Dearon Tucker (Oregon State), Zach Hobbs (Des Moines Area CC) and Micah Thomas (Northwest Florida State College) round out the transfers while Quimari Peterson (Gary, Ind./West Side HS) and Cameron Crawford (Hoover, Ala./Spain Park HS) enter as first-year freshmen. 

For the first time since $50 million renovations took place, ISU fans will have the opportunity to enjoy the upgrades in person.