DePaul, Ind. State seek return to 1979 form

When the Indiana State and DePaul men's basketball teams face each other this weekend at the Coca-Cola Classic in East Lansing, Mich. this weekend, there will be a dramatically different talent level on the court than that which was seen 25 years ago when the two teams met in the 1979 Final Four.

In that game, the Sycamores of Indiana State were led to a 76-74 victory by a sweet-stroking local product, Larry Bird, before eventually falling to Earvin "Magic" Johnson's Michigan State Spartans.

There will be no big-name players on the court this Saturday, yet the two teams should match up relatively well against each other.

Just three years ago, the Sycamores found themselves back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1979, but they have fallen on hard times since.

Last year, led by freshman David Moss, Indiana State finished tied for last place in the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Sycamores completed the 2002-2003 campaign with a 7-24 record and lost 12 out of 14 games on the road.

Due to last season's struggles, Indiana State is the preseason favorite to finish in the cellar of the MVC this year as well.

Despite the lowered expectations, Indiana State does have quite a few returning starters and has begun the 2003-2004 campaign with a 67-53 win over Gardner-Webb.

Moss, last year's MVC Freshman of the Year, averaged 13.2 points per game and contributed 12 points and seven assists in this year's season opener.

Guard Marcus Howard is also returning after a season in which he was the team's second-leading scorer, averaging just under 10 points a game.

Against Gardner-Webb, the 6'3" senior dropped in 15 points, second only behind 6'7" junior forward Amani Daanish.

However, Daanish should have his hands full this Saturday against a formidable Blue Demon frontcourt.

Led by senior big-men Andre Brown and Delonte Holland, DePaul was a preseason pick to finish seventh in Conference-USA this year. The Blue Demons went 16-13 last season, a record good enough to earn itself a trip to the National Invitation Tournament.

In DePaul's season opener against Loyola of Chicago, the Depaul rode the back of Brown to a 73-61 victory.

Brown, a preseason first-team All- Conference-USA player, scored 19 points while pulling down 13 rebounds. Brown has led the Blue Demons in rebounding in each of his first three seasons.

"Andre is in a very good rhythm right now," DePaul coach Dave Leitao said in a press release.

Also playing well has been the 6'7" Holland. In the match-up with Loyola of Chicago, he was the team's second-leading scorer with 15.

Despite their low preseason conference seeds, both teams enter the Coca-Cola Classic undefeated and, although unlikely, carry hopes of repeating their Final Four fates of 25 years ago.

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