By Mark Bennett
Djibril Kante couldn't help breaking into
a smile Monday night when someone asked him if he was now the
No. 1 offensive option of the Indiana State men's basketball
team.
"If they'll give me the ball, I'll try
to score," he conceded, "but we can get offense from
a lot of places."
The question was prompted by Kante's career-high
19 points -- 17 of them after intermission -- as Indiana State
stretched a modest winning streak to two games with a 74-66 victory
over perennial NCAA tournament participant Murray State.
And while Kante's theory was correct -- five
other Sycamores had at least eight points in ISU's biggest offensive
output of the season -- the big man's leadership in all areas,
plus the continuing solidification of the point guard position,
sends the Sycamores into the Missouri Valley Conference season
Sunday at Drake with a semblance of momentum.
It was sophomore Marcus Howard who provided
the major lift in the backcourt, getting a career-high assist
performance for the second game in a row, and freshman Lamar
Grimes backed him up with a career-high nine-point performance.
So things are looking up in the Sycamore world
-- and will continue to do so, according to Coach Tevester Anderson
of the Racers.
"By the time [the Sycamores] get to the
conference season, they'll be in good stride," he predicted.
Coach Royce Waltman wasn't sure he had Kante
in good stride when the teams went to the lockerroom at halftime.
The Sycamore forward had taken just two shots, scored just two
points, and a once-healthy Sycamore lead had dwindled to 36-29.
"Djibril, to be honest, I thought was
a little sluggish in the first half," Waltman noted, "but
in the second half he played like a man."
"I didn't think in the first half that
I had that great a half," the senior forward agreed.
It was plenty for Anderson, however.
"We knew [Kante] was a good basketball
player, but the way he played tonight was outstanding,"
the Racers' coach said, "and we didn't have an answer."
Although he might not score 19 points every
time out, Kante's other contributions -- nine rebounds, two blocks,
two steals and two assists, with each number capable of being
preceded by the words "at least" -- were fairly normal.
So too was the number of times he was knocked to the floor after
going strong to the rim.
"I've been hurting for three years now,"
Kante said in response to a question about his tumbles. "I'm
used to it by now."
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| Tribune-Star/Joseph
C. Garza |
| With the body: Sycamore guard
Marcus Howard (below right) guards Murray State's Justin Burdine
as Burdine loses the ball. |
"Seeing what Djibril does means more
than anything the coaches can say to the freshmen," Waltman
said in response to a question about Kante's leadership ability.
Waltman was also expansive about the leadership
transition that's gradually taking place in the backcourt.
"Look at Marcus," he said in examining
Howard's statistics. "Seven assists, one turnover, while
playing a position he's not used to playing and at the same time
guarding [the Racers'] best player [Justin Burdine, held to 15
points instead of his usual 21]."
"Last year I basically just ran the wing,"
Howard said. "Coach [Waltman] asked me if I was willing
[to play the point], and I'll do whatever I can do to help the
team."
"Right now Marcus is operating on just
pride," Waltman said appreciatively. "He's not yet
to where he feels secure with the basketball, but he's gritting
his teeth and saying, 'They're not going to take the ball away
from me.'
"And the more Lamar [Grimes] improves,
the more we can get [Howard] some help."
Grimes' improvement appeared to take a step
Monday as the freshman contributed a seven-point first half as
ISU built its lead, then added a pair of free throws down the
stretch. He didn't have an assist, but neither did he have a
turnover.
"I think this was definitely a good step,"
Grimes said. "We've started a winning streak, we're more
comfortable on offense our perimeter guys made plays and we were
able to come through down the stretch."
Always a scorer, Grimes noted the point guard
spot was new to him too.
"I'm just now seeing my role," he
said. "This is so much different than high school, but I
feel progress is coming. I think [Waltman] has some confidence
in me I've just got to look for the right opportunities."
"Offensively, [Grimes] can play,"
Waltman agreed. "At close quarters and in the halfcourt
he can take care of the ball, make plays and create for the other
guys -- and he's not afraid."
After 81 turnovers in the first five games,
Waltman was happy to see that number drop to 11 against the Racers
-- and one of the quickest backcourts the Sycamores will play
against.
"When you're not turning the ball over,
it takes pressure off your shooting," the coach concluded.
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