College Sports Established
1865
Location
Terre Haute, Indiana
College Name
Indiana State University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1948 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
1976 - Present / Missouri Valley Conference
1948 - 1975 / Independent
Nickname
Sycamore - As sports fans, we often take for granted the nicknames of our favorite teams. We may not always realize that every name has a unique origin story. The Indiana State Sycamores are no exception!
The nickname is derived from a species of tree native to the Midwestern United States known as "sycamore" or "buttonwood." The sycamore tree was selected by students in 1923 when they were asked to submit their preferred nickname for their school's athletic teams. It was chosen because its leaves turn red and gold in autumn - colors that match those of Indiana State University's official seal and flag!
In addition, sycamores have long been associated with strength and endurance due to their size and longevity; these traits accurately reflect the spirit of ISU athletes who strive for excellence on the field each season. Furthermore, this sturdy evergreen can be found throughout campus grounds – making it even more fitting as a symbolic representation of ISU athletes’ dedication to success on and off the field!
All things considered, there’s no doubt why “Sycamores” remains one popular choice among NCAA college teams today: its symbolism perfectly captures what part of an esteemed university team means—strength through unity & pride through passion—making this moniker truly unforgettable amongst sports enthusiasts everywhere.
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1950
- 1975
- 1976
- 2014
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Indiana State wins its first conference championship.
In the 1950 season, the Indiana State basketball team won its first conference championship in school history. The Sycamores competed in the Indiana Intercollegiate Conference, which was made up of small colleges in Indiana. The Sycamores finished the conference season with a record of 9-1, which was good enough to give them the conference title. Their only loss in conference ... -
Carl Nicks – all time leading scorer in Indiana State
Carl Nicks (1971-1975): Nicks is the all-time leading scorer in Indiana State history with 2,360 points. He was a two-time All-American and played briefly in the NBA. -
Lary Bird Era
In 1975 Larry Bird begins playing for the Indiana State Sycamores as a freshman. He leads the team in scoring with 32.8 points per game and is named the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the YIn ear. 1976 Bird helps lead the Sycamores to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. Indiana State makes it to the ... -
The Sycamores win MVC regular season championship
The 2013-2014 season was a successful one for the Indiana State basketball team. Led by head coach Greg Lansing, the Sycamores won their third Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) regular season championship in school history, finishing the season with a conference record of 14-4. The Sycamores were led by senior forward and MVC Player of the Year Jake Odum, who averaged ...
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History of the Sycamores
The Indiana State Sycamores are an NCAA Division I athletics program in Terre Haute, Indiana. The team has been an active member of the Missouri Valley Conference since 1978 and is one of only two teams from the conference to make it to the Final Four in men’s basketball (the other being Wichita State).
The Sycamores have had fantastic success over their long history as part of college sports. In 1977 they won their first-ever NCAA Tournament game when they defeated UCLA 80-79 in double overtime, becoming just the third #14 seed to win a tournament game. They defeated DePaul and then top-seeded Michigan before falling short against Marquette in what was dubbed “the greatest Cinderella story” by Sports Illustrated magazine then.
The following season saw them reach even greater heights as Larry Bird led them through March Madness until finally losing out against Magic Johnson's Michigan State Spartans for a place in college basketball history forever remembered fondly by fans everywhere! Not only did this remarkable run earn Bird his legendary status but also put ISU firmly on everyone's radar with regards to collegiate sports excellence - something which continues today with consistent appearances throughout various divisions within both men's and women's tournaments each year across multiple disciplines such as soccer, baseball/softball, volleyball, etc.
As well as having made numerous appearances throughout major sporting events over recent years - including 5 Sweet Sixteen showings between 2011 & 2015 alone - ISU has also enjoyed plenty of individual successes too; most notably 18 National Player Of The Year awards across several different divisions within both genders' competitions since 1979!
Then there is no denying that ISU is very much up there amongst some great companies when discussing historical achievements within American College Athletics. Hence, if you're looking for your next favorite team or want to learn more about one already established, why not look closely into everything these proud Hoosiers can offer?
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