October 24, 2012
For Immediate Release
Fort Wayne, Ind. – The 25th ranked Indiana Tech men’s basketball team will tip-off its 2012-13 season on Saturday, Oct. 27 at home against Indiana Dabney University at 7:30 p.m.
The Warriors, picked to finish third in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC), are coming off a 23-8 season where the team made its first trip to the NAIA Division II National Championship tournament since 2008. With Head Coach Al Grushkin back for his third year on the Tech sideline, the Warriors look primed for another run at a postseason berth.
However, the Warriors will have a much different look in 2012-13 with a more guard-oriented team. For the past two years, Tech has focused on its inside play with All-American Rodney Bartholomew dominating the post. But after losing its big men, Bartholomew and Chris Ware, to graduation, Tech will look to its dynamic group of guards led by Preseason All-Conference selection Jordan Hickman (Bardstown, KY/Vincennes) this season.
Hickman made a big impact in his first season with the Warriors after transferring in from Vincennes University. He took over at the point early on and became the floor general Tech needed, and ended the season among the league leaders in assists. He was also the team’s top three-point shooter and was the third leading scorer averaging 9.8 points per game.
In addition to Hickman, the Warriors return seniors Melvin Brooks (Memphis, TN/Marion Military) and Antonio Cannon (Indianapolis, IN/Ancilla), as well as junior Jeff Hoskins (Kalamazoo, MI/Indiana Wesleyan). Despite missing significant time due to an injury, Brooks finished as one of Tech’s top scorers averaging 10.5 points per game. Cannon played extremely well down the stretch, averaging 8.2 points a night including a season-high 20 against Cornerstone, while Hoskins put in 7.5 per contest.
Joining them will be newcomers Antonio Landers (Monroe, LA/John Wood) and Kody Chandler (Schoolcraft, MI/Goshen). Landers was a First Team All-Region 24 selection at John Wood Community College. He finished second on team in scoring with 13.4 points per game, third in rebounding, and first in assists. In high school, Landers was rated as the No. 27 player in Louisiana. Chandler transfers in from Goshen College where he was a Third Team All-MCC performer as a freshman. He led the Maple Leafs in scoring as a freshman, scoring 20+ points in seven contests including a season-high 32 against Windsor University.
Inside, the Warriors will feature Dol Kutey (Lincoln, NE/Cameron) and Antwan Cathey (Memphis, TN/Eastern Oklahoma State). At Lincoln Northeast High School, the 6’7” Kutey averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds a game and was named 1st Team All-State in Nebraska's largest class, Class A. Cathey, a 6’6” forward, averaged eight points and six rebounds a game at Eastern Oklahoma State. He started every game for the Mountaineers and led the team to a 51-16 record.
As always though, Indiana Tech will lean on its stout defensive play. The Warriors, once again, were one of the top defensive teams in the country in 2011-12. The team ranked second in scoring defense per game, allowing just over 59 points per contest, and ranked ninth in field goal percent defense holding opponents to 40 percent shooting from the floor, and there’s no reason to believe Tech won’t be just as tenacious this year.
Following the game against Indiana Dabney, the Warriors will welcome Ohio Midwestern University to the Schaefer Center on Tuesday, Oct. 30 and Trinity Christian College on Saturday, Nov. 3.
For more information on Indiana Tech athletics please call the Athletic Office at 260-422-5561 ext. 2492 or visit our website at http://www.indianatech.edu/athletics
