Indiana has a new state nerd.

Indiana State center Robbie Avila, the 6-foot-10 forward with the glasses and the game, leads the Sycamores to the NIT championship at 7 p.m. ET Thursday at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Indiana State (32-6) faces Seton Hall (24-12) in a clash of teams excluded from the 2024 NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Avila, who is averaging 17.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, remains an unforgettable player in March. Which nickname do you prefer?

Nerd Larry? Abdul-Jabbar cream? Let’s rank the many nicknames Avila will take with him into Arch Madness — and maybe March Madness.

MORE: Meet Robbie Avila, the Indiana State star going viral at Larry Bird’s old school

How Robbie Avila’s nickname came to be

Avila has become a viral sensation because of his looks – a 6-10, 240-pound center wearing glasses is going to attract attention. He had the game — he ranked top five in the MVC in scoring and rebounding and was seventh with 3.9 assists per game.

Avila also played at the same school as Larry Bird – the legend who led the Sycamores to the 1979 NCAA men’s national championship game – a game against Michigan State that is widely credited with spawning the March Madness phenomenon.

Meet Nikola Jokic’s version of college basketball: pic.twitter.com/QCWU8ojyyx

– CBB Content (@CBBcontent) December 10, 2023

MORE: Will Robbie Avila be a 2024 NBA Draft pick?

Robbie Avila’s best nicknames

1. Abdul-Jabbar Cream

This one is tough to top, and Avila even has the glasses to watch the legendary center who was a three-time NCAA champion at UCLA. This will be the nickname that sticks with Avila throughout the MVC and NCAA tournaments if the Sycamores can pull this off — and it will be trending on social media throughout the month of March. Who made these T-shirts first?

2. Larry Nerd

Bird averaged 30.3 points per game during a three-year career with Indiana State before winning three NBA championships with the Boston Celtics. Avila has become Indiana State’s most popular player since Bird, so the pun fits perfectly and will be the second most submitted nickname on X. Even Sycamores coach Josh Schertz knows the nicknames now.

ISU Student Media asked Robbie what it felt like to see his face on social media/national media. After he gave his answer, I joked if Schertz had contacted him to be his marketing representative. Both had fun with the question @Robbie_Avila30 @CoachSchertzISU #Sport10 pic.twitter.com/LRJcTDDMSKZ

– Marty Ledbetter (@MartySports10) March 4, 2024

3. Jokic College

This is the best comparison to Avila’s game. He has a well-rounded skill set for a post player that translates outside the lane and under the rim. Avila has 11 games with 20 or more points, 12 games with five or more assists and six games with 10 or more rebounds. He is shooting 55.6% from the field and 39.6% from 3-point range. SN’s Stephen Noh pointed out the Jokic comparisons earlier this season.

4. Fuzzy Larry

A nice combination of the Larry Bird theme with the glasses, but it doesn’t hit as hard as the first Bird-inspired moniker. You’ll also see this spelling “Blurrd”, which is a better variation.

5. Rob Wave

This is Avila’s favorite nickname. “My favorite musical artist is Rod Wave, and so I had one earlier that was ‘Rob Wave.’ That will always be my favorite, but I love ‘Cream Abdul-Jabbar,” Avila said. on the “Dan LeBatard Show” on March 4.

6. Milk Chamberlain

Chamberlain averaged 30.1 points and 17.5 rebounds at Kansas in 1958, so we avoid comparing anyone to “Wilt The Stilt.” If Chamberlain is “The Big Dipper,” does that make Avila the “Milky Way?” »

7. Steph Blur

He’s the weakest of the group. Why not just coach with “Blurry Curry?” Additionally, teammates Julian Larry and Ryan Conwell are better 3-point shooters. Curry, however, was arguably the most famous NCAA Tournament Cinderella of all time. He led Davidson to the Elite Eight in 2008.