 The Illinois State University Redbirds started their season with a 15-0 run until their first loss to Bradley. With very few people looking at them, they have slowly become a surprise. Do we expect them to be a threat at the end of the season, not really. But with Illinois college basketball as a whole surprising us after a dismal 2007 - 2008 season, they deserve a look. In fact, they deserved a look last year.
The basketball world North of I-80 tends not to pay any attention to college basketball South of I-80. The Illinois State Redbirds are a force to contend with. Last year the Redbirds advanced to the MVC Championship with 56-42 victory over Northern Iowa Panthers. The Redbirds went on to lose to No. 20 Drake, 79-49. The Redbirds then were invited to the NIT Tournament where they fell to Dayton. Their 25 wins in 2007-2008 was a foreshadowing of their season to come. So, what have the Redbirds done in 2008-2009? Much of the same.
The Illinois State Redbirds have posted a (17-3) record so far this season.
Here's a look at what they've done so far:
|
2008-09 Illinois State Basketball Schedule
( Click on an event for complete event information )
|
 |
| Date |
Opponent / Event |
Location |
Time / Result |
 |
| 11/11/08 |
vs. Illinois-Springfield ^ |
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
W, 81-57 |
| 11/15/08 |
at Wright State  |
Dayton, Ohio |
W, 69-61 |
| SMU Classic |
| 11/21/08 |
vs. Alabama State |
Dallas |
W, 77-71 |
| 11/22/08 |
vs. Houston Baptist |
Dallas |
W, 107-70 |
| 11/23/08 |
vs. SMU |
Dallas |
W, 84-73 |
|
|
| World Vision Invitational |
| 11/28/08 |
vs. Nicholls State |
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
W, 75-65 |
| 11/29/08 |
vs. Winston-Salem State |
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
W, 53-33 |
| 11/30/08 |
vs. UC Santa Barbara |
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
W, 87-59 |
|
|
| 12/06/08 |
vs. Bowling Green |
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
W, 78-65 |
| 12/14/08 |
vs. Morehead State |
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
W, 76-70 |
| 12/17/08 |
at Central Michigan |
Mt. Pleasant, Mich. |
W, 72-69 |
| 12/20/08 |
vs. UIC |
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
W, 67-60 |
| 12/28/08 |
at Missouri State * |
Springfield, Mo. |
W, 72-69 |
| 12/31/08 |
vs. Evansville * |
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
W, 80-50 |
| 01/03/09 |
vs. Creighton * |
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
W, 86-64 |
| 01/06/09 |
at Bradley * |
Peoria, Ill. |
L, 56-52 |
| 01/10/09 |
at Indiana State * |
Terre Haute, Ind. |
L, 75-70 |
| 01/14/09 |
vs. Drake * |
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
W, 65-61 |
| 01/18/09 |
vs. Missouri State * |
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
W, 68-56 |
| 01/21/09 |
at Wichita State * |
Wichita, Kan. |
L, 64-58 |
| 01/24/09 |
vs. Southern Illinois * |
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
W, 70-63 |
| 01/28/09 |
at Northern Iowa * |
Cedar Falls, Iowa |
7:05 p.m. CT |
| 01/31/09 |
vs. Bradley * |
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
3:05 p.m. CT |
| 02/04/09 |
at Southern Illinois * |
Carbondale, Ill. |
7:05 p.m. CT |
| 02/08/09 |
vs. Indiana State * |
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
6:05 p.m. CT |
| 02/11/09 |
at Evansville * |
Evansville, Ind. |
7:05 p.m. CT |
| 02/15/09 |
at Drake * |
Des Moines, Iowa |
6:05 p.m. CT |
| 02/18/09 |
vs. Wichita State * |
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
7:05 p.m. CT |
| 02/21/09 |
ESPNU BracketBusters |
TBD |
TBA |
| 02/24/09 |
vs. Northern Iowa * |
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
7:05 p.m. CT |
| 02/28/09 |
at Creighton * |
Omaha, Neb. |
TBA |
| State Farm MVC Tournament |
| 03/05/09 |
State Farm MVC Tournament |
St. Louis |
TBA |
| 03/06/09 |
State Farm MVC Tournament |
St. Louis |
TBA |
| 03/07/09 |
State Farm MVC Tournament |
St. Louis |
TBA |
| 03/08/09 |
State Farm MVC Tournament |
St. Louis |
TBA |
|
|
The team has closed strong all year long by scoring more points in the second half of all their games than the first half:
Score by Periods 1st 2nd OT Totals
Illinois State 681 759 26 1466
Opponents 551 675 28 1254
The Illinois State Redbirds will continue to impress and possibly even elevate themselves into March Madness this year or even next year as many of their players will be coming back for more next year. Keep your eyes open on this team that's down under I-80, but on the rise!
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Nice article! The redbirds should strike alittle fear in people's eyes. They have a transfer from the University of Oregon in Champ Oguchi who is a good basketball player, quietly averaging over 15 points a game! I wouldn't be surprised if they shock us and win the first round of the NCAA tournament. Of course they have to get there but the Missouri Valley should be their's for the taking. Southern is down but teams like Northern Iowa, Bradley, and Creighton always pose a threat! They do have to show they can win a big road game as well.