Illinois State’s NIT performance won’t quiet the crowd that thinks the Redbirds never belonged in the NCAA Tournament. The top-seeded Redbirds blew an 18-point lead at home against fourth-seeded UCF in the second round Monday, and the game was decided on an ill-advised defensive play…
ST. LOUIS — Illinois State blew past Southern Illinois in Saturday’s MVC semifinal matchup, 63-50, and the Redbirds did it without a single trip to the foul line. That makes them the first team since November 2013 to win a game without shooting a single free…
With the Missouri Valley season wrapped and Arch Madness beginning Thursday, beat writers around the league are submitting their ballots for all-conference awards. The voting system works by ranking players, so the No. 1 player on the All-MVC First Team is my Player of the Year…
CHICAGO — Defense has been Loyola’s calling card ever since making a run last February in the Missouri Valley. But after allowing Illinois State to shoot 58.3 percent from the field Wednesday, the Ramblers have allowed 1.22 points per possession in their last three games. Aside from…
Illinois State erased a nine-point deficit in the second half Wednesday to run away with a 78-70 win against Loyola at Gentile Arena.
Illinois State landed an impact transfer Monday in former Bethune Cookman forward Quintin Brewer. Brewer averaged 9.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks last season for the Wildcats. The 6-foot-7 forward will be eligible immediately as a graduate transfer for one season. Brewer is an important addition…
Updated May 8 at 2:52 p.m. The Missouri Valley Conference returned to its status as a two-bid league last season with Wichita State and Northern Iowa making the NCAA Tournament. The conference’s depth also improved as Evansville and Loyola won postseason tournament titles, and Illinois State advanced to…
ST. LOUIS — Illinois State had led by as many as eight points in the second half of Friday’s MVC Tournament quarterfinal matchup with Evansville. But the Redbirds were leading by a slim margin, 63-62, entering the final three minutes. Freshman Deontae Hawkins caught a pass wide-open…
The Missouri Valley Conference announced award winners for the past week Monday afternoon. Northern Iowa senior forward Seth Tuttle took home Player of the Week while Illinois State freshman forward Deontae Hawkins won Newcomer of the week. Tuttle averaged 15.7 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 55.2%…
