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…
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.
CHICAGO — Loyola lost control of a nine-point lead Wednesday in the second half, falling 78-70 to Illinois State. Here’s how Illinois State pulled off the road victory at Gentile Arena. Destruction by offensive rebounding. Illinois State (13-11, 7-4 MVC) is one of the…
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 two chances to beat nationally ranked Wichita State in the regular season, but both times the Redbirds fell short. In Wichita, the Redbirds hung close, trailing 57-55 with 3:53 remaining but lost by 8 points. In Normal, Illinois State…
DePaul (6-3) lost control of a nine-point lead in the second half Sunday and lost 78-72 at home to Illinois State (5-3). The Blue Demons, who had their best start at 6-1 since the 1993-94 season, have now lost two games in a row. After…
