NORMAL, Ill. – Four 2015 NCAA Tournament teams and at least two National Invitation Tournament (NIT) qualifiers highlight the Illinois State men's basketball program's 2015-16 non-conference schedule, as announced by fourth-year head coach Dan Muller Friday. Start times have yet to be determined.
"I really like our schedule," Muller said. "I think it will be one of the toughest in the country, and our team will certainly be tested early and often. Some of my goals were to play tough home and road games, play in Chicago for our great Chicago alums and compete in a high quality tournament. I feel like we attained every one of those goals. We have a lot of work to do before November 13th, but I love where our team is at, and we can't wait to prepare all off season for this high quality schedule."
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The Redbirds are scheduled to play seven non-conference games on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena, including a home contest against 2015 NCAA Tournament qualifier UAB Dec. 5. After opening the home season Nov. 16 versus Morehead State, the Redbirds will host two games in the Cancun Challenge against NIT qualifier South Dakota State Nov. 19 and Houston Baptist Nov. 21. Murray State – another NIT team – is slated to visit Illinois State Dec. 13. Former Redbird assistant coach and basketball player Dana Ford (`06) will bring his Tennessee State squad to Normal, Illinois, Dec. 22 for ISU's final non-conference game of the season.
Another former Redbird will be on the sidelines when Illinois State opens the 2015-16 season against Steve Fisher (`67) and his NCAA Tournament-qualifying San Diego State team Nov. 13 in San Diego, California, as part of the Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge. Later that month, ISU is scheduled to face NCAA Tournament team Maryland at the Cancun Challenge in Cancun, Mexico, Nov. 24. The Redbirds will play either NIT qualifier Rhode Island or TCU Nov. 25 in the Cancun Challenge's final day.
A road game at 2015 Final Four qualifier Kentucky is scheduled for Nov. 30 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. Last season, the Wildcats became the first team in college basketball history to go 38-0 before suffering a loss to Wisconsin in the Final Four. The Redbirds will wrap up their non-conference road schedule with back-to-back games at UIC in Chicago Dec. 16 and at Saint Joesph's in Philadelphia Dec. 19.
Illinois State earned a 22-13 record in 2014-15, advancing to the second round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) after falling short in the championship game of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. The Redbirds upset No. 8 Wichita State during their MVC Tournament run, and ISU has beaten a Top-25 team in each of its last four seasons.
Information regarding 2015-16 Illinois State men's basketball season tickets is available by calling (309) 438-8000.
Below is a detailed look at each 2015-16 non-conference opponent.
 | Sunday, November 8 • Southern Indiana
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena • EXHIBITION |
| 2014-15 Overall Record: 19-8
2014-15 Great Lakes Valley Conference Record (Finish): 12-6 (T4th, East)
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
ISU Record Against: 0-0
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Notable: Southern Indiana's top returner is junior guard Bobo Drummond, who averaged 9.9 points and 3.0 rebounds in 2014-15. USI competes at the NCAA Division II level. |
 | Friday, November 13 • at San Diego State
Viejas Arena • San Diego, California • MW/MVC CHALLENGE |
| 2014-15 Overall Record: 27-9
2014-15 Mountain West Conference Record (Finish): 14-4 (T1st)
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
ISU Record Against: 2-1
Last Meeting: Dec. 29, 1973/at SDSU/W, 97-88
Notable: San Diego State made its sixth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015, earning an eight-seed and knocking off St. John's before falling to eventual Final Four team Duke in the Round of 32. SDSU head coach Steve Fisher (`67) is an Illinois State men's basketball alum. This game is part of the Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge. |
 | Monday, November 16 • Morehead State
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
| 2014-15 Overall Record: 17-17
2014-15 Ohio Valley Conference Record (Finish): 10-6 (3rd, East)
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
ISU Record Against: 6-1
Last Meeting: Mar. 19, 2014/at ISU/W, 77-67
Notable: Morehead State's top returner is redshirt senior guard Brent Arrington, who ranked second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while leading the team in steals (1.9) in 2014-15. |
 | Thursday, November 19 • South Dakota State
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena • CANCUN CHALLENGE |
| 2014-15 Overall Record: 24-11
2014-15 Summit League Record (Finish): 12-4 (T1st)
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
ISU Record Against: 0-0
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Notable: After sharing the Summit League regular-season championship with North Dakota State, South Dakota State fell by one point to the Bison in the Summit League Tournament Championship game. SDSU played in the NIT, advancing to the second round. |
 | Saturday, November 21 • Houston Baptist
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena • CANCUN CHALLENGE |
| 2014-15 Overall Record: 12-16
2014-15 Southland Conference Record (Finish): 8-10 (T7th)
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
ISU Record Against: 1-0
Last Meeting: Nov. 22, 2008/at HBU/W, 107-70
Notable: Houston Baptist's top returner is senior guard Anthony Odunsi, who led the team in scoring, averaging 12.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game in 2014-15. |
 | Tuesday, November 24 • Maryland
Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya • Cancun, Mexico • CANCUN CHALLENGE |
| 2014-15 Overall Record: 28-7
2014-15 Big Ten Conference Record (Finish): 14-4 (2nd)
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
ISU Record Against: 0-0
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Notable: Maryland received an at-large bid to the 2015 NCAA Tournament, earning a No. 4 seed and advancing to the third round by beating Valparaiso before falling to West Virginia. The Terps return their top scorer, sophomore guard Melo Trimble, who averaged 16.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 2014-15. |
| Wednesday, November 25 • Rhode Island or TCU
Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya • Cancun, Mexico • CANCUN CHALLENGE |
 | Rhode Island
2014-15 Overall Record: 23-10
2014-15 Atlantic 10 Conference Record (Finish): 13-5 (T2nd)
Starters Returning/Lost: 5/1
ISU Record Against: 0-0
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Notable: After tying for second place in the final Atlantic 10 standings, Rhode Island fell by four points to Dayton in the A-10 Championship game. Rhode Island played in the NIT, advancing to the second round. The Rams return their leading scorer from 2014-15, junior guard E.C. Matthews, who averaged 16.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. |
 | TCU
2014-15 Overall Record: 18-15
2014-15 Big 12 Conference Record (Finish): 4-14 (9th)
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/2
ISU Record Against: 0-0
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Notable: TCU's top returner is junior forward Kenrich Williams, who led the team in rebounding (6.7 per game), while averaging 8.6 points and 1.0 blocks in 2014-15. |
 | Friday, November 27 • Quincy
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
| 2014-15 Overall Record: 13-16
2014-15 Great Lakes Valley Conference Record (Finish): 13-5 (5th)
Starters Returning/Lost: 5/0
ISU Record Against: 9-6
Last Meeting: Dec. 29, 2014/at ISU/W, 99-57
Notable: Although Quincy competes at the Division II level, this game will count toward Illinois State's regular-season record and statistics; however, the game will not impact the Redbirds' RPI. Quincy returns all five of its starters from 2014-15, including junior guard Evan McGaughey, who led the team in scoring (11.6 points per game) and rebounding (6.6). |
 | Monday, November 30 • at Kentucky
Rupp Arena • Lexington, Kentucky |
| 2014-15 Overall Record: 38-1
2014-15 SEC Record (Finish): 18-0 (1st)
Starters Returning/Lost: 1/5
ISU Record Against: 0-0
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Notable: In 2014-15, Kentucky became the first team in college basketball history to go 38-0 and the third program to win an NCAA-record 38 games in a single season. The Wildcats did not suffer a loss until falling to Wisconsin in the Final Four. Throughout UK head coach John Calipari's six seasons, Kentucky has made four trips to the Final Four, playing for the national championship twice and winning it in 2012. UK also captured the 2014-15 Southeastern Conference (SEC) title. |
 | Saturday, December 5 • UAB
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
| 2014-15 Overall Record: 20-16
2014-15 C-USA Record (Finish): 12-6 (T4th)
Starters Returning/Lost: 5/0
ISU Record Against: 2-1
Last Meeting: Dec. 7, 2014/at UAB/W, 78-74
Notable: UAB advanced to the 2015 NCAA Tournament after winning the Conference USA Tournament. The No. 14 seed Blazers knocked off No. 3 seed and ninth-ranked Iowa State, 60-59, in the NCAA Second Round before falling to UCLA. UAB returns all five starters from the 2014-15 team. |
 | Sunday, December 13 • Murray State
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
| 2014-15 Overall Record: 29-6
2014-15 Ohio Valley Conference Record (Finish): 16-0 (1st)
Starters Returning/Lost: 1/4
ISU Record Against: 0-2
Last Meeting: Dec. 20, 2014/at MSU/L, 89-77
Notable: After winning the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championship, Murray State fell by one point to Belmont in the OVC Tournament Championship game. Murray State played in the NIT, advancing to the quarterfinals. |
 | Wednesday, December 16 • at UIC
UIC Pavilion • Chicago, Illinois |
| 2014-15 Overall Record: 10-24
2014-15 Horizon League Record (Finish): 4-12 (7th)
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
ISU Record Against: 13-7
Last Meeting: Dec. 11, 2010/at ISU/W, 53-43
Notable: UIC's top returner is senior guard Paris Burns, who ranked second on the team in scoring (10.4 points per game), while averaging 2.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 2014-15. The Flames feature a new head coach: Steve McClain. |
 | Saturday, December 19 • at Saint Joseph's
Hagan Arena • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 2014-15 Overall Record: 13-18
2014-15 Atlantic 10 Conference Record (Finish): 7-11 (10th)
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
ISU Record Against: 0-0
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Notable: Saint Joesph's returns its leading scorer and rebounder from 2014-15, junior forward DeAndre' Bembry, who averaged 17.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals. |
 | Tuesday, December 22 • Tennessee State • Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena |
| 2014-15 Overall Record: 5-26
2014-15 Conference Record (Finish): 2-14 (6th, East)
Starters Returning/Lost: 7/1
ISU Record Against: 2-3
Last Meeting: Dec. 19, 2013/at ISU/W, 64-58
Notable: Entering his second season, Tennessee State head coach Dana Ford (`06) is an Illinois State alum and previously served on head coach Dan Muller's staff at Illinois State from 2012-14. Ford was a four-year letterwinner on the Redbird men's basketball team from 2002-06. |
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