Nov. 29, 2005
Game Notes
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About The Game
Grambling State marks the second of five straight home opponents for the Redbirds. Illinois State looks to continue its perfect 2-0 home mark this season, while the Tigers enter the game with an unblemished 2-0 record. Both of Grambling State's victories have come against NAIA foes.
Series History
Tonight's game is the first meeting between the two programs. Illinois State owns a perfect 5-0 mark against the current members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, including a 75-62 win over Alcorn State last season. The `Birds are 2-0 against Alcorn State and 3-0 versus Mississippi Valley State.
Radio
Dick Luedke, play-by-play; Mike Matthews, color; Bruce Evans, sideline (home only) and Jim Williams, studio host. Affiliates: WJBC (AM 1230/Bloomington), flagship; WBIG (AM 1280/Aurora), WJEZ (FM 98.9/Dwight), WZOE (AM 1490/Princeton) and WFMB (AM 1450/Springfield). All Redbird broadcasts, including Porter Moser's weekly call-in show, which generally airs each Thursday from 6:07-7 pm, depending on the schedule, can be heard via the Internet at GoRedbirds.com.
Television
The game is available on Redbird All-Access at GoRedbirds.com.
The Coaches
Porter Moser (Creighton '90) owns an 83-67 (.553) career mark in his third season at Illinois State, including a 29-33 (.468) record with the Redbirds. Prior to guiding the `Birds, Moser served three seasons at Arkansas-Little Rock in his first head coaching position. Moser is assisted by Chris Jans, Daniyal Robinson and Brian Barone.
Larry Wright (Grambling State `82) is in his sixth season at his alma mater as the head coach. He owns a 57-114 (.333) record with the Tigers, his only head coaching position. He is assisted by Theodis Jackson and Kenneth Sykes.
About the Grambling State Tigers
Grambling State, located in Grambling, La., was founded in 1901 and has an enrollment of 4,300 students.
The Tigers are members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and play their home games at Memorial Gym (2,200).
Grambling State returns eight letterwinners, including four starters, from a team that finished 14-12 overall and 11-7 in the SWAC.
Tonight's game is the first of five straight road games for the Tigers. Grambling State will not play another home game until Jan. 2.
Some Holiday Steals
Senior Dana Ford has started his holiday shopping early this season and he's finding a number of steals -- eight to be exact. After three games, Ford leads the Redbirds in thefts and is on pace to finish the season with 75, which would top the school record established by Todd Starks during the 1986-87 season by 14 steals.
The Flaw of Averages
Western Michigan entered Saturday's game averaging 72.5 points per game, while shooting a combined 42.9 percent from the field in its two previous games. However, after facing a stifling Redbird defense, the high-powered Bronco offense sputtered with 47 points (25.5 points below average) and a 31.4 percent shooting effort (11.5 percent below average). ISU also forced a season high 17 Bronco turnovers, including 12 in the first half.
Turning Over a New 'Lif
Sophomore Khalif Ford rebounded nicely after his six turnover game at Cincinnati. The Redbird point guard collected a career-high 11 points, including a 5-for-8 effort from the charity stripe, for the first double digit scoring game of his career.
House Arrest
After holding Western Michigan to 47 points on Saturday, it marked the fourth time in the Porter Moser era that the Redbirds limited their opponents to less than 50 points and all four games occurred in Redbird Arena.
Plank's Constant
Quantum physics aren't needed to see that senior Neil Plank is asserting himself as the Redbirds' offensive leader. Plank has led the Redbirds in scoring in two of ISU's three games and is the only player averaging double figure points on the season with 12 points per game. The senior is coming off a season best 16 points against Western Michigan, 15 of which he scored in the first half.
Built Ford Tough
Measuring in at 6-foot-4, guard Dana Ford has been Illinois State's leading rebounder after three games with five boards per contest. If Ford continues his team lead, he would become the smallest player in Illinois State's Division I era to lead the Redbirds in rebounding.
D-FENCE, D-FENCE
Since Porter Moser's arrival at Illinois State he has emphasized team defense and it's starting to show. In the last two seasons, opponents have averaged under 66 points per game. Last season, the Redbirds kept their opponents to 65.4 points per game, while in 2003-04, the `Birds allowed 65.3 points per contest. The back-to-back defensive effort is the best since the 1992-93 and 1991-92 seasons.
Dilly Gets Defensive
When it is all said and done Greg Dilligard will go down in history as one of the best defensive players to suit up for the Redbirds. In his third season, Dilligard ranks No. 7 in career blocked shots with 67. He is also on pace to crack the top 10 in career steals as the team's returning leader with 59 career steals. Dilligard showcased his defensive skills in the win over Western Michigan with a pair of blocked shots and three steals.
Dyer Maker
Despite his 6-foot-11 frame, ISU's Levi Dyer continues to show his shooting range. On the season, Dyer has converted 50 percent of his 3-point field goal attempts (6-of-12), but is 0-for-6 on the year on two-point shots.
Carrying the Valley Flag
In Porter Moser's tenure at Illinois State, the Redbirds have carried the Valley flag well in non-conference match-ups. To date, ISU's three-year head coach boasts a 16-7 (.696) record in non-league games.
Getting on Board
For the first time this season, Illinois State won the rebounding battle when the Redbirds out-rebounded Western Michigan 36-35. The Broncos entered the game with a +8.0 rebounding margin, while the `Birds were out-boarded in every game this season, including the exhibition contest.
Vandello Industries
For Seinfeld fans, Illinois State freshman Michael Vandello has shown a glimpse of his import-export business and his all-around game early in the season. Vandello has started the last two games and is coming off his best collegiate outing. Against Western Michigan, Vandello tossed in a career best nine points, while adding a career high seven rebounds.
So This Is What a Full Roster Looks Like?
For the first time in Porter Moser's tenure, the Redbirds will field a team with all 13 scholarships occupied. After signing Osiris Eldridge and Bobby Hill during the early signing period, the Redbirds have one scholarship available for next season.
We Have Another Winner
With 17 wins during the 2004-05 season, the Redbirds enjoyed their 30th winning season in 35 years of being a Division I program. The 17 victories was the most by ISU since the 2001-02 season.
Out of Africa ...
And into Redbird Arena for four Redbirds this season. Freshmen Dinma Odiakosa and Eric Vianney are from the continent, with Odiakosa coming from Nigeria and Vianney being from Cameroon. In addition, senior Nedu Onyeuku and junior Roberto Fortes were each born in Africa before their families moved to the United States. Onyeuku was born in Nigeria, while Fortes was born in Angola.
Home Cooking
Freshman Brandon Holtz will not have far to travel home, living in Bloomington-Normal his entire life. Holtz is the fifth player from an intercity high school to play basketball with a scholarship at ISU in the Division I era. He joins Dan Cox (1988-90), Joe Galvin (1977-80), Todd Kagel (1989-93) and Randy Smithson (1978).
175 Games With a Trey on the Board
ISU enters the game against Grambling State with at least one made three in 175 straight games. The last time ISU didn't sink a trey was an 82-43 loss at Creighton on Dec. 12, 1999.
Prized Pupil Plank
Neil Plank was named to the 2005 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America® University Division Men's Basketball Second Team and was honored as the 2005 Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The two-time All-District V Academic selection was also a 2005 Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete First Team selection. He carried a 4.0 grade point average as an undergraduate finance major and is currently pursuing his master's in business administration.
This Date in Redbird History
Nov. 29, 1998 - With five Redbirds in double figures, Illinois State topped Iona 83-75 in the championship game of the Hawai'i Pacific Shootout. Tarise Bryson led the `Birds with 18 points, while LeRoy Watkins and L. Dee Murdock each tossed in 14 points and Tyrone Brown and Sean Riley scored 10 apiece. Illinois State owns a 5-2 record on this date in the Division I era.
