Jan. 13, 2006
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About The Game:
After a 1-5 start to league play, Illinois State is looking forward to having four of its next five games at Redbird Arena. The Redbirds have not scored more than 60 points in their last six games, while dropping 7 of their last 8. Northern Iowa enters the game looking to rebound from a three-point home loss to Creighton on Wednesday. The loss snapped the Panthers' four-game winning streak.
Series History:
Tonight's game marks the 47th meeting in the series. The Redbirds carry a 31-15 advantage in the series, but Northern Iowa has won six of the last eight meetings.
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-line at GoRedbirds.com as part of Redbird All-Access.
The Coaches
Porter Moser (Creighton '90) owns an 87-74 (.540) career mark in his third season at Illinois State, including a 33-40 (.452) 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.
Greg McDermott (Northern Iowa `88) is in his fifth season season at his alma mater. He owns an 81-56 (.591) record with the Panthers and carries a 212-120 (.639) record in his 12 seasons as a head coach. He is assisted by Ben Jacobson, Jeff Rutter and P.J. Hogan.
About the Northern Iowa Panthers
Northern Iowa, located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, was founded in 1876 and has an enrollment of 12,561.
The Panthers return nine letterwinners, including all five starters, from a team that finished 21-11 overall, tied for third in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 11-7 mark and earned an at-large bid to the 2005 NCAA Tournament.
UNI has four players averaging double-digit points, led by All-Valley performer Ben Jacobson, who is tossing in 14.5 points per game.
Both Grant Stout (7.9) and Eric Coleman (6.9) are averaging right around seven rebounds per game.
Senior John Little, a native of Peoria, Ill., will earn his first starting assignment of the season, replacing Erik Crawford, who fractured his right foot in Wednesday's loss to Creighton. He will miss 4 to 6 weeks.
Defining the Skids
During ISU's four-game losing streak, junior Greg Dilligard is the only player averaging double-digit points for the `Birds with 10.5 per game. ISU is shooting 29.6 percent on threes during the four games, while foes are dropping in treys at a 48.9 percent clip. The Redbirds are also averaging 18 turnovers per game, while opponents are making 9.5 more free throws per contest.
Caught on the Rebound
Northern Iowa marks the fourth straight opponent for Illinois State that enters the game coming off a loss. Before the `Birds traveled to Creighton, the Jays were knocked off at Bradley. Both Wichita State and Missouri State were beaten at home by UNI and now the Panthers are coming into Redbird Arena following a home loss to Creighton.
Dilly Raises the Bar
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 now ranks No. 5 in career blocked shots with 94. With four blocks against Wichita State, Dilligard surpassed Bill Braksick on the all-time list. Dilligard, who has 32 blocked shots this year, also needs three more blocks to move into the top 10 for blocks in a season.
Walking the Plank
It isn't the sole reason for defeat, but the Redbirds appear to go how senior Neil Plank goes. In ISU's six wins this season, Plank is leading the team with 13.2 points per game, while shooting 50 percent (25-for-50) from the field. In the eight losses, Plank is averaging 6.4 points per game and shooting 25.7 percent (18-for-70) from the floor.
Built Ford Tough
Not only is Dana Ford leading the team in steals, he is also leading the Redbirds in defensive rebounds. Ford ranks second on the team with 4.4 boards per game, but 55 of his 62 overall rebounds have come off the defensive glass. Despite his 6-foot-4, 195-pound frame, Ford is coming away with the bulk of ISU's defensive rebounds.
Block Party
The Redbirds are averaging 4.9 blocked shots per game as a team, led by Greg Dilligard's 32 swats. With 69 blocked shots in 14 games, ISU leads the Missouri Valley Conference in blocked shots, while Dilligard ranks second with 2.3 blocks per game. At this pace, the Redbirds would tie the best shot blocking average in school history, equalling the 1976-77 team which also averaged 4.9 blocks per game.
ISU Defense Has It's Peaks and Valleys
Since starting league play, the Redbird defense has dipped in terms of field goal percentage defense. In non-league games, Redbird opponents were only shooting 35.6 percent from the floor. However, since starting conference play, ISU has seen its defensive field goal percentage rise to 46.7 percent against Valley foes.
Home Sweet Home
Illinois State enters today's game with a 6-2 record this season at Redbird Arena. ISU only needs two more home wins to guarantee a winning record for the 16th time in the 18-year history of the facility.
Thirty Something
That's what Illinois State opponents are shooting in Redbird victories - 33.9 percent to be exact. In fact, in the win over UW-Green Bay, the `Birds put a clamp on the Phoenix by limiting them to 29 percent shooting from the field. The effort was the Redbirds' best since holding Tennessee-Martin to 28.8 percent shooting last season.
So you want to Go to the League
Every collegiate player dreams of playing in the league, and the recent Illinois State schedule is giving the Redbirds a taste of the NBA life. The `Birds are facing Northern Iowa in the sxith of seven games in 17 days, which sure is a change of pace from the two games in 20 days surrounding finals week and the holidays.
186 Games With a Trey on the Board
ISU enters the game against Northern Iowa with at least one made three in 186 straight games. The last time ISU didn't sink a trey was an 82-43 loss at Creighton on Dec. 12, 1999.
Some Holiday Steals
Sure it's January, but senior Dana Ford has continued his post-holiday shopping and he's finding a number of steals. After 14 games, Ford leads the Redbirds in thefts with 32 and is on pace to finish the season with 69, which would rank first in the Redbirds' top 10 all-time.
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 complete seasons, opponents have averaged fewer than 66 points per game. This season, Redbird opponents are averaging 58.8 points per contest. If the Redbirds can maintain this effort, it would mark the first time this feat has occurred three straight seasons since the 1985-86, 1984-85 and 1983-84 campaigns. The 58.8 points per game by Illinois State foes would also rank as the lowest in school history.
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.
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
Jan. 14, 1991 - Illinois State's Todd Kagel launched a 22-foot game-winner with three seconds left to give the Redbirds a 56-55 win over Indiana State at Redbird Arena. The late Reggie Wilson led the `Birds with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Illinois State owns a 7-1 record on this date during the Division I era.
