Jan. 27, 2006
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About The Game:
Illinois State heads into today's game coming off its highest offensive output of the season with 75 points against Indiana State. The Redbirds will need to continue their offensive trend as they square off against conference leading Southern Illinois for the second time in six days. On Sunday, the Salukis handed the Redbirds a 56-44 loss at SIU Arena, but Southern Illinois enters Redbird Arena with a 5-4 road record this season.
Series History:
Today's game marks the 127th meeting in the series. Southern Illinois owns a 68-58 advantage in the series that began in 1915 and the Salukis have won the last eight meetings. SIU is the only league team with a winning record in Redbird Arena. The Salukis are 10-8 in the "Bird House."
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 broadcasts, including Porter Moser's weekly call-in show can be heard via the Internet at GoRedbirds.com.
Television:
Today's game is available on Redbird All-Access at GoRedbirds.com.
The Coaches
Porter Moser (Creighton '90) owns an 89-76 (.539) career mark in his third season at Illinois State, including a 34-42 (.447) 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.
Chris Lowery (Southern Illinois `95) is in his second season at his alma mater. He owns a 42-13 (.764) record with the Salukis, his only head coaching position. Last season, Lowery was voted as the 2004-05 Rawlings/Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year. He is assisted by Rodney Watson and Jack Owens.
About the Southern Illinois Salukis
Southern Illinois, located in Carbondale, Ill., was founded in 1869 and has an enrollment of 21,598.
The Salukis return eight letterwinners, including two starters, from a team that finished 27-8 overall and finished tied for first in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 15-3 mark.
Through games on Jan. 25, SIU ranks third in the nation in scoring defense, with 55 points allowed per game, out of 334 Division I teams.
Junior Tony Young is second the MVC in scoring in conference games with 16.2 points per league contest.
Since the start of the 2002-03 season, Southern Illinois is 55-8 in Missouri Valley Conference regular-season games.
Sophomore Matt Shaw enters tonight's game making 12 of his last 20 three-point field goal attempts (.600).
SIU owns a 5-4 road record this season.
Welcome Back to the Stage ... Tenacious D
After holding its non-conference foes to 35.6 percent shooting, Illinois State opened league play without the same defensive intensity. In the first six Valley games, Redbird opponents shot 46.7 percent from the field, but in the last four the `Birds are getting back to the basics. Not only has the higher defensive level resulted in a 2-2 record during that span, but opponents are back to shooting 37.9 percent from the floor.
Home Sweet Home
Illinois State enters today's game with an 8-3 record this season at Redbird Arena. With the victory over Indiana State, the Redbirds guaranteed a winning record at home for the 16th time in the 18-year history of the facility. Today's game against Southern Illinois is the first of four more home games. If the `Birds can win out, it would be their best home record since the 2001-02 season, when they were 11-2 at the Arena.
Keeping a Holtz of the Ball
Even while the Redbirds have averaged 17 turnovers per Valley game, it's not because of Brandon Holtz. In his first season of collegiate basketball, Holtz has shown value in the possession by only surrendering four turnovers in 158 minutes of conference play or one turnover for every 39.5 minutes played.
It was the Best of Times, It was the Worst of Times
The tale occurred in two cities this past week for Illinois State as the Redbirds rebounded from its lowest scoring output (44 points) in Carbondale, Ill., on Sunday with his highest scoring game of the season --75 points in the win over Indiana State Wednesday night at Redbird Arena.
Dilligard Joins the Century Club
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 ISU. In his third season, Dilligard now ranks No. 4 in career blocked shots with 104, becoming only the fifth player to post 100 or more career blocks as a Redbird. He also has 42 blocks for the year, which ranks seventh.
Vandello Industries
ISU freshman Michael Vandello has been grouping his athletic talents, particularly in the last three games, and generating some profits for the Redbirds on the court. During the three game span, Vandello is averaging 10 points and three rebounds per game. He is also shooting 50 percent from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 on treys.
Oh-Dee-Oh
It doubtful that freshman Dinma Odiakosa has seen The Wizard of Oz, but lately he has been a wizard on the boards. Against Indiana State, Odiakosa had a break-out game with a career best 10 rebounds, including six offensive caroms, and six points. In the last four games, he is averaging 3.8 points and 5.0 boards per contest.
190 Games With a Trey on the Board
ISU enters the game against Southern Illinois with at least one made three in 190 straight games. The last time ISU didn't sink a trey was an 82-43 loss at Creighton on Dec. 12, 1999.
Block Party
The Redbirds are averaging 4.7 blocked shots per game as a team, led by Greg Dilligard's 42 swats. With 85 blocked shots in 18 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 post the second best blocking average in school history, trailing only the 1976-77 team which averaged 4.9 blocks per game.
Gone in 60 Points
It's not the sequel to Nicholas Cage's car thief film, but it has proven to be the recipe for success, or lack there of, for the Redbirds this season. The formula is easy to follow. Opponents score less than 60 points, the Redbirds are 8-2. ISU foes score 60 or more, the `Birds are 0-8. It's that simple.
Walking the Plank
It isn't the sole reason for defeat, but the `Birds appear to go how senior Neil Plank goes. In ISU's seven wins this season, Plank is leading the team with 12.3 points per game, while shooting 50.8 percent (32-for-63) from the field. In the 10 losses, Plank is averaging 5.4 points per game and shooting 25 percent (19-for-76) from the floor.
With a Name like Wallace, He was Born to Lead
It wasn't quite like William Wallace, but senior walk-on Travis Wallace did supply the `Birds some offensive freedom against Indiana State. He nearly doubled his minutes played this season, by logging 19 against the Sycamores. He also spurred the ISU offense, while posting a career best in scoring (5 points) and rebounds (5).
This Ford's A Steal
Just by looking at the sticker price, senior Dana Ford has been a steal. He entered his senior campaign averaging just 11 minutes per game in his first three seasons, but now he's on the verge of setting the ISU single season steals record. After 18 games, Ford leads the `Birds in thefts with 42 and is on pace to finish the season with 70.
D-Fence, D-Fence
This season ISU opponents are averaging 58.4 points per contest. If the Redbirds can maintain this effort, it would mark the first time that foes have been held below 66 points per game for three straight seasons since the 1985-86, 1984-85 and 1983-84 campaigns. Also, the 58.4 points allowed also ranks as the lowest in school history.
Making the Grade
The Illinois State men's basketball set a record GPA during the Fall 2005 semester by posting a collective 2.81 GPA, topping the old mark of 2.75. The athletic department as a whole also netted a new standard with a 2.93 GPA, while having a record 201 student-athletes named to the AFNI athletic honor roll.
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.
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.
This Date in Redbird History
Jan. 28, 1995 - Illinois State scorched the nets at SIU Arena by shooting a season-best 66 percent from the field as the Redbirds handed Southern Illinois a 94-91 defeat. Maurice Trotter led the way for the `Birds with 22 points to pace five ISU players in double figures. Illinois State owns an 8-4 record on this date during the Division I era.
