Jan. 4, 2006
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About The Game:
Both Illinois State and Creighton enter tonight's game looking to return to the .500 mark in the league. The two teams met just five days ago at Redbird Arena, when Illinois State's Dana Ford buried a 40-footer at the buzzer to give the Redbirds game one of the two-game regular season series.
Series History:
Tonight's game marks the 55th meeting in the series. The Redbirds carry a 33-21 advantage in the series, but Creighton has won 10 of the last 12 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 in Omaha, Neb., on KM3 News. Travis Justice (play-by-play) and Scott Schumacher (analyst) will call the action. It is also available at GoRedbirds.com as part of Redbird All-Access.
The Coaches
Porter Moser (Creighton '90) owns an 87-71 (.551) career mark in his third season at Illinois State, including a 33-37 (.471) 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.
Dana Altman (Eastern New Mexico `80) is in his 12th season at Creighton. He owns a 225-124 (.645) record with the Bluejays and carries a 308-191 (.617) record in his 17 seasons as a head coach. He is assisted by Darian DeVries, Brian Fish and Kevin McKenna.
About the CReighton Bluejays
Creighton, located in Omaha, Neb., was founded in 1878 and has an enrollment of 6,804.
The Bluejays return seven letterwinners, including four starters, from a team that finished 23-11 overall and tied for third in the Missouri Valley Conference with an 11-7 mark.
After losing all-conference performer Nate Funk to a shoulder injury in the DePaul game, the Bluejays lost two straight after opening the season 3-0. After winning four straight, Funk returned to the floor for the Bluejays, but Creighton has lost both games in which he has played, including his first game back at Redbird Arena five days ago.
Oh! You Guys Again
Not only did Illinois State and Creighton just play each other five days ago, but including tonight's game in the Redbirds' last six games, dating back to last season, against teams from the Missouri Valley Conference four of them have come against Creighton. ISU and the Jays closed out the regular season in Redbird Arena last season before facing each other in the quarterfinals of the 2005 State Farm Valley Tournament.
Da-Na-Na, Na-Na-Na
Senior Dana Ford's first name, with a variation in pronunciation, are the first two notes in the well-known ESPN SportsCenter theme song. That's why it was only fitting, that Ford's heroic 40-footer at the buzzer in ISU's 53-50 win over Creighton ranked No. 6 on ESPN's Plays of the Day. In addition, not only was it play No. 6 on Dec. 31, but it also ranked No. 9 on ESPN's Plays of the Week.
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 currently in the midst of playing 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.
Less is More
Illinois State is coming off its two lowest offensive production games of the season, but one resulted in its biggest win of the campaign to date. Despite only scoring 53 points, the Redbirds pulled out a 53-50 win over Creighton. It marked the fewest points by the Redbirds in a victory since the 51-47 win against Drake at the 1999 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on Feb. 26.
Dilly Doubles Down
Junior Greg Dilligard registered his second career double-double on a career night at Indiana State. Dilligard finished with a career best 22 points and a career high 12 rebounds. He also added three assists and three blocked shots, while shooting 11-for-18 from the field.
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 simple. Opponents score less than 60 points, the Redbirds are 6-0. ISU foes score 60 or more, the `Birds are 0-5.
182 Games With a Trey on the Board
ISU enters the game at Creighton with at least one made three in 183 straight games. The last time ISU didn't sink a trey was an 82-43 loss at Creighton on Dec. 12, 1999.
Road Warriors
Even though the `Birds have not recorded a road victory this season, Illinois State has had some recent success away from home. Dating back to last season, the Redbirds are 4-7 in their last 11 road games.
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. But, even including the five losses, Illinois State opponents are only shooting 37.5 percent from the field on the season.
Some Holiday Steals
Senior Dana Ford has continued his holiday shopping and he's finding a number of steals. After 11 games, Ford leads the Redbirds in thefts with 23 and is on pace to finish the season with 66, which would rank first in the Redbirds' top 10 all-time.
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 five of ISU's 11 games and has scored in double digits in eight contests. The senior ranks second with 10.3 points per game and is first in assists with 42 on the season.
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 56.9 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 56.9 points per game by Illinois State foes would also rank as the lowest in school history.
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. 6 in career blocked shots with 84. He is also on pace to crack the top 10 in career steals as the team's returning leader with 66 career steals.
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. 5, 1977 - Jeff Wilkins led Illinois State with 27 points and added 11 rebounds to give the Redbirds a 74-56 win over Pacific in Horton Field House. The Redbirds held the Tigers to 29 percent shooting in the first half and stormed out to a 34-22 lead. Billy Lewis added 18 points, while Ron Jones chipped in 11 points and nine assists. Illinois State owns a 2-9 record on this date during the Division I era.
