Oct. 30, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. -
With nine returning lettermen, including four starters, and nearly 80 percent of its scoring and 63 percent of its rebounding returning from last season, the Illinois State men's basketball team enters the 2007-08 campaign as one of the league's most experienced teams. As a result, the Redbirds were picked to finish fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll, conducted by the league coaches, media and sports information directors.
ISU's fifth-place tally is its highest preseason prognostication since the 2002-03 season, when the Redbirds were picked fourth overall. ISU was slated to finish ninth or tenth the last three seasons, but was never projected worse than seventh prior to the 2004-05 season. The Redbirds received 210 total points on 39 ballots.
Senior center Levi Dyer (12.1 ppg) and sophomore guard Osiris Eldridge (9.5 ppg) were each named honorable mention All-Valley selections. The league appointed five preseason all-MVC players, and recognized five honorable mention players. Dyer was voted captain of the Valley's "Most Improved Team" last season, and Eldridge earned the league's Freshman of the Year honor.
Southern Illinois was chosen as the Valley preseason favorite for the first time in four years. The Salukis received all 39 first-place votes for 390 points, and were the first team to unanimously earn the preseason pick since SIU accomplished the feat prior to the 1992-93 campaign.
Bradley earned 311 total points, and was picked second. Missouri State (283) was slated to finish third; and defending State Farm MVC Tournament champion Creighton was tabbed fourth with 266 points. Wichita State earned 210 points and was picked sixth; Northern Iowa's 197 total points positioned the Panthers seventh overall; while Indiana State (110), Drake (80) and Evansville (63) rounded out the 10-team poll.
SIU senior forward Randal Falker was the MVC Preseason Player of the Year, while UNI center Eric Coleman, Wichita State senior guard/forward PJ Couisnard, Missouri State forward Deven Mitchell and Bradley guard Daniel Ruffin were each named to the preseason team.
Along with Dyer and Eldridge, the Redbirds also welcome back starters Dom Johnson, Boo Richardson and Anthony Slack. Richardson and Slack were each named to the 2007 MVC All-Newcomer Team, while Johnson averaged 8.3 points-per-game, and connected on 54 three-point field goals in 26 starting assignments.
The Redbirds will begin their preparation for the 2007-08 season with an exhibition game against Quincy Nov. 7. Tip off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
