Feb. 11, 2008
ST. LOUIS -
After Illinois State's men's basketball team (17-7, 9-4 MVC) put a stranglehold on sole possession of second-place in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 72-68 win over rival Bradley, the conference office announced Monday that the Redbirds will be showcased one more time on the MVC Television Network, when ISU visits in-state rival Southern Illinois Saturday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m. The game will clear live on FSN Midwest and Comcast SportsNet Chicago as part of the league's "Wildcard Weekend."
In addition to the Valley Wildcard Weekend coverage, the Missouri State telecast of Wednesday night's game on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena will be picked up locally by Comcast and Mediacom. The game between the Redbirds and Bears will be available on channel 74 in the Bloomington-Normal area, and on channel 44 in Peoria. These channels are available to all Comcast customers in those areas as part of the "Classic" level of service. In addition, Mediacom in central Illinois will also televise the games on channel 78.
Using the Wildcard Weekend model, the league -- through its television partners ESPN, FSN Midwest, Fox College Sports and Comcast SportsNet Chicago -- reserves clearance windows for February and March dates in the fall of each academic year and waits until the midpoint of both the men's and women's basketball seasons to determine its final regular-season telecasts for both genders.
"We began using the Wildcard process in men's basketball during the 2004-05 campaign," MVC Commissioner Doug Elgin said in a press release issued by the conference office. "Head coach Tim Jankovich has done a tremendous job at Illinois State in his first season, and the Wildcard Weekend concept enables us to add a much-deserved appearance for the Redbirds."
With Monday's announcement, Illinois State's men's and women's basketball teams secured three appearances in the MVC's Wildcard Weekend. The schedule of games begins Friday, Feb. 29, when the Illinois State women travel to the Omaha Civic Auditorium to meet Creighton in a 7:30 p.m. tilt that will clear live on FSN Midwest and Fox College Sports and on tape-delay at 1 a.m. CST on March 1 on Comcast SportsNet Chicago.
Following the game between the Redbird men and Salukis March 1, Wildcard Weekend concludes with the ISU women traveling to Drake Sunday, March 2, at 2:30 p.m. CST. The game will clear live on FSN Midwest and Fox College Sports and on tape-delay at 1 a.m. CST on March 3 on Comcast SportsNet Chicago.
Illinois State will entertain MVC foe Missouri State Wednesday on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena beginning at 7:05 p.m. The Redbirds edged the host Bears at Hammons Student Center, 64-63, Feb. 2.
