March 16, 2008
2008 MasterCard NIT Bracket in PDF Format 
NORMAL, Ill. - After narrowly missing out on an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament, the Illinois State men's basketball team (24-9, 13-5 MVC) saw its season extended Sunday night when the Redbirds were selected to the 2008 MasterCard National Invitation Tournament (NIT). In its first-round bracket, second-seeded ISU will take on No. 7 seed Utah State (24-10) Wednesday at 9 p.m. on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena in the tournament's first round. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
The Redbirds will be making their first appearance in the postseason NIT since the 2000-01 season. The game will mark the fifth meeting all-time between Illinois State and Utah State, and the second in the NIT. The series is tied, 2-2, including the Redbirds' 93-87 overtime victory at Utah State in the 1995 NIT.
Illinois State will be making its ninth appearance in the postseason NIT, where the Redbirds have a 7-8 all-time record. The 1995-96 Redbirds advanced to the quarterfinal round, after defeating Mount St. Mary's (73-49) in the opening round, upending host Wisconsin (77-62) in the second round, and eventually falling to Tulane (83-72). ISU also made NIT appearances in 1977, 1978, 1980, 1987, 1988, 1995 and 2001.
Single-game tickets will go on sale in the Redbird Athletic Ticket Office (309) 438-8000 Monday beginning at 9 a.m. Lower bowl seats will be sold for $14; upper bowl seats will cost $10, and student admission will cost $4.
The Redbird Club (TRC) members are reminded to hold on to their parking passes from the regular season. Parking arrangements surrounding Redbird Arena will be the same as during the regular season. Both the Redbird Room and Legends Room will be open beginning at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The Redbirds finished the 2007-08 regular season with a 34th-ranked Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), with a 68th-ranked strength-of-schedule, according to RPIRatings.com. Illinois State won eight of its final 10 games, and advanced to the State Farm MVC Tournament championship game against nationally-ranked Drake last Sunday.
