April 16, 2008
Final Release in PDF Format 
ILLINOIS STATE IN 2007-08 ...
► Tallied a school-record tying 25 overall wins, the most since the 1997-98 NCAA Tournament season.
► By advancing to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) second round, made its first postseason appearance since the 2000-01 season, and hosted two postseason contests for the first time in school history.
► Finished second in the Valley's regular season by a two-game margin over third-place Southern Illinois.
► Reached the MVC Tournament championship game for the first time since 1998.
► Had 13 Valley wins, the most since the 1997-98 season, and more than double the amount of league wins compiled during the 2006-07 campaign.
► Tallied five wins against teams that were in the 2007 NCAA Tournament field.
► Recorded a nine-game winning streak (the longest since the 1982-83 campaign) from Nov. 27, 2007 to Jan. 16, 2008, including four-consecutive road wins.
► Started out 6-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play for the first time since the 1997-98 season.
► Recorded regular-season sweeps over MVC foes Creighton, Wichita State, Evansville, Missouri State and Southern Illinois.
► Went 16-2 at Redbird Arena, the most single-season wins for the Redbirds at the facility since its opening in 1989.
► Went 5-4 in MVC road contests.
► Defeated host Southern Illinois at SIU Arena March 1, handing the Salukis just their second home loss against a Missouri Valley Conference opponent since 2001.
► Osiris Eldridge finished the season as the runner-up for the Larry Bird Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Award, and was a first-team All-MVC selection -- Eldridge also earned NABC All-Region honors, and was tabbed an honorable mention All-America selection by CollegeHoops.net.
► Anthony Slack was named an All-Missouri Valley Conference Honorable Mention selection.
► Slack and Boo Richardson were both named to the Valley's All-Defensive Team.
► Emmanuel Holloway was named to the MVC All-Bench Team.
► Tim Jankovich's 25 wins marked the most wins by a first-year coach in program history.
BANQUET RECAP
The culmination of Illinois State's 110th season of men's basketball was recognized on April 11, as more than 300 people were in attendance for the 2007-08 banquet at Redbird Arena. The event, emceed by Redbird Radio Network play-by-play voice Dick Luedke, included speeches by all five members of the senior class, along with the presentation of six annual awards.
Anthony Slack was presented with the Most Outstanding Rebounding Award. Slack led Illinois State with 234 caroms (7.1 rpg), including a 20-rebound effort on senior night (Feb. 27) against Creighton. He was the first Redbird to grab 20 or more rebounds in a game since 1978.
Dom Johnson earned the Most Outstanding Free Throw Award. Johnson led the `Birds with an 81.1 free throw percentage. His two clutch free throw with 25 seconds remaining gave ISU a 64-63 win over host Missouri State on Feb. 2, lifting the Redbirds to their third of five Valley road wins.
Boo Richardson was presented the Most Outstanding Assist Award. Richardson had 135 assists against just 62 turnovers on the season, and dished out five or more assists in 12 games. He also played 30.1 minutes per game, the second-highest total on the team.
Levi Dyer was given the Most Outstanding Three-Point Shooting Award. Dyer, the Redbirds' sixth man, finished his career fourth all-time in three-point field goal percentage (42.2 percent), and is ninth on the all-time made three-point field goal list with 141. He finished the 2007-08 campaign with a team-high 53 threes.
Dinma Odiakosa was named the team's Most Improved Player. Odiakosa started 34 of 35 games, and scored 6.9 points per game to go along with a team second-best 5.5 rebounds per contest. He recorded eight double-digit scoring efforts, including one in both of ISU's National Invitation Tournament (NIT) games against Utah State and Dayton.
Head coach Tim Jankovich wrapped up the awards presentation by handing out both the "Redbird Award" and "Doug Collins Awards." The Redbird Award, given annually to a player that demonstrates leadership, heart, effort and attitude, was given to Richardson.
The Doug Collins Award, which is awarded annually to ISU's most valuable player, was given to sophomore guard Osiris Eldridge.
RPI TIDBITS
Illinois State, who finished the regular and conference tournament season with a 33rd ranked RPI, finished the campaign with two wins against top-50 RPI teams (four against the top-60), and had six total wins versus the top-100. The Redbirds' 67th-ranked schedule included eight games against teams in the top-50, and 13 tilts versus the top-100 RPI teams.
RPI: 40, AND MAKE NCAA?
Since 1990-91, 685 out of a total 713 eligible teams between No. 1 through No. 40 have made the NCAA Tournament. Only 14 eligible teams (six from The Valley) ranked 40 and better in the past nine years have not made the NCAA tournament, including Illinois State in 2008. Missouri State (at No. 21 in 2006) was the first team 29 or better not selected.
60 THE BAROMETER?
llinois State held its opponent under 60 points 19 times this season, and was 18-1 in those contests. Notably, 11 of ISU's wins came when holding the opposition to less than 50 points. The Redbirds' lone loss when holding an opponent under 60 points was against Dayton in the second-round of the NIT.
JANKOVICH IN ELITE COMPANY
Illinois State secured its 25th win of the season in the NIT first round against seventh-seeded Utah State. Tim Jankovich's 25 wins this season marked the most single-season wins for a first-year coach in program history. Gene Smithson (1975-76) and Bob Donewald (1978-79) each won 20 games in their respective first seasons at the helm of the Redbirds.
GETTING TO THE FIVE-MINUTE MARK
Illinois State was particularly successful this season when closing out the second half on a strong surge. The Redbirds were 22-2 when leading with 5:00 remaining in the second half.
FINISHING STRONG
Illinois State was playing its best basketball down the stretch of the season, and heading into the postseason. The Redbirds won nine of their last 12 games, and won six games in the month of February for the first time since the 2000-01 season. ISU was 4-2 in the month of March.
PERCENT AND PROBABILITY
Anthony Slack converted nearly two-thirds of his field goal attempts (124-of-188) this season, for a single-season program-best 66.0 field goal percentage. He also led the Missouri Valley Conference in the category.
AN IMPRESSIVE TURNAROUND
Illinois State's 25 wins were 10 more than it tallied in the entire 2006-07 season (15), and the Redbirds' 13 wins in Valley play eclipses their league victory total from last season by seven (6). ISU equaled both its 15th win of the season, and its seventh Valley victory Jan. 27 against Indiana State.
20-WIN CAMPAIGNS AT ISU
Illinois State picked up its 20th win of the season against Wright State (54-46) in the O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters game Feb. 24. The Redbirds' last 20-win campaign came in the 2000-01 season, when ISU went 21-9 (12-6 MVC) and advanced to the NIT. Dating back to the 1979-80 season, the Redbirds have tallied 20 or more wins nine times, and reached the postseason in each season. Those campaigns have included five trips to the NCAA Tournament, and four NIT appearances.
DOUBLE-DIGIT VALLEY WINS: IT'S BEEN A WHILE
Illinois State had a 13-5 record in Missouri Valley Conference action this season. The last time ISU had at least 10 MVC wins was in the 2000-01 season, when the Redbirds went 12-6 in Valley play. That team went 21-9 overall, advanced to the State Farm MVC Tournament semifinals, and played in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
WIN-LOSS ANALYSIS
In Illinois State's 25 wins, the Redbirds have averaged 66.4 points, 8.0 made three-point field goals, 15.8 assists and 7.5 steals per game. Conversely, in ISU's 10 losses, the `Birds have averaged 62.7 points, 5.6 made three-pointers, 12.4 assists and 5.9 steals per game.
HOW DO YOU WANT TO WIN?
Illinois State proved that it could win in many ways through its 25 victories this season. The Redbirds captured wins when scoring in the 40s (at Wichita State and at Evansville), 50s (twice against Southern Illinois, versus Wright State and against UNI in the MVC semifinals), 60s (Cincinnati, Bowling Green, Ball State, Indiana State, three times against Missouri State, versus Creighton and against Utah State), 70s (Missouri-St. Louis, Illinois-Chicago, Evansville, versus Wichita State and Bradley), 80s (UNC-Wilmington, Chicago State and at Creighton) and 90s (Southeast Missouri State).
WEATHERING THE STORM
Heading into the State Farm MVC Tournament, Illinois State was forced to play nearly eight conference games without two of its senior starters. Forward Anthony Slack suffered a bruised shoulder mid-way through the first half at Bradley Jan. 23, and was forced to miss the remainder of the game, and the ensuing two contests versus Indiana State (Jan. 27) and at Northern Iowa (Jan. 30). Guard Dom Johnson underwent a tonsillectomy Feb. 21, and did not play in the final four MVC contests, or in the O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters game against Wright State Feb. 24. Despite those key losses, ISU had a combined 6-3 record in those games, and the Bradley loss was by just one point (76-75).
ROAD WARRIORS
Illinois State went 7-5 on the road this season, including a 5-4 record in Valley road contests, its best record away from home since the 2000-01 campaign, when the Redbirds also went 7-5 on the road. Prior to this season, ISU had just eight combined road wins in the past three campaigns, including an 0-12 road record in the 2005-06 season.
LEADING THE PACK
Illinois State led the Missouri Valley Conference in three individual categories this season, topping the league in scoring defense (59.3), three-point field goal percentage defense (.320) and field goal percentage (.453). In conference play, the `Birds paced the Valley in field goal percentage (.467) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.334).
REBOUNDING TRIO
Anthony Slack (7.1 rpg), Dinma Odiakosa (5.5) and Osiris Eldridge (5.7) all averaged more than five rebounds per game this season. The last time Illinois State had three players average at least five rebounds per game in a single season was during the 1998-99 campaign, when L. Dee Murdock (6.1 rpg), Sean Riley (5.3) and LeRoy Watkins (5.5) all grabbed more than five caroms per outing.
MORE RECORDS? O-MY!
First-team All-Missouri Valley Conference guard Osiris Eldridge scored 554 points this season, which is the highest single-season output for an Illinois State player since Tarise Bryson scored 685 points (22.8 ppg) during the 2000-01 campaign.
A SENIOR NIGHT TO REMEMBER
Illinois State's senior trio of Levi Dyer, Boo Richardson and Anthony Slack combined for 41 points, 23 rebounds and nine assists against Creighton on Senior Day Feb. 27 at Redbird Arena. Dyer scored 13 points and had two assists; Richardson chipped in 13 points and dished out seven assists against zero turnovers, and Slack had a double-double with 15 points and a career-high 20 rebounds.
20 REBOUNDS AT ISU -- GO BACK 30 YEARS
Redbird fans need to go back three decades to witness a comparable performance to that of Anthony Slack's 20-rebound effort against Creighton in the 2007-08 home finale. Slack's 20 boards marked the first 20-rebound game at ISU since Del Yarbrough grabbed 20 caroms against Northern Illinois, Dec. 22, 1978.
THIRTY SOMETHING
Against Indiana State (Feb. 16), sophomore guard Osiris Eldridge scored 34 points, the most for a Redbird player since current backcourt teammate Dom Johnson tossed in 32 points at Florida State last season. Eldridge's 34 points eclipsed his previous career-high of 30 points that he scored against UNC-Wilmington on Nov. 18, 2007. His 12 made field goals were also a career-best mark.
PEAKING AT THE RIGHT TIME
Illinois State out-rebounded each of its last three regular season opponents by an average of nearly 14 (13.6) caroms per game, including a convincing 45-24 margin over Creighton on Feb. 27. It marked just the second time this season that the Redbirds had out-rebounded three-consecutive opponents, also accomplishing the feat against Bradley (Jan. 23), Indiana State (Jan. 27) and UNI (Jan. 30).
GET THAT OUTTA' HERE!
Illinois State had five blocks against Creighton Feb. 27, pushing its team total to 100 blocks for the third-consecutive season. Prior to the 2005-06 campaign, the Redbirds hadn't recorded 100 or blocks in a season since 1998-99. Anthony Slack's 47 blocks led ISU and ranked second in the Valley, while Dinma Odiakosa ranked second on the Redbird roster with 20 blocks this season.
SWEEP OVER THE SALUKIS? NOT IN THIS DECADE
Illinois State swept the regular season series against Southern Illinois for the first time since the 1997-98 NCAA Tournament season, when the Redbirds won both of the regular season meetings, and eliminated the Salukis from the MVC Tournament quarterfinals. Since then, SIU has won 15 of the last 21 meetings. ISU's 57-49 win at SIU Arena (March 1) broke a six-game road losing streak against the Salukis in Carbondale.
PACKING THE ARENA
Illinois State, which averaged 6,516 fans per home game at Redbird Arena this season, eclipsed 100,000 in total attendance with a crowd of 6,563 against Creighton on Senior Day (Feb. 27). Prior to this season, the Redbirds hadn't drawn more than 100,000 fans since the 2000-01 season, when 105,702 people came through the turnstiles.
