Oct. 27, 2009
ST. LOUIS - The 2009 Missouri Valley Conference Media Day had a familiar feel, as the Illinois State men's basketball team was projected to finish third in the league standings and guard Osiris Eldridge was tabbed as the conference's preseason player of the year. It was the exact scenario forecasted by the panel of league sports information directors, head coaches and media members at last season's event.
The Redbirds have had back-to-back postseason tournament berths for the first time in over 10 seasons under head coach Tim Jankovich. Over the last two seasons, the Redbirds have posted a 49-20 record which is the most wins by any Valley team during that time. In addition, the Redbirds have won more league games than any other Valley school and more State Farm Missouri Valley Tournament games than any other team over the two-year period.
ISU, which received 299 votes, trailed the co-regular-season Valley champions from last season, Northern Iowa and Creighton. UNI, which posted a 60-57 overtime defeat over the Redbirds in the 2009 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championship Game, earned 38 first-place votes and totaled 389 points as the team to beat in this season's conference race. Creighton was second with one first-place tally and 336 total points. After Illinois State were Southern Illinois (272), Wichita State (216), Bradley (208), Indiana State (173), Drake (105), Missouri State (92) and Evansville (55).
As the league's preseason player of the year, Eldridge was also one of five Valley student-athletes named to the league's preseason all-conference team. Eldridge, who was named the 2009 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player, is a two-time first-team all-league selection and was named to the conference's all-defensive team for the first time in his career this past season.
The Chicago native ranked second on the team in scoring last season with 14 points per game. Eldridge was also second on the team in rebounding with 6.2 boards per contest. He led the Redbirds with 52 steals and ranked third with 83 assists.
Joining Eldridge on the Valley's Preseason All-Conference Team were Creighton's P'Allen Stinnett, Drake's Josh Young, Northern Iowa's Kwadzo Ahelegbe and Adam Koch, and Southern Illinois' Tony Freeman.
Illinois State will host Quincy Nov. 11, on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena for the Redbirds' lone exhibition game prior to the start of the season. ISU will officially begin the 2009-10 campaign Nov. 15, when Illinois State plays at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.
