Sept. 4, 2009
NORMAL, Ill. -
2009-10 Schedule in PDF Format 
With the exception of completing the television package, the 2009-10 Illinois State men's basketball schedule was released by the Missouri Valley Conference office Friday. Due to the details of the league television package, not all the dates for the Redbirds' 2009-10 schedule are finalized.
"We are relieved to finally have our schedule completed," head coach Tim Jankovich said. "As always, it remains our most challenging and frustrating task. We are very happy to be playing two more non-conference games at home than we did last season."
For the second-straight season, the Redbirds will open the season on the road as ISU travels to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville for the first time in school history Nov. 15. After the opener, the Redbirds will play seven of their next eight games on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena with games against North Florida (Nov. 21), Norfolk State (Nov. 27), Southeast Missouri State (Nov. 28), St. Bonaventure (Nov. 29), Central Michigan (Dec. 5) and Niagara (Dec. 13).
Other than SIU-Edwardsville, the Redbirds will travel three other times in non-conference games. ISU will play at Illinois-Chicago (Nov. 23), Ohio (Dec. 16) and Utah (Dec. 19). The game in Utah is part of the first installment of the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Conference Challenge.
After hosting Grambling State Dec. 22, the Redbirds will open up the Valley slate at home, Dec. 29, against Wichita State. Five of ISU's first eight conference games will be played at Redbird Arena with contests against Wichita State, Southern Illinois (Jan. 3), Northern Iowa (Jan. 9), Evansville (Jan. 13) and Creighton (Jan. 20). The UNI game has already been secured for national television and will air on ESPN2.
"I always get asked about the makeup of the Valley schedule. It has always been my philosophy that we have to play everyone twice no matter what and that it is difficult to predict which stretches might be more favorable than others," Jankovich said. "The Valley does a great job of making equitable schedules."
For the first time since the 2004-05 season, the Redbirds will face Interstate-74 rival Bradley at home first. ISU will host Bradley Jan. 30 at Redbird Arena, and the game in Peoria, Ill., will either be played Feb. 9 or 10, depending on television.
The Redbirds will end the regular season with three of their final four games at home. ISU will host Missouri State (Feb. 16 or 17), the ESPNU BracketBusters opponent (Feb. 19 or 20) and Indiana State (Feb. 24). The Redbirds will end regular-season play at Northern Iowa Feb. 27.
Including the exhibition game against Quincy, the Redbirds will play 18 games this season on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. Included in those 18 contests, are seven Saturday games and three Sunday matchups. For season-ticket information, please contact the Redbird Arena Ticket Office at (309) 438-8000, or visit GoRedbirds.com.
Since the conference television schedule has not been finalized, each date is subject to change.
