Aug. 27, 2010
NORMAL, Ill. -
The 2010-11 Illinois State men's basketball schedule was released by the league office Friday and with the exception of any changes due to the Missouri Valley Conference's television package, the slate is finalized. The Redbirds will host three 2010 NCAA Tournament participants during the upcoming season, which is the most since the 2006-07 season.
For the first time since the 2007-08 season, head coach Tim Jankovich's first year at Illinois State, the Redbirds will open the season on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. ISU will host SIU Edwardsville in a return game from last season's opener in Edwardsville, Ill. After hosting the Cougars, Illinois State will host Tennessee State on Nov. 17.
Illinois State will play nine of its first 10 games during the 2010-11 season on its home floor, as the Redbirds will only be on the road once in the month of November (Nov. 21 at Arkansas-Little Rock) and once in December (Dec. 20 at North Carolina-Wilmington).
For the third-straight year, ISU will host a three-day tournament following Thanksgiving. The Redbirds will host South Dakota, Louisiana-Monroe and Jacksonville State in the Global Sports Roundball Classic on Doug Collins Court from Nov. 26-28.
On Dec. 1, Illinois State will host 2010 NCAA Tournament participant UNLV on Dec. 1, in the second installment of the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Conference Challenge. After hosting Montana State (Dec. 4), the Redbirds will face another 2010 NCAA Tournament team, Ohio, on Dec. 8, in Normal, Ill.
The Redbirds will close out the bulk of the non-conference campaign at home against UIC (Dec. 11) and then at UNC-Wilmington. ISU opens Valley play Dec. 29 against Creighton on Doug Collins Court.
Illinois State will have 10 league contests in the month of January, including five on the Redbirds' home court. ISU will face Wichita State (Jan. 7), Northern Iowa (Jan. 12), Evansville (Jan. 15), Southern Illinois (Jan. 23) and Drake (Jan. 30), with the Evansville and Southern Illinois games already being claimed for television. The Evansville contest will be available on Fox Sports as part of the league package, while the Southern Illinois game will be available on ESPNU.
The Redbirds will end the regular season with five of their final eight games on the road. ISU will travel to Northern Iowa (Feb. 2), Wichita State (Feb. 5), Creighton (Feb. 16), the ESPN BracketBusters opponent (Feb. 18-20) and to Evansville (Feb. 26), while hosting Indiana State (Feb. 9), Missouri State (Feb. 12) and Interstate-74 rival Bradley (Feb. 22) for Senior Night. The Bradley game will also be a part of the league's television package on Fox Sports.
Including the exhibition game against Quincy, the Redbirds will play 19 games this season on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. Included in those 19 contests are nine Saturday or Sunday matchups. For season-ticket information, 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.
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