May 22, 2013
NORMAL, Ill. -
A home game against BIG EAST foe DePaul will be included in the 2013-14 Illinois State men's basketball schedule, as Redbird head coach Dan Muller announced a home-and-home series versus the Blue Demons, beginning with a Sunday, Dec. 22 matchup on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. The start time has not yet been decided.
"We are very excited to start this series with DePaul," Muller said. "Coach Oliver Purnell is a tremendous coach, and DePaul has a great tradition. We look forward to the game here at Redbird Arena this upcoming season, and we also look to have a great crowd in Chicago the following year."
Illinois State has not faced DePaul since a Dec. 4, 1996, 75-50 victory over the Blue Demons in St. Louis at the Missouri Valley Conference/Conference USA Challenge. Muller, who was a junior at the time, scored five points, with four rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Redbirds. He also faced the Blue Demons on the road as a freshman Jan. 3, 1995, with DePaul winning, 82-62.
ISU holds a 3-21 record against DePaul, and the Redbirds are 2-8 versus the Blue Demons in Normal. Illinois State's only previous matchup against DePaul at Redbird Arena resulted in a narrow 67-66 loss December 9, 1992. ISU and DePaul met for the first time March 5, 1909 in Normal, with Illinois State prevailing, 44-23.
As a program, DePaul has earned 22 NCAA Tournament berths, plus 16 NIT appearances. ISU faced DePaul in the 1984 NCAA Tournament.
The Redbirds have won three out of their last four meetings against BIG EAST opponents. Although Illinois State fell to eventual national champion-Louisville last season, 69-66, ISU earned a 76-70 win over Rutgers in 2011-12, a 65-52 win over Cincinnati during the 2007-08 campaign and a 78-65 victory at St. John's during the 2006-07 season. Of those opponents, only St. John's will be a part of the BIG EAST conference next year, which will include DePaul and former Valley foe Creighton.
A date for Illinois State's return game against DePaul at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., has not been set.
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