ST. LOUIS – After earning a share of the 2016-17 Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship, the Illinois State men's basketball team will aim to defend its title during the 2017-18 MVC season, for which the conference schedule was released by the league office Tuesday. Start times have not yet been determined.
The Redbirds will tip off MVC play Dec. 23 at Evansville, marking ISU's first league-opener on the road since the 2013-14 season. Having won 15-consecutive games against conference opponents on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena, Illinois State will try to extend its winning streak when the Redbirds begin the home-league schedule Dec. 31 versus Indiana State in Normal, Illinois.
In another MVC home game, the Redbirds will host Bradley Jan. 17 as part of the I-74 Rivalry Series. ISU will later travel to Peoria, Illinois, Feb. 14 to face the Braves. Illinois State and MVC-addition Valparaiso are scheduled to meet in Normal Jan. 27. The Redbirds will visit the reigning Horizon League-champion Crusaders in Valparaiso, Indiana, Feb. 11.
ISU will host its final MVC home game of the season Feb. 21 versus Drake, followed by the regular-season finale Feb 24 at Loyola Chicago. The Redbirds will then travel to the 2018 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament – March 1 through March 4 at Scottrade Center in St. Louis – where ISU will vie for an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Led by sixth-year head coach Dan Muller, Illinois State returns one starter from last season's championship team – Phil Fayne – who averaged 9.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. The Redbirds return five letterwinners, including Keyshawn Evans, who played in all 35 games and averaged 5.8 points and 2.0 assists per contest.
ISU aims to build off of last year's record-breaking season which saw the Redbirds set program marks for total victories (28), regular-season wins (25) and MVC triumphs (17). Illinois State earned an at-large bid to the 2017 NIT where the Redbirds advanced to the second round.
To purchase men's basketball season tickets, fans are encouraged to contact the Illinois State Athletics Ticket Office either online by navigating to GoRedbirds.com/Tickets, in-person by entering through the north doors to Redbird Arena, or over the phone by calling (309) 438-8000.
Below is a detailed look at each 2017-18 Missouri Valley Conference opponent, listed in alphabetical order:
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Bradley
Home: Wednesday, Jan. 17
Away: Wednesday, Feb. 14
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2016-17 Overall Record: 13-20
2016-17 MVC Record (Finish): 7-11 (T6th)
Starters Returning/Lost: 5/0
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 11/2
ISU Record Against Overall: 61-63
ISU Record Against Home: 38-19 (RBA: 24-5)
ISU Record Against Away: 20-41 (Carver: 13-23) (Neutral: 3-3)
ISU Record Against Last Season: 2-0
Current Streak: W7
Last Meeting: Feb. 11, 2017/at ISU/W, 64-50
Notable: Coached by Brian Wardle (beginning his third season) … Return all five starters, including sophomore guard Darrell Brown who led Bradley in scoring (12.6 ppg) last season and was named to the MVC All-Freshman Team.
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Drake
Away: Wednesday, Jan. 3
Home: Wednesday, Feb. 21
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2016-17 Overall Record: 7-24
2016-17 MVC Record (Finish): 5-13 (T9th)
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/3
ISU Record Against Overall: 57-29
ISU Record Against Home: 33-8 (RBA: 23-7)
ISU Record Against Away: 19-19 (Knapp: 13-12) (Neutral: 5-2)
ISU Record Against Last Season: 2-0
Current Streak: W9
Last Meeting: Feb. 7, 2017/at Drake/W, 82-53
Notable: Coached by Niko Medved (beginning his first season) … Return four starters, including senior guard Reed Timmer who led Drake in scoring (15.3 ppg) last season and was named to the 2017 All-MVC Third Team.
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Evansville
Away: Saturday, Dec. 23
Home: Saturday, Feb. 3
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2016-17 Overall Record: 16-17
2016-17 MVC Record (Finish): 6-12 (8th)
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/5
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 6/5
ISU Record Against Overall: 38-19
ISU Record Against Home: 21-4 (RBA: 20-4)
ISU Record Against Away: 13-14 (Ford: 3-3) (Neutral: 4-1)
ISU Record Against Last Season: 3-0
Current Streak: W4
Last Meeting: March 3, 2017/at MVC Tournament/W, 80-69
Notable: Coached by Marty Simmons (beginning his 11th season) … Return two starters, including junior guard Ryan Taylor who ranked second on the team in scoring (14.1 ppg) last season.
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Indiana State
Home: Sunday, Dec. 31
Away: Saturday, Jan. 20
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2016-17 Overall Record: 11-20
2016-17 MVC Record (Finish): 5-13 (T9th)
Starters Returning/Lost: 1/4
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 7/6
ISU Record Against Overall: 63-54
ISU Record Against Home: 39-15 (RBA: 22-7)
ISU Record Against Away: 21-37 (Hulman: 18-25) (Neutral: 3-2)
ISU Record Against Last Season: 2-0
Current Streak: W2
Last Meeting: Jan. 25, 2017/at ISU/W, 71-66
Notable: Coached by Greg Lansing (beginning his eighth season) … Return last season's leading scorer – Brenton Scott – who averaged 15.9 ppg plus 1.6 spg and was named to the 2017 All-MVC Third Team.
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Loyola Chicago
Home: Wednesday, Jan. 10
Away: Saturday, Feb. 24
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2016-17 Overall Record: 18-14
2016-17 MVC Record (Finish): 8-10 (5th)
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/8
ISU Record Against Overall: 14-4
ISU Record Against Home: 8-1 (RBA: 7-1)
ISU Record Against Away: 6-3 (Gentile: 4-1) (Neutral: 0-0)
ISU Record Against Last Season: 2-0
Current Streak: W6
Last Meeting: Feb. 19, 2017/at ISU/W, 65-63
Notable: Coached by Porter Moser (beginning his seventh season) … Return three starters, including senior guard/forward Donte Ingram who ranked third on the team in scoring (13.6 ppg) and led the team in rebounding (6.8 rpg) last season and was named to the 2017 All-MVC Third Team.
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Missouri State
Home: Sunday, Jan. 7
Away: Tuesday, Jan. 30
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2016-17 Overall Record: 17-16
2016-17 MVC Record (Finish): 7-11 (T6th)
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 5/6
ISU Record Against Overall: 41-29
ISU Record Against Home: 25-6 (RBA: 20-6)
ISU Record Against Away: 12-20 (JQH: 4-5) (Neutral: 4-3)
ISU Record Against Last Season: 2-0
Current Streak: W2
Last Meeting: Feb. 15, 2017/at MSU/W, 67-66
Notable: Coached by Paul Lusk (beginning his seventh season) … Return four starters, including last season's leading scorer – Alize Johnson – who averaged team highs in points (14.8 ppg) and rebounds (10.6 rpg) and was named to the All-MVC First Team along with garnering MVC Newcomer of the Year honors.
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UNI
Away: Wednesday, Jan. 24
Home: Saturday, Feb. 17
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2016-17 Overall Record: 14-16
2016-17 MVC Record (Finish): 9-9 (T3rd)
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 12/2
ISU Record Against Overall: 41-33
ISU Record Against Home: 23-10 (RBA: 16-10)
ISU Record Against Away: 11-19 (McLeod: 1-10) (Neutral: 7-4)
ISU Record Against Last Season: 2-0
Current Streak: W2
Last Meeting: Feb. 25, 2017/at UNI/W, 63-42
Notable: Coached by Ben Jacobson (beginning his 12th season) … Return three starters, including senior forward Bennett Koch who ranked second on the team in scoring (11.0 ppg) last season.
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Southern Illinois
Away: Saturday, Jan. 13
Home: Thursday, Feb. 8
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2016-17 Overall Record: 17-16
2016-17 MVC Record (Finish): 9-9 (T3rd)
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 10/3
ISU Record Against Overall: 74-78
ISU Record Against Home: 49-22 (RBA: 18-11)
ISU Record Against Away: 20-49 (SIU Arena: 15-28) (Neutral: 5-7)
ISU Record Against Last Season: 3-0
Current Streak: W4
Last Meeting: March 4, 2017/at MVC Tournament/W, 63-50
Notable: Coached by Barry Hinson (beginning his sixth season) … Return three starters, including junior guard Armon Fletcher who ranked third on the team in both scoring (11.1 ppg) and rebounding (4.8 rpg) last season.
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Valparaiso
Home: Saturday, Jan. 27
Away: Sunday, Feb. 11
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2016-17 Overall Record: 24-9
2016-17 Horizon League Record (Finish): 14-4 (1st)
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 6/7
ISU Record Against Overall: 7-4
ISU Record Against Home: 2-2 (RBA: 0-0)
ISU Record Against Away: 3-2 (The ARC: 0-0) (Neutral: 0-0)
ISU Record Against Last Season: 0-0
Current Streak: W5
Last Meeting: Feb. 16, 1981/at ISU/W, 55-38
Notable: Coached by Matt Lottich (beginning his second season) … Return two starters, including Tevonn Walker who ranked third on the team in scoring (11.9 ppg) and second on the team in rebounding (5.6 rpg) and steals (1.3 spg) and was named to the Horizon League All-Defensive Team last season.
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