Evansville was tabbed to finish eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll, as compiled by league coaches, media and sports information directors. The Purple Aces finished tied for fifth in the conference with an 8-10 league mark.
THREE BOND
This isn't the first time that the Redbirds have entered the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament as the No. 3 seed. In fact, it's the fifth time. As the No. 3 seed, the Redbirds are 5-4 overall in the tournament, and advanced to the tournament championship once in 1988, before falling to Bradley, 83-59, in the title game. The last time ISU was the No. 3 seed was in 2002, when Shawn Jeppson's last-second three-pointer sank Drake, 64-63, in the quarterfinals, before ISU lost to Creighton in the semis.
TRI AND TRI AGAIN
In the history of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament the No. 3 seed owns a 48-26 record (.649), including a 20-13 mark (.606) since the tournament went to a neutral site in St. Louis in 1991. The No. 3 seed has won the tournament six times, including five in St. Louis. In the first six tournaments played in St. Louis, the No. 3 seed won four of the events. The last No. 3 seed to claim the title was Creighton in 2005. The No. 3 seed is 17-2 in its first game played in a St. Louis tournament, however the two quarterfinal losses have occurred in the last three seasons.
IN-SEASON MEDIA CONFERENCES
ISU Athletics Media Relations is hosting in-season media conferences during the 2008-09 season. The conference, featuring head coach Tim Jankovich and a student-athlete, will start at 1 p.m., and be held in the Redbird Arena Media Room. The remaining scheduled date is March 3.
VALLEY TELECONFERENCES
Teleconferences with The Valley head coaches will be conducted each Tuesday throughout the season. The first teleconference is slated for Dec. 16, followed by every Tuesday from Jan. 6 to March 3. The conferences begin at 10 a.m. CT. To participate in the conference calls, call 913.981.5517. Illinois State head coach Tim Jankovich will participate at 10:30 a.m.
OGUCHI NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
For the fourth time in Illinois State history, the Missouri Valley Conference's Newcomer of the Year is a Redbird. After leading the team in scoring with 14.8 points per game, Champ Oguchi was named the league's newcomer of the year by the conference's head coaches, media members and sports information directors. Oguchi joins Lorenzo Gordon (2005), Tarise Bryson (1999) and Reggie Wilson (1991) as Redbirds to win the honor. Oguchi was also named second-team all-conference.
TIME ENOUGH FOR COUNTING, WHEN THE DEALINGS DONE
In the first two meetings this season against Evansville, Illinois State has hardly waited until the dealing was done before racking up its points. The Redbirds have outscored Evansville, 93-46, in the two first halves combined this season. In the two opening periods, ISU shot 57.1 percent from the field, including 51.9 percent on threes, while Evansville was 32.6 percent and 30 percent, respectively. The Redbirds also owned a combined +10 rebounding margin in the two first halves.
HUSHING HOLSINGER
The biggest reason Illinois State was able to post two wins over Evansville this season was because of the defensive effort on Jason Holsinger. The Evansville senior averaged eight points per game this year against the Redbirds, while shooting 35.3 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent on threes. All of those numbers are drastic dropscompared to what he averaged in the final five games of the regular season. In the last five games, Holsinger averaged 18.8 points per game, while shooting 54.9 percent from the field and 45.5 percent on three-pointers.
UNCHARTED CHAMPIONSHIP
If Illinois State is going to claim its fifth State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title, the Redbirds will have to do something no other 32 previous league tournament champions have done. ISU enters the 2009 event riding a three-game losing streak. Five of the previous tournament champs had lost two of their last three heading into the league tournament, but none had lost three-straight entering the event.
MORE ON THE STREAK
The current three-game losing streak for the Redbirds, marks the longest losing skid in the Tim Jankovich-era at Illinois State.
ANYONE FOR A GAME OF QUARTERS?
In previous tournaments, Illinois State has fared well in the quarterfinals. The Redbirds boast a 17-7 (.708) record when playing in the quarterfinals of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
A CLOSER LOOK
Sure, Illinois State has eight defeats, but only one loss was by double-digits and it was a non-conference game. Of the eight losses, six occurred on the road and three were in overtime. In the combined losses, the Redbirds have been defeated by a total of 41 points and in the seven Valley losses, ISU was beaten by a total of 27 points.
NEEDING EXTRA TIME
Illinois State's 69-67 double-overtime loss against Northern Iowa marked the fifth overtime game for the Redbirds this season, and the first double-overtime game since the 2000-01 season. Illinois State has not played five overtime games in the same season since the 1984-85 campaign, when the Redbirds played six overtime games, including four-straight.
CHAMP OF THE CENTURY
Illinois State's Champ Oguchi tossed in 13 points in the double-overtime loss to Northern Iowa, which gave the Redbird senior 1,000-career points in his collegiate career. Oguchi poured in 571 points in his three seasons at Oregon, and has scored 443 points at Illinois State through 30 games. By scoring 1,014-career points, Oguchi became the second Redbird, along with Osiris Eldridge, to join the century club this season.
A DUBIOUS DISTINCTION
In the history of the conference, 17 teams have started a season 13-0 or better, including ISU's 14-0 start this season, and 14 of those teams went on to win the Valley championship. However, Illinois State joins Bradley (1951) and Indiana State (1978) as the three teams that did not win the championship after starting the season with 13-plus wins.
BOUNCING BACK FROM A LOSS
For the eighth time this season, Illinois State has the opportunity to bounce back after a loss. In the Tim Jankovich-era, the Redbirds boast a 12-5 record in games that follow a defeat.
CRASHING THE BOARDS
Despite starting a four-guard lineup in 29-of-30 games, Illinois State has won the rebounding battle in 23 games this season and tied in one. On the year, the Redbirds own a +5.2 rebounding margin.
O'S WOES
The last five games have been a tough stretch for the Valley's Preseason Player of the Year Osiris Eldridge. The Redbird junior is averaging 10.6 points per game during the five-game span, but is shooting 30 percent (18-for-60) from the field and 22.7 percent (5-for-22) on threes.
SUPER-SUB SAMPAY
Illinois State's Brandon Sampay has been a force down low for the Redbirds as of late. One game removed from back-to-back double-doubles, including a career-best 19 points and career-high 12 rebounds against Northern Iowa Feb. 24, Sampay is averaging 9.4 points and a team-best 8.6 rebounds per contest over ISU's last five games. He is also shooting 50 percent from the field during that span.
A SEASON OF HALVES
Illinois State started out the gate strong with a 14-0 mark, however since the Redbirds have gone 8-8 in their last 16 games. To open the season, ISU had six players shooting 38 percent or better from three-point land. In the last 16 games, the Redbirds have two - Lloyd Phillips at 40 percent (22-for-55) and Landon Shipley at 38.1 percent (8-for-21).
AN ALL-AROUND GAME
With six rebounds against Wichita State Feb. 18, Osiris Eldridge eclipsed a trio of milestones with 1,000 career points, 500 career rebounds and 100 career steals. In doing so, Eldridge became the sixth Redbird all-time to accomplish the feat, joining Tony Holifield, Rick Lamb, Dan Muller, Mike VandeGarde and LeRoy Watkins.
THREECOLA!
The Redbirds only need to make two more three-pointers this season to post the most made three-pointers in a single season. Illinois State currently has 254 made threes on the year, while the school record, set last season, is 255.
CINCO DE MAKO
Illinois State has made five or more three-point field goals in 28 of the 30 games this season, including the first 22 games of the season. The streak was broken at Southern Illinois Feb. 4, when the Redbirds made only three treys in Carbondale, Ill., and ISU only made four triples at Niagara Feb. 20, in the ESPNU BracketBusters game.
A 20-GAUGE
By recording 20 victories on the season with a 70-68 win at Evansville, Illinois State posted back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons. It also marked the 15th season in the NCAA Division I-era (1970-present), in which ISU won 20 games in a single season.
O, SHALL HE STEAL
It has been an unofficial commandment of Illinois State basketball since his arrival, and Osiris Eldridge is back at it again this year. Eldridge leads the Redbirds with 47 steals this season and now has 126 in his ISU career, which ranks No. 10 in the Redbird record books.
LORDY, LORDY LOOKS WHO'S GOT 40
With the win over Drake earlier in the season, Illinois State head coach Tim Jankovich captured his 40th victory with the Redbirds. As a result, Jankovich became the fastest ISU men's basketball coach to win 40 games for the Redbirds. Jankovich won his 40th game in 52 contests, while former head coach Gene Smithson won his 40th game at ISU in his 53rd try. Jankovich now boasts a 47-18 record at ISU.
THE TRADITION CONTINUES
Illinois State secured itself another winning season in men's basketball. In the 38 years of being an NCAA Division I program, the Redbirds have had 31 winning seasons.
BOARDED UP
At Creighton, Illinois State grabbed 14 offensive rebounds. It marked the 20th game this season where the Redbirds have pulled down double-digit offensive rebounds. On the season, ISU is averaging 11.3 offensive rebounds per game. Junior Dinma Odiakosa leads the team with 90 offensive boards.
296-STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A TREY
After sinking 10 treys at Creighton, Illinois State enters tonight's game versus Evansville with at least one made three in 296-straight games. The last time ISU didn't sink a trey was an 82-43 loss at Creighton Dec. 12, 1999.
LET THE RECORD SHOW
Illinois State began the season with a 14-0 record, the best start in school history. The previous mark was set in 1977-78, when the Redbirds won their first 12 games to open the campaign. Prior to ISU's first loss, the Redbirds were one of only four teams in all of NCAA Division I basketball to be unbeaten.
CREATING THE SECOND CHANCE
Junior Dinma Odiakosa is all about giving his teammates a second chance, and with 90 offensive boards, he is the top offensive rebounder in the Valley. Odiakosa has accumulated 181 offensive rebounds in his three seasons at Illinois State and his offensive boards have accounted for 40.5 percent of his total rebounds. This year, Odiakosa leads the Redbirds in total rebounding with 7.2 boards per game.
JOINING THE CLUB
With his 18 points at Central Michigan, Osiris Eldridge became the 39th member of ISU's 1,000-point club. Eldridge, who is the first addition to the 1,000-point club since 2005, currently has 1,253 career points.
STATUE OF ASPIRATIONS
During halftime of Illinois State's game against Southern Illinois (Jan. 24), the Redbird Athletics Department unveiled plans to have a statue erected to honor the nation's first African-American NCAA Division I head basketball coach, Will Robinson, and his most famous player, Doug Collins, a three-time All-American at Illinois State. The piece, which will be installed at the north entrance of Redbird Arena sometime in the summer 2009, is being sculpted by Lou Cella, a 1985 graduate of ISU. Robinson was named the Redbirds' head coach Feb. 27, 1970, and posted a 78-51 seasons in five seasons. He passed away at the age of 96, April 28, 2008.
JANKOVICH'S ENCORE
Head coach Tim Jankovich's first season at Illinois State was a memorable one, not only for him, but for the program. With a 25-10 record, Jankovich guided the Redbirds to a school-record-tying 25 wins and he posted the most single-season wins for a first-year coach in program history. Currently he holds a 72.3 percent winning percentage (47-18) at Illinois State, which ranks fourth on the all-time coaching ledger in ISU's 111-year history.
WHAT'S A UTE?
Illinois State will find out first hand next season, when the Redbirds travel to Utah for the first-ever meeting between the two schools, Dec. 19, 2009, as part of the inaugural Missouri Valley-Mountain West Challenge Series. The game between ISU and Utah will be one of nine matchups between the two leagues.
FOUR SIGN FOR 2009 CLASS
Illinois State head coach Tim Jankovich announced the signing of four incoming freshmen during the early signing period. The Redbirds added Justin Clark (guard, 6-4, 176) and Jon Ekey (forward, 6-7, 190), teammates from Chrisman High School in Independence, Mo. ISU also added a pair of Chicago natives with Terrance Johnson (guard, 6-0, 170) from North Lawndale College Prep and Zeke Upshaw (guard, 6-6, 195) of University High School.
