Illinois State – In the Zone

Redbirds Are Playing Better Heading to St. Louis

(St. Louis, MO) – Illinois State is playing its best basketball at the right time of the season. The Redbirds (10-20, 5-13) suffered through an uncharacteristic losing season, but Dan Muller’s team has won two of its last three games and seems to be in the zone.

ISU enters Arch Madness as the number nine seed and face the Drake Bulldogs (18-13, 8-10). The tournament’s opening game tips at 6:00 p.m. While the teams split their regular season series, the Redbirds won the most recent game between the two, by limiting the Drake inside game by putting their defense in the zone.

Muller says he expects to use his zone defense a lot tonight.

 

 

After defeating the Bulldogs (57-53) on February 22, ISU dropped a three-pointer to Bradley and bounced back with a season-ending win at Evansville. Thursday’s ‘play-in round’ game gives the Birds a chance to redeem their season.

Scouting the Bulldogs

Muller says Drake has a great one-two punch in center Liam Robbins and point guard Roman Penn.

 

 

Robbins was a second team, all Valley player and Penn was named to the league’s third team. While Robbins was honored as one of the conference’s best defenders, Penn landed on the all-newcomer team.

Health Issues

The Redbirds are getting healthy at the right time too. Matt Chastain recently returned to the lineup and Taylor Bruninga has been playing more minutes. Keith Fisher III missed some time with the flu, but he seems to be ready for Arch Madness.

Muller says his team is enjoying its best health in awhile and the Birds should be in the zone tonight. If they win and get to play a second day, the challenge could be larger.

 

 

Valley Guys Coaching Valley Teams

After asking Drake coach Darian DeVries about coaching in the league where he played, I put the question to Muller. The two played against each other often in the mid to late 1990s. You can read our story with coach DeVries and you can be linked to our podcast with the second-year coach.

Muller says coaching where he played is ‘awesome’.

 

 

The Redbirds are healthy, playing better and believe they have a plan that could succeed against Drake. They seem to be in the zone.

Do Good

 

This one tips at 6:00 pm on The Big 550 – KTRS. I have the privilege of broadcasting with our friend Rich Zvosec.