Illinois State & UNI Have Early Opportunities

(St. Louis, MO) – Illinois State and Northern Iowa will resume building games in the early portions of the upcoming season. Both the Redbirds and Panthers play in multi-team events that provide opportunities against some stiff competition.

Illinois State, which will be a preseason favorite for Missouri Valley Conference honors will participate in the Cayman Islands Classic and Northern Iowa joins the Paradise Jam.

With three returning senior starters in all-league member Milik Yarbrough, second teamer Phil Fayne and point guard Keyshawn Evans back for a final season, Dan Muller has added some key components and participate in the mid-November tournament that features four NCAA Tournament teams. Former Valley member Creighton, Clemson, Georgia State and St. Bonaventure were all a part of the ‘Big Dance’ last season.

Northern Iowa’s journey to the Virgin Islands brings a field that includes Missouri, Kansas State, Oregon State, the Ohio Valley’s Eastern Kentucky, Old Dominion, Kennesaw State and UNI’s first round opponent Penn.

Coach Ben Jacobson returns his leading backcourt scorers in Wyatt Lohaus and Tywhon Pickford and adds highly touted freshman A. J. Green to last years 16-16 squad.

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