Muller Disappointed So Far

One-on-One with Dan Muller – Part One

(St. Louis, MO) – Illinois State head coach Dan Muller is disappointed so far with the way his team has played. The results, a 7-and-6 record are not stellar. The defensive effort (77.5 points per game) has been substandard heading into Wednesday’s conference opener.

The Redbirds were picked second in the Valley preseason poll. They had four returning senior starters, three highly anticipated transfers and more talent than any MVC squad.

Poor shooting, defensive habits and injuries have derailed their promising season. Muller says his team has struggled because his seniors haven’t taken their rightful leadership roles. The veteran coach says some of his seniors, including Keyshawn Evans have allowed their offensive struggles to affect the rest of their floor game.

 

 

One of the mysteries of the early season is the continual shooting woes related to Evans. The senior point guard has a history of solid shooting and ball handling. Muller says Evans and fellow senior William Tinsley have to put their offensive problems out of their minds and contribute in other ways.

 

 

Injuries to Taylor Bruninga, Matt Chastain and Abdou N’Diaye have caused the Birds to play shorthanded at times. Muller says Bruninga could be back this week while Chastain will be playing through pain all season. N’Diaye has taken a medical red-shirt (Correction: N’Diaye has an academic red-shirt. He was injured, but the red-shirt was academically related).

Transfers Josh Jefferson and Zach Copeland came to Normal, Illinois with high expectations, but the early results have been less than expected. Muller says Jefferson seems to have hit the proverbial ‘freshman wall’ but Copeland has been productive.

Muller also says, star senior Milik Yarbrough has clearly been his team’s best player.

 

 

What’s Next?

Muller is disappointed so far in his team’s defensive effort. He maintains his team knows how to play defense, but they haven’t put in the proper effort to accomplish their defensive goals. Coaches often say defense and rebounding come down to effort and fundamentals. His team hasn’t worked hard enough defensively and at times have not trusted one another to be effective.

Muller admits the entire Missouri Valley Conference is disappointed so far. The league’s non-conference record has been worse than in previous seasons. A record of 2-and-18 against ‘power six’ teams has ended Valley hopes of being a multiple bid league.

Muller says the conference season should be wide open.

 

 

The conference season tips on Wednesday.

In Part Two of this interview we talk with Muller about handling of disciplinary issues and the diminishing role of the conference season.

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