Rising Redbirds

(St. Louis, MO) – What has happened at Illinois State? Seemingly out of no where the Missouri Valley Conference team is one of the hottest teams in the nation. The redbirds have won three straight, four of five, six of eight and 10 of their last 13 games.

Their three losses have come at Oakland, in overtime at Missouri State and at Wichita State. Along the way they’ve defeated number 25 Dayton and Big East member DePaul.

ISU is 4-2 in Valley play, but what has caused this team to explode?

One factor may be the play of freshman center Reggie Lynch. While losing four of their first five games, the Edina, Minnesota native averaged six points, three rebounds and under two blocks per game. In this 13 game span he typically picks up eight points, five rebounds and almost three blocks!

Michael Middlebrooks was expected to be their big threat up front and averaged six points and ten rebounds in the first four, but was suspended after the fourth game. The 6’9″ junior was expected to be a force inside and buy guys like Lynch time to acclimate to the game, but his dismissal opened the door for Lynch and while he hasn’t been great every night, his game is growing and the team is winning.  Can you say “addition by subtraction?”

Head Coach Dan Muller continues to preach team basketball and is getting big contributions from several different players.  Three players are averaging double figure scoring, Daishon Knight (13.2), Zach Lofton (11.6) and Bobby Hunter (10.2).  Five players are averaging 2-plus assists per game and six players are averaging three rebounds or more.

Nothing about their statistical breakdown jumps out and impresses you, but when you look deeper and you find out that they make things happen! The Redbirds lead the MVC in steals and are second in blocked shots and defensive rebounds.

Muller’s team has been playing a 2-3 zone and holding people down and they are deep.  Muller says his team has many players that can play multiple positions and that his players have been learning and making progress on defense by continuing to learn their defensive roles.

A tough stretch awaits Muller’s team. Wednesday they host fifth ranked Wichita State and Saturday they travel to Terre Haute to take on 5 and 1 Indiana State.

Do Good