Complete ISU basketball slate released       

[AUG. 28, 2006]  NORMAL -- The 2006-07 Illinois State men's basketball schedule features 15 home dates, with nonconference games against Conference USA, Atlantic Coast Conference and Big East opponents, but the toughest stretch will occur during league play, as the Missouri Valley Conference, which ranked No. 6 in conference RPI last season, continues to solidify itself as one of the nation's top leagues for college basketball.

"There is no way to slice it," said head coach Porter Moser in regard to the league schedule. "There are always going to be tough stretches, and there just aren't any gimmies in the Valley. I said it last year at media day and I'm going to say it again. I think the league is going to be even better this year, and for us to end the conference season with four-of-five on the road is going to be a challenge."

In addition to the conference schedule, the league office also announced that all 10 Valley members will participate in the ESPN BracketBusters series during the 2006-07 season. Six of the Valley teams, including Illinois State, will host home games on Feb. 17.

The 'Birds will begin conference play on Dec. 9 at Evansville, Ind., giving ISU its earliest league start since the 1997-98 season, when the Redbirds hosted Drake on Dec. 6. After the Aces and three nonconference games, the Redbirds will return from Christmas break to host Southern Illinois on Dec. 29.

"We start the conference season on the road at Evansville but then have a quite a few home games, including a big game against Southern Illinois after Christmas break," Moser said. "That game will tell us a lot about this team. With some time off, I want to see how they respond and prepare for a team like Southern."

From Dec. 29 to Feb. 3, the Redbirds will have eight of their 12 conference games at Redbird Arena, including six in the month of January. During the first month of 2007, the Redbirds will host Indiana State on Jan. 6, Northern Iowa on Jan. 9, Missouri State on Jan. 15, Wichita State on Jan. 18, Drake on Jan. 21 and Evansville on Jan. 30.

The tides will change in February, as the Redbirds will close out the regular-season Valley schedule with four of the final five league games on the road. The 'Birds will finish the regular season at Northern Iowa on Feb. 24, prior to the 2007 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in St. Louis, Mo., from March 1 to 4.

Moser also announced the Redbirds' exhibition opponent. ISU will face Missouri-St. Louis on Nov. 1 at Redbird Arena in the lone exhibition game.

Season tickets for the 2006-07 men's basketball season are available at the ticket office at Redbird Arena. For more information, contact the office at 309-438-8000.

2006-07 Illinois State basketball schedule

* Missouri Valley Conference games

• Nov. 1 -- Missouri-St. Louis, exhibition, 7:05 p.m.

• Nov. 12 -- vs. SMU in Colonial Classic at Tallahassee, Fla., 4 p.m.

• Nov. 13 -- at Florida State in Colonial Classic at Tallahassee, Fla., 6:30 p.m.

• Nov. 14 -- vs. McNeese State in Colonial Classic at Tallahassee, Fla., 4 p.m.

• Nov. 20 -- Cal State Northridge, 7:05 p.m.

• Nov. 25 -- at St. John's, time to be announced

• Nov. 29 -- Sacramento State, 7:05 p.m.

• Dec. 2 -- UT-Arlington, 7:05 p.m.

• Dec. 5 -- Miami of Ohio, 7:05 p.m.

• Dec. 9 -- at Evansville*, time to be announced

• Dec. 16 -- at Western Michigan, 2:05 p.m.

• Dec. 19 -- Lewis, 7:05 p.m.

• Dec. 23 -- at Illinois-Chicago, 2 p.m.

• Dec. 29 -- Southern Illinois*, 6:05 p.m.

• Jan. 1 -- at Creighton*, time to be announced

• Jan. 6 -- Indiana State*, 4:05 p.m.

• Jan. 9 -- Northern Iowa*, 7:05 p.m.

• Jan. 13 -- at Drake*, time to be announced

• Jan. 15 -- Missouri State*, 7:05 p.m.

• Jan. 18 -- Wichita State*, 7:05 p.m.

• Jan. 21 -- Drake*, 2:05 p.m.

• Jan. 24 -- at Bradley*, time to be announced

• Jan. 27 -- at Southern Illinois*, time to be announced

• Jan. 30 -- Evansville*, 7:05 p.m.

• Feb. 3 -- Bradley*, 7:05 p.m.

• Feb. 6 -- at Missouri State*, time to be announced

• Feb. 11 -- at Wichita State*, time to be announced

• Feb. 14 -- at Indiana State*, time to be announced

• Feb. 17 -- ESPN BracketBusters, time to be announced

• Feb. 20 -- Creighton*, 7:05 p.m.

• Feb. 24 -- at Northern Iowa*, time to be announced

• March 1-4 -- at State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, St. Louis, Mo.

All dates and times subject to change. All times are Central time.

[Illinois State University news release provided by Todd Kober, assistant athletics director, media relations]

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