MVC releases ISU 2013-2014 conference schedule

[September 07, 2013]  ST. LOUIS -- After announcing Illinois State's nonconference men's basketball schedule, ISU head coach Dan Muller now knows his team's 18-game Missouri Valley Conference 2013-14 slate, released by the league office Wednesday. The Redbirds will open their Valley season Jan. 2 at Missouri State, with the MVC home-opener against Southern Illinois on Jan. 5.

"Another year in the Valley and another great conference schedule," Muller said. "I appreciate how hard the conference works to try to make all 10 schedules as fair and balanced as possible. Because we play every team home and away, the schedule balances out, and we get to see who our true conference champion is. I can't wait to fill Redbird Arena for these Valley games."

After tipping off the conference season at Missouri State, the Redbirds will play three out of their next four games on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena, beginning with in-state rival Southern Illinois. ISU will then travel to 2013 Final Four team Wichita State for a Jan. 8 game, before returning home Jan. 11 for the first-ever Valley matchup between Illinois State and new league member Loyola. The Redbirds will wrap up the two-game homestand against Evansville on Jan. 15.

ISU will hit the road for three out of its next four games, starting at Drake on Jan. 18. The Redbirds are scheduled to face Wichita State at home Jan. 22, followed by road matchups at Indiana State on Jan. 25 and at Bradley on Jan. 29 for the first meeting in the Interstate 74 rivalry.

Illinois State starts February with two straight home games, beginning Feb. 1 versus Drake, followed by Northern Iowa on Feb. 5. The Redbirds will then travel to Loyola for the first-ever Valley road matchup against the Ramblers on Feb. 9. A trip to Evansville will follow on Feb. 12.

The Redbirds will play three out of their next four games on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena, beginning with the second matchup against rival Bradley on Feb. 15. ISU will remain at home to host Missouri State on Feb. 18 before playing at Northern Iowa on Feb. 23. The Redbirds' final regular-season home game of the 2013-14 campaign is scheduled for Feb. 26 against Indiana State.

Illinois State will wrap up the Valley slate at Southern Illinois on March 1.

Depending on how the conference season plays out, the Redbirds will head to St. Louis and the Scottrade Center for the MVC tournament March 6-9 to play for the league's automatic berth into the NCAA tournament.

Game times have yet to be announced. Season tickets are on sale now by calling the Redbird Arena ticket office at 309-438-8000 or by visiting GoRedbirds.com. Every game this season will also be broadcast on the WJBC Country Financial Illinois State Radio Network and heard on smartphones via the iHeart Radio app.

View the complete schedule here.

[Text from file received from Illinois State University]