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Redbirds earn NIT home date; ISU women return to WNIT

Illinois State's Chase Walker dribbles in a basketball game wearing white and red uniform that reads 'Illinois State' and '35' while an opposing player behind him wearing a purple and gold uniform that reads 'UNI' and '13'
Emily Bollinger
/
WGLT
Illinois State's Chase Walker dribbles in a game against Northern Iowa in the quarterfinals of the MVC men's basketball tournament on March 6 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.

Illinois State basketball fans found out Sunday night both of their team’s seasons are not over yet.

The ISU men are set to make their first trip to the NIT since 2017, while the Redbird women are returning to the WNIT, where they were a semifinalist last year.

ISU will host Kent State at 7 p.m. Wednesday at CEFCU Arena.

The Redbirds, 20-12, secured a four-seed in the Winston-Salem Region of the 32-team field. The winner will play the winner of Navy vs. top-seeded Wake Forest.

ISU, named preseason favorites to win the Missouri Valley Conference this season under four-year coach Ryan Pedon, secured the third seed in the conference tournament last weekend, but dropped its quarterfinal matchup to Northern Iowa.

The Redbirds joined Bradley, Illinois-State and Murray State to set a Valley record with four NIT bids in one season.

The Redbirds made a long postseason run last season, winning the College Basketball Invitational [CBI], which announced two days ago it was canceling this year's tournament.

ISU athletics has announced tickets are on sale now.

WNIT

The WNIT will announce matchups, dates and times for the opening round of its 48-team tournament on Monday night.

The Redbird women, 20-13, came up short in overtime to Evansville in the semifinals of the MVC Tournament in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday.

Eric Stock is the News Director at WGLT. You can contact Eric at ejstoc1@ilstu.edu.