Illinois State Redbirds

Illinois State men's basketball coach Ryan Pedon says his team embraces being a target this season. The Redbirds are picked to win the Missouri Valley Conference — something the program last achieved in 1998.

As the Illinois State men's basketball team prepares for one of its most anticipated seasons in years, head coach Ryan Pedon says he's frustrated that schools like ISU have a tough time getting schools from major conferences to play them.

Tuesday was the first day colleges and universities can make direct payments to student-athletes. This stems from a settlement in a landmark case involving student compensation. Illinois State University Athletics Director Jeri Beggs called it the most dramatic change ever seen in college sports.

Ryan Pedon led the Redbirds to their winningest season in eight years, and the team won the College Basketball Invitational title last season.

In 16 seasons, Brock Spack has compiled a 111-74 [60%] record and has led the Redbirds to six NCAA playoff appearances and two Missouri Valley Football Conference championships.

The Redbirds fell, 99-96, in the tournament semifinals to Troy in front of a crowd of 2,406 at CEFCU Arena.

For the fourth time in program history, the Illinois State Women’s basketball team has advanced to the WNIT semifinal round.

The Illinois State women's basketball team will play Louisiana Tech Monday night at ISU's CEFCU Arena in the semifinals of the WNIT.

The WNIT has announced the Redbirds will play Abeline Christian in the Super 16 round on Thursday. The game will be played at Shirk Center in Bloomington.

Illinois State sophomore Chase Walker, a first-team Missouri Valley Conference selection, has announced on social media he plans to return to ISU next season.