2014–15 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team
American college basketball season
The 2014–15 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represented Illinois State University during the 2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Redbirds, led by third-year head coach Dan Muller, played their home games at Redbird Arena in Normal, Illinois as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. They finished the season 22–13, 11–7 in conference play, to finish in a tie for third place. As the number four seed in the MVC tournament, they defeated Evansville in a quarterfinal game and eighth ranked Wichita State in a semifinal game before succumbing to eleventh ranked Northern Iowa in the final. They received an at-large bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they won over Green Bay in the first round before losing to Old Dominion in the second round.
On April 7, following the conclusion of the NCAA tournament title game, deputy director of athletics Aaron Leetch and men's basketball associate head coach Torrey Ward were among seven people who perished during an airplane crash of a twin-engine Cessna 414 in a soybean field on the eastern outskirts of Bloomington, Illinois. The flight, which originated from an Indianapolis airport, was en route to Central Illinois Regional Airport.
[1]
Previous season
The Redbirds finished the 2013–14 season 18–16, 9–9 in conference play, to finish in a tie for fourth place. For the Missouri Valley tournament they were the number five seed and were defeated by Missouri State in a quarterfinal game. They accepted an invitation to the College Basketball Invitational where they were victorious over Morehead State in the first round and Texas A&M in the quarterfinal round before losing to Siena in the semifinal round.
Offseason
Departures
Arrivals
Transfers
Roster
2014–15 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team
|
Players |
Coaches
|
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Height |
Weight |
Year |
Previous school |
Hometown
|
F
|
0
|
Nick Banyard (I)
|
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
205 lb (93 kg)
|
Jr |
Edwards Marcus High School New Mexico
|
Flower Mound, TX
|
G
|
1
|
Paris Lee
|
5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) |
175 lb (79 kg)
|
So |
Proviso East High School
|
Maywood, IL
|
G
|
3
|
Daishon Knight
|
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
175 lb (79 kg)
|
Sr |
Lake Clifton Eastern High School Odessa College
|
Baltimore, MD
|
G
|
4
|
Bobby Hunter
|
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
194 lb (88 kg)
|
RS Sr |
Bishop Manogue High School Santa Fe College
|
Reno, NV
|
G
|
5
|
Mark Hall
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
170 lb (77 kg)
|
RS So |
Grayslake North High School Eastern Wyoming College
|
Round Lake Beach, IL
|
C
|
10
|
John Jones
|
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
260 lb (118 kg)
|
Sr |
The Howe School
|
Saint Michael, Barbados
|
F
|
11
|
MiKyle McIntosh
|
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
237 lb (108 kg)
|
RS Fr |
22 Feet Academy
|
Pickering, ON
|
G
|
12
|
Tony Wills
|
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
180 lb (82 kg)
|
So |
Ben Davis High School
|
Indianapolis, IN
|
G
|
15
|
Justin McCloud
|
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
188 lb (85 kg)
|
Jr |
Bottineau High School Bismarck State College
|
Bottineau, ND
|
C
|
22
|
Reggie Lynch
|
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
255 lb (116 kg)
|
So |
Edina High School
|
Edina, MN
|
F
|
24
|
Deontae Hawkins
|
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
225 lb (102 kg)
|
RS Fr |
Dunbar High School
|
Dayton, OH
|
F
|
42
|
Will Ransom
|
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
240 lb (109 kg)
|
Jr |
North Crowley High School Daytona State College
|
Fort Worth, TX
|
G
|
44
|
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell
|
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
185 lb (84 kg)
|
Jr |
West Oaks Academy Eastern Oklahoma State College
|
Orlando, FL
|
|
- Head coach
- Assistant coach(es)
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
- (W) Walk-on
Roster Last update: March 24, 2015
|
Schedule and results
Date time, TV
|
Rank#
|
Opponent#
|
Result
|
Record
|
High points
|
High rebounds
|
High assists
|
Site (attendance) city, state
|
Exhibition Season
|
November 10, 2014* 7:00 pm
|
|
Lewis
|
W 76–67
|
|
14 – Lee |
12 – Lynch |
5 – Knight
|
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (4,063) Normal, IL
|
Non-conference regular season
|
November 16, 2014* 4:00 pm
|
|
Utah State
|
L 55–60
|
0–1
|
17 – Knight |
10 – Akoon–Purcell |
5 – Lee
|
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (4,921) Normal, IL
|
November 21, 2014* 8:00 pm
|
|
vs. Weber State Paradise Jam [Quarterfinal]
|
W 73–64
|
1–1
|
20 – Akoon–Purcell |
7 – Akoon–Purcell |
3 – Hunter
|
Sports and Fitness Center (1,910) St. Thomas, USVI
|
November 23, 2014* 8:00 pm, CBSSN
|
|
vs. Old Dominion Paradise Jam [Semifinal]
|
W 64–45
|
2–1
|
12 – Hunter, Akoon–Purcell |
8 – Knight |
5 – Knight
|
Sports and Fitness Center (2,005) St. Thomas, USVI
|
November 24, 2014* 8:00 pm, CBSSN
|
|
vs. Seton Hall Paradise Jam [Final]
|
L 80–84
|
2–2
|
23 – Hunter |
7 – Jones |
6 – Knight
|
Sports and Fitness Center (2,955) St. Thomas, USVI
|
November 29, 2014* 2:00 pm
|
|
Youngstown State
|
W 85–73 OT
|
3–2
|
20 – Hunter |
15 – Hawkins |
4 – Lee
|
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (4,095) Normal, IL
|
December 2, 2014* 7:00 pm, CSN Chicago Plus
|
|
VCU
|
L 62–66
|
3–3
|
18 – Akoon–Purcell |
7 – Akoon–Purcell |
4 – Lee
|
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (7,142) Normal, IL
|
December 7, 2014* 2:00 pm, CSN Chicago
|
|
at UAB
|
W 78–73
|
4–3
|
18 – McIntosh |
9 – Lynch |
6 – Lee
|
Bartow Arena (2,234) Birmingham, AL
|
December 14, 2014* 3:00 pm, FS1
|
|
at DePaul
|
W 78–72
|
5–3
|
25 – Knight |
13 – Lynch |
3 – Lee
|
Allstate Arena (6,323) Rosemont, IL
|
December 17, 2014* 7:00 pm
|
|
UT Martin
|
W 64–54
|
6–3
|
18 – Knight |
9 – McIntosh |
5 – Knight
|
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (4,037) Normal, IL
|
December 20, 2014* 3:00 pm
|
|
at Murray State
|
L 77–89
|
6–4
|
26 – Knight |
8 – Jones |
3 – Lee
|
CFSB Center (2,979) Murray, KY
|
December 22, 2014* 6:00 pm
|
|
IPFW
|
W 68–43
|
7–4
|
12 – Knight |
8 – Wills |
3 – Knight, Lee
|
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (4,108) Normal, IL
|
December 29, 2014* 6:00 pm
|
|
Quincy
|
W 99–57
|
8–4
|
18 – McCloud |
7 – Jones, McIntosh |
9 – Lee
|
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (4,093) Normal, IL
|
Missouri Valley Conference regular season
|
December 31, 2014 3:00 pm, CSN Chicago
|
|
Indiana State
|
L 61–63
|
8–5 (0–1)
|
16 – Wills |
6 – Ransom |
3 – Wills
|
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (5,372) Normal, IL
|
January 4, 2015 4:30 pm, ESPNU
|
|
at No. 16 Wichita State
|
L 62–70
|
8–6 (0–2)
|
24 – Knight |
7 – McIntosh |
3 – Hunter
|
Charles Koch Arena (10,506) Wichita, KS
|
January 7, 2015 7:00 pm, ESPN3
|
|
Drake
|
W 81–45
|
9–6 (2–1)
|
15 – Knight |
9 – McIntosh |
6 – Wills
|
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (3,809) Normal, IL
|
January 11, 2015 2:00 pm, ESPN3
|
|
at Missouri State
|
W 69–55
|
10–6 (2–2)
|
17 – Hunter |
7 – Lynch |
5 – Lee
|
JQH Arena (5,224) Springfield, MO
|
January 14, 2015 6:00 pm
|
|
at Indiana State
|
L 70–71 OT
|
10–7 (2–3)
|
21 – Knight |
8 – Lynch |
4 – Lee
|
Hulman Center (4,335) Terre Haute, IN
|
January 17, 2015 4:00 pm, CSN Chicago
|
|
Bradley I–74 Rivalry
|
W 82–72
|
11–7 (3–3)
|
20 – Knight |
5 – Hunter, McIntosh |
5 – Hunter, Lee
|
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (9,627) Normal, IL
|
January 20, 2015 7:00 pm
|
|
at Drake
|
W 64–56
|
12–7 (4–3)
|
20 – Knight |
9 – Lynch |
3 – Wills
|
The Knapp Center (2,886) Des Moines, IA
|
January 25, 2015 3:00 pm, ESPNU
|
|
No. 20 Northern Iowa
|
L 53–54
|
12–8 (4–4)
|
13 – Hunter |
7 – Akoon–Purcell |
3 – Wills
|
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (6,118) Normal, IL
|
January 28, 2015 7:00 pm, ESPN3
|
|
Missouri State
|
W 67–57
|
13–8 (5–4)
|
20 – Akoon–Purcell |
12 – Akoon–Purcell |
6 – Lee
|
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (4,177) Normal, IL
|
January 31, 2015 1:00 pm, MVC Network (CSN Chicago/FSMW)
|
|
at Loyola–Chicago
|
W 48–45
|
14–8 (6–4)
|
11 – Hawkins |
5 – Jones, Hawkins |
2 – Hunter, Knight
|
Joseph J. Gentile Arena (3,256) Chicago, IL
|
February 3, 2015 7:00 pm, ESPN3
|
|
Evansville
|
W 77–51
|
15–8 (7–4)
|
16 – Lynch |
6 – Akoon–Purcell |
7 – Lee
|
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (4,352) Normal, IL
|
February 7, 2015 1:00 pm, MVC Network
|
|
at Southern Illinois
|
L 59–65
|
15–9 (7–5)
|
19 – Akoon–Purcell |
8 – Lynch, Hawkins |
6 – Lee
|
SIU Arena (4,885) Carbondale, IL
|
February 11, 2015 7:00 pm, ESPN3
|
|
at No. 13 Northern Iowa
|
L 64–83
|
15–10 (7–6)
|
16 – Knight |
11 – Hawkins |
3 – Wills
|
McLeod Center (6,103) Cedar Falls, IA
|
February 14, 2015 5:00 pm, ESPN2
|
|
No. 15 Wichita State
|
L 62–68
|
15–11 (7–7)
|
18 – Akoon–Purcell |
8 – Lynch |
7 – Knight
|
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (9,345) Normal, IL
|
February 18, 2015 8:00 pm, MVC Network
|
|
at Bradley I–74 Rivalry
|
W 60–47
|
16–11 (8–7)
|
15 – Knight |
9 – Hawkins |
3 – Knight, Hawkins
|
Carver Arena (7,349) Peoria, IL
|
February 21, 2015 7:00 pm, CSN Chicago
|
|
Loyola–Chicago
|
W 67–60
|
17–11 (9–7)
|
21 – Knight |
8 – McIntosh |
2 – Knight, Lee
|
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (6,406) Normal, IL
|
February 25, 2015 7:00 pm, ESPN3
|
|
Southern Illinois
|
W 73–56
|
18–11 (10–7)
|
24 – Akoon–Purcell |
7 – Akoon–Purcell |
5 – Lee
|
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (5,188) Normal, IL
|
February 28, 2015 1:00 pm
|
|
at Evansville
|
W 69–67 OT
|
19–11 (11–7)
|
16 – Akoon–Purcell |
9 – Jones, Akoon–Purcell |
3 – Akoon–Purcell, McCloud, Lee
|
Ford Center (5,491) Evansville, IN
|
State Farm Missouri Valley Conference {MVC} Tournament
|
March 6, 2015* 2:30 pm, MVC Network
|
(4)
|
vs. (5) Evansville Quarterfinal
|
W 71–67
|
20–11
|
17 – Hawkins |
7 – Hawkins |
4 – Lee
|
Scottrade Center (9,015) St. Louis, MO
|
March 7, 2015* 1:30 pm, MVC Network
|
(4)
|
vs. (1) No. 8 Wichita State Semifinal
|
W 65–62
|
21–11
|
25 – Knight |
7 – Lynch |
3 – Lee
|
Scottrade Center (13,898) St. Louis, MO
|
March 8, 2015* 1:00 pm, CBS
|
(4)
|
vs. (2) No. 11 Northern Iowa Final
|
L 60–69
|
21–12
|
16 – Knight |
6 – Knight |
4 – Knight, Lee
|
Scottrade Center (13,552) St. Louis, MO
|
National Invitation {NIT} Tournament
|
March 18, 2015* 7:00 pm, ESPNU
|
(4)
|
(5) Green Bay Old Dominion Regional [First Round]
|
W 69–56
|
22–12
|
18 – Lee |
9 – Hawkins |
6 – Lee
|
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (4,942) Normal, IL
|
March 23, 2015* 7:00 pm, ESPNU
|
(4)
|
at (1) Old Dominion Old Dominion Regional [Second Round]
|
L 49–50
|
22–13
|
14 – Knight |
8 – Akoon–Purcell |
3 – Akoon–Purcell
|
Ted Constant Convocation Center (5,923) Norfolk, VA
|
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Time.
|
Source[3]
References
|
---|
Venues | |
---|
Rivalries | |
---|
Culture & lore | |
---|
People | |
---|
Seasons | |
---|
|
|