Recognize the Redbirds!

13-0.

A new record for victories at the start of the season for Illinois State. More importantly, their 30 point win over Evansville last night served notice their is a new force to be reckoned with in the MVC.

The past three years have seen a burgeoning popularity and acclaim for the conference, comprised of smaller, midwestern schools that don't field D1 football teams (or FBS, or FCS or DUH, whatever acronym they are using now). Creighton has become pretty recognizable with their recent half decade of success. Drake became national darlings for a few weeks last year, and could have been longer had it not been for a Western Kentucky tourney buzzer beater. Wichita St. made it acceptable for fans to talk about "the Shockers" without evoking bad images of Dane Cook during their 2006 tourney run. Heck, we even know Indiana State thanks to Larry Legend.

But Illinois State?? Never heard of them.

Well, get to know the Redbirds, because they could be the next MVC team to wreck havoc come March.

In some ways, they are your typical MVC upstart; they have balanced scoring, four players hoisting more than four 3-pt attemps a night, a total of 22 per game as a team...and no one is on NBA scouts current radar. No one in their rotation stands taller than 6'8'', their three guards are under 6'3''.

Now let me give you some facts to remember come March. They are shooting nearly 40% as a team from distance, and aren't adraid to chuck it up. Who springs upsets? Teams that get hot from the perimeter. Who else? Teams that are smart, patient with veteran, poised guards. The Redbirds start 3 seinors and two juniors. Their three leading scorers are all guards, so no true point of attack to deny with ball pressure. No one to focus on when you have to have a big stop.

In short, a solid, well-rounded ballclub with the kind of grit that makes MVC teams a tough out in March. 13-0 and counting. Next up? A terrific ballgame with Creighton Saturday night.