Busting Brackets
Fansided

MVC Basketball: Way-too-early preseason power rankings for 2019-20

By Curtis Wilkerson

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 10: Ja'Shon Henry #22 of the Bradley Braves runs on to the court with his teammates after beating the Northern Iowa Panthers during the final game of the MVC Basketball Tournament at the Enterprise Center on March 10, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Bradley Braves beat the Northern Iowa Panthers 57-54 to win the MVC Championship. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 10: Ja'Shon Henry #22 of the Bradley Braves runs on to the court with his teammates after beating the Northern Iowa Panthers during the final game of the MVC Basketball Tournament at the Enterprise Center on March 10, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Bradley Braves beat the Northern Iowa Panthers 57-54 to win the MVC Championship. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /
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ST. LOUIS, MO – MARCH 4: Matt Hein #5 and Phil Fayne #10 of the Illinois State Redbirds defend against Cameron Krutwig #25 of the Loyola Ramblers during the Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Tournament Championship at the Scottrade Center on March 4, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – MARCH 4: Matt Hein #5 and Phil Fayne #10 of the Illinois State Redbirds defend against Cameron Krutwig #25 of the Loyola Ramblers during the Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Tournament Championship at the Scottrade Center on March 4, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

8) Illinois State Redbirds

Dan Muller’s Illinois State Redbirds were very, well, average during the ’18-19 campaign.  They finished 17-16 overall, 9-9 in MVC play which was good for a 5th place tie in the standings.  After an opening round conference tournament win over Evansville, the Redbirds fell in convincing fashion to Drake in the quarterfinals.

Muller will have his hands full looking to replace the production of two All-Conference forwards in Phil Fayne and Milik Yarbrough who accounted for nearly half of the Redbirds scoring output last season.

The cupboard is not empty though.  Illinois State has a pair of capable guards returning in Zach Copeland and Josh Jefferson who have the ability to average double-figures.  They also have a trio of transfers who sat last season that will be welcome additions in Keith Fisher III and Jaycee Hillsman, both from San Jose State, as well as Dedric Boyd formally from Eastern Kentucky.

Any time a program loses a pair of players the caliber of Fayne and Yarbrough, a drop off can be expected.  That being said, there is enough veteran leadership returning and a transfer trio that has practiced with the team for a full year that there may be enough chemistry for the Redbirds to surpass these expectations.