Illinois State Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Redbirds

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 4: Head coach Dan Muller of the Illinois State Redbirds directs his team against 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) /

4 of 5

A visit to Wisconsin to face the Badgers and coach Greg Gard Robert Scheer/IndyStar via USA TODAY Sports /

The schedule fits the team

Muller is one of the most aggressive schedule-making mid-major coaches out there. He has taken to social media at times to invite power five conference teams to play. He routinely has prominent teams on his schedule.

This season is a little different. With his team in transition, Muller still has some high-profile games, but he also knows his team needs to get its collective feet wet and gain some confidence.

Opening with UNC Wilmington (NET 246) and then traveling to Eastern Michigan (317) doesn’t sound like aggressive scheduling, but those openers are followed up by games with OVC power Murray State and the Cancun Challenge.

After hosting Bucknell as part of the MTE, the Redbirds face Saint Louis (52) and then either 16-5 Stephen F. Austin or 16-9 Buffalo. The Bisons were an 86 in last year’s NET ranking.

Purdue Northwest and Jackson State wrap around the conference opener with Missouri State. Then Chicago State, Ball State, and UT San Antonio lead the Redbirds to their one and only ‘power five’ game with national power Wisconsin. The Badgers went 18-13 last year and finished with a NET rating of 23.

Muller has put together a schedule that allows his team to build up some wins and some confidence, but will also be challenged in Cancun, against Murray State and they will be huge underdogs at Wisconsin.