Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: Every Missouri Valley team’s most successful season since 2000

By Shea Irish

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 30: Fred Van Vleet #23 and Cleanthony Early #11 of the Wichita State Shockers celebrate after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 70-66 during the West Regional Final of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Staples Center on March 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 30: Fred Van Vleet #23 and Cleanthony Early #11 of the Wichita State Shockers celebrate after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 70-66 during the West Regional Final of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Staples Center on March 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Guard Paris Lee Illinois State Redbirds (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
Guard Paris Lee Illinois State Redbirds (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /

Illinois State Redbirds

Year: 2016-17

Record: 28-7 (17-1)

NCAA Tournament: Did not make it.

-The Redbirds would fall just short of an NCAA Tournament at-large bid, receiving an invitation to the NIT as a 1 seed.

Head Coach: Dan Muller

Notable Players:

Paris Lee 5’11” SR (13.0 PPG, 5.0 APG, 81 3-PT) :

-The crafty guard would win the 2017 MVC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

Deontae Hawkins 6’8” SR (14.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 44.3 3-PT%):

-2017 MVC 2nd-Team Selection.

-MiKyle McIntosh 6’7” JR (12.5 PPG, 5.6 RPG):

-2017 MVC 2nd-Team Selection.

Season Summary:

Rolling through conference play to a remarkable record of 17-1, the 2016-17 Redbirds squad went into ‘Arch Madness’ in St. Louis with expectations set on the program’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament in nearly 20 years. Advancing to the MVC final, they would be overmatched by powerhouse Wichita State and fall just one game short.

Headed into Selection Sunday with an incredible 27-6 record and the resume of a team that had only lost to Wichita State (2x) since Christmas; the fans from Normal, IL would be disappointed to find out their team was one of the first four left out of the big dance.

Illinois State would instead be selected as a 1 seed in the NIT and would advance to the second round before finishing the season at 28-7. They have failed to reach the NCAA Tournament since the 1997-98 season.

Another Season Worth Honorable Mention: Illinois State’s 2008-09 team would advance to the MVC title game and hold a lead in the final minute before falling to Northern Iowa, making it the second straight season they lost in the ‘Arch Madness’ final. They would receive a bid to the NIT that year and end the season at 24-10.