2008 Woodie Awards
The potential for something great is here this season
Scott Gleeson
Issue date: 11/12/07 Section: Sports
Head Men's Basketball Coach Tim Jankovich is not in Kansas anymore.
He's in Redbird country now and brining a new era to Illinois State Basketball. Jankovich and the men's basketball team have high goals for the 2007-2008 season that includes a high Valley finish as well as a chance to compete in a postseason tournament…either the NIT or the NCAA tournament.
With most of the talent gone in the MVC from previous years, the chances of the 'Birds being a force in the conference is very likely. ISU was given a fifth place ranking in the preseason polls, which is an improvement from the past few seasons.
Personally, I am pumped for this year's basketball season. The potential of this team is extremely high in my opinion, and if this arsenal of Redbirds puts things together in Jankovich's first campaign, I wouldn't be surprised if they made it to the grand stage of college basketball and main event of March Madness.
With one of the most experienced teams in the Valley, I think that ISU can hold strong with every opponent on their schedule. That schedule includes the highly rated Eric Gordon and the Indiana Hoosiers early on as well as the Cincinnati Bearcats and UIC Flames. When conference play begins in late December, the Redbirds will need to get out and running early since their first four opponents are some of the toughest in the Valley. A January 5 match up with SIU should prove to be an early test for Jankovich and his 'Birds.
ISU has not reached the tournament since the '98 season which means that students on campus have been filling out their brackets without the hometown team for close to a decade. Is a ticket to the big dance in the cards for this year's Redbird squad?
Only time will tell. Hopefully, without any injury, the victory-starved Redbird fans will have something to cheer about this season and a 20-win season is definitely a high possibility.
With five seniors on the team this year and four of them seeing big minutes last year, the 2008 class will look to go out in style to conclude their Redbird careers.
He's in Redbird country now and brining a new era to Illinois State Basketball. Jankovich and the men's basketball team have high goals for the 2007-2008 season that includes a high Valley finish as well as a chance to compete in a postseason tournament…either the NIT or the NCAA tournament.
With most of the talent gone in the MVC from previous years, the chances of the 'Birds being a force in the conference is very likely. ISU was given a fifth place ranking in the preseason polls, which is an improvement from the past few seasons.
Personally, I am pumped for this year's basketball season. The potential of this team is extremely high in my opinion, and if this arsenal of Redbirds puts things together in Jankovich's first campaign, I wouldn't be surprised if they made it to the grand stage of college basketball and main event of March Madness.
With one of the most experienced teams in the Valley, I think that ISU can hold strong with every opponent on their schedule. That schedule includes the highly rated Eric Gordon and the Indiana Hoosiers early on as well as the Cincinnati Bearcats and UIC Flames. When conference play begins in late December, the Redbirds will need to get out and running early since their first four opponents are some of the toughest in the Valley. A January 5 match up with SIU should prove to be an early test for Jankovich and his 'Birds.
ISU has not reached the tournament since the '98 season which means that students on campus have been filling out their brackets without the hometown team for close to a decade. Is a ticket to the big dance in the cards for this year's Redbird squad?
Only time will tell. Hopefully, without any injury, the victory-starved Redbird fans will have something to cheer about this season and a 20-win season is definitely a high possibility.
With five seniors on the team this year and four of them seeing big minutes last year, the 2008 class will look to go out in style to conclude their Redbird careers.
Be the first to comment on this story