Lefty’s Corner: ISU to get back on course

Posted on February 17, 2015

ISU will be out to snap a three-game losing streak Wednesday night at Bradley. (Photo courtesy of GoRedbirds.com)

By Bryan Bloodworth

NORMAL – Illinois State’s basketball team finds itself in uncharted territory and hopes to clear a path out Wednesday when it travels to Peoria to face Missouri Valley Conference foe and arch-rival Bradley in an 8 p.m. game at Carver Arena in the Civic Center.

“It’s not ok to go on a three-game losing streak,” said ISU coach Dan Muller during a pregame news conference Tuesday at Redbird Arena. “As soon as these guys are tired of losing, then we’ll play better. I think it will happen.

“Our culture, our program, we have to grow. We have to expect to win. We have to do what it takes to win. We have to understand it’s not ok to lose. We don’t talk about winning and losing a lot. We talk about competing and playing the right way. And when we don’t do that – and we have enough talent – then we lose.”

Rebounding has been an issue for the Redbirds during the skid that has dropped ISU’s overall mark to 15-11 overall and into fifth place in the league standings with four games remaining at 7-7.

“A lot of it is other team’s blocking us out and our inability to still pursue the ball,” said ISU coach Dan Muller during a pregame news conference Tuesday at Redbird Arena. “And on the defensive end, it’s us not blocking out. It’s always either not boxing out or going and getting the ball. We haven’t been as relentless on the boards as we were earlier in the year.”

Bradley enters the game on a two-game skid and is 8-19 overall and 3-11 in the Valley. The Braves have won the last two meetings between the teams in Peoria.

“It is frustrating losing three in a row, but I feel like as a team we know what we are capable of and I feel like it’s just a matter of time before things just come together,” said ISU junior DeVaugh Akoon-Purcell. “I feel like things are just going to click at the right time.”

The pregame show begins at 7 o’clock on WJBC 1230 AM and 93.7 FM Nash icon.

Bryan Bloodworth can be reached at [email protected]

 

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