Illinois State men to play in 2017 Puerto Rico Tip-Off

Posted on November 18, 2016
Dan Muller
Dan Muller’s Redbirds will make their first appearance in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in 2017. (Photo courtesy GoRedbirds.com)

By ISU Sports Information

NORMAL – The Illinois State men’s basketball team is one of eight programs slated to play in the 2017 Tire Pros Puerto Rico Tip-Off, scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Sunday, Nov. 16, 17 and 19 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente.

ISU is making its first-ever appearance in the tournament which is managed by ESPN Events.

“Another year and another terrific high-level tournament for Illinois State basketball,” head coach Dan Muller said. “I want to thank ESPN for giving us a great opportunity to play in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off with an outstanding field of teams. I am looking forward to our team getting a chance to experience a new culture and play in a great tournament next year.”

The Tire Pros Puerto Rico Tip-Off will feature a pair of schools with previous appearances in the San Juan event – Florida State of the Atlantic Coast Conference (2013) and Western Michigan of the Mid-American Conference (2011) – along with seven teams that posted winning records during the 2015-16 season, including Illinois State. The field also includes 2016 NCAA participants Iowa State of the Big 12 Conference and Tulsa of the American Athletic Conference.

Other schools competing in the 2017 Puerto Rico Tip-Off will be Boise State of the Mountain West Conference, South Carolina of the Southeastern Conference and UTEP of Conference USA.

Iowa State posted a 23-12 record during its 2015-16 campaign and advanced to the NCAA Championship Sweet 16 before losing to Virginia. Tulsa compiled a 20-12 mark last season and dropped a First Four game to Michigan. Tulsa coach Frank Haith led Miami to the 2007 Tire Pros Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

Boise State (20-12), Florida State (20-14), Iowa State (23-12), South Carolina (25-9) and Tulsa (20-12) won more than 20 games last season, with Illinois State (18-14) and UTEP (19-14) also posting winning records during the 2015-16 campaign. Overall, the eight schools scheduled to compete in the 2017 Puerto Rico Tip-Off posted a 59.8 winning percentage (158-106). Both Florida State and South Carolina competed in the 2016 NIT.

Illinois State will be making its third trip to Puerto Rico. The Redbirds previously participated in the San Juan Shootout in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1995 and 1999, with ISU earning fifth place both times.

Missouri Valley Conference foe Northern Iowa is participating in this year’s Tire Pros Invitational.

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