Illinois State Basketball Preview: #76

Joel Welser — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:01:19 -0400

Overall Rank: #76

Conference Rank: #4 Missouri Valley Conference

2008-09: 24-10, 11-7

2008-09 postseason: NIT

Coach: Tim Jankovich (49-20 at Illinois State, 102-77 overall)

In the end, Illinois State could not help but feel disappointed about the way their season ended. They lost their last two games, the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament final and the opening round NIT game, in overtime. In fact, five of their ten losses on the season came in overtime. With the loss of three key contributors on a team that virtually only played six men, it might be back to the NIT for the Redbirds.

Key Losses: G Emmanuel Holloway, G Champ Oguchi, F Brandon Sampay

Key Newcomers:

A couple junior college transfers will help replace the departed players. Austin Hill is a physical guard who can get to the basket, but it is Tony Lewis who should make the biggest impact right away. Lewis, a 6-7 forward, was a first-team junior college All-American last year and should immediately step into a starting role. The frontcourt gets more help with walk-on transfer Blake Mishler and incoming freshmen Jon Ekey and Jackie Carmichael. Justin Clark highlights the group of freshmen who will battle for playing time on the perimeter, but Zeke Upshaw and Terry Johnson will find a role on this team sooner or later.

Backcourt:

Thanks to the return of Osiris Eldridge, the backcourt is in good shape. But this group is about more than just Eldridge. Like Eldridge, Lloyd Phillips is a capable ball handler who can do plenty of scoring. Phillips led the team with 3.6 assists per game last year and knocked down 41.6 percent of his attempts from long range. He will also get to the basket and find his teammates quite effectively. Without Champ Oguchi on the team, who led the squad with 15.2 points per game, a player like Alex Rubin will get more opportunities to do some scoring. Rubin only tallied 1.5 points per game as a sophomore, but he is capable of getting hot from long range and providing a spark off the bench.

Frontcourt:

The frontcourt was pretty slim last year and now they have to live without sixth man Brandon Sampay. Dinma Odiakosa is a good player to build around though. The 6-8 senior scored 8.7 points per game and led the team with 7.5 rebounds. If he continues to develop into a consistent scorer under the basket, it will open up scoring lanes for everybody else. The presumptive return of Bobby Hill will give the frontcourt another talented weapon. The 6-6 junior has been hindered by injuries, but he can be a game changer if he can stay healthy enough to play.

Who to Watch:

Yet, no matter who else steps up, this team will be all about Eldridge. The 6-3 senior tallied 14.0 points, 2.4 assists, 6.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals last year and could be in for an even more productive senior campaign. The best thing about Eldridge is his willingness and ability to do whatever the team needs him to do. He can play the point when necessary, he will guard the team’s best offensive guard almost all the time and he can hit the glass when the team needs a rebound. Eldridge has been a star in the Missouri Valley Conference for a couple years now and his great collegiate career will end in 2009-2010.

Final Projection:

But the question is whether or not Eldridge’s career will end with a trip to the NCAA Tournament or the team’s third straight trip to the NIT. Eldridge will need some help from his teammates to reach the big dance and some of the newcomers and roleplayers of last year need to step up, especially in the scoring column, or it will be back to the NIT yet again.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT

Projected Starting Five:

Lloyd Phillips, Senior, Guard, 10.6 points per game

Osiris Eldridge, Senior, Guard, 14.0 points per game

Bobby Hill, Junior, Forward, DNP last season

Tony Lewis, Junior, Forward, DNP last season

Dinma Odiakosa, Senior, Forward, 8.7 points per game

College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Preview Interviews

Osiris Eldridge Declares For 2009 NBA Draft

Press Release — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:05:16 -0400

NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State junior guard Osiris Eldridge has declared himself eligible for the 2009 NBA Draft. Eldridge will not sign with an agent and will have until June 15 to withdraw his name from the list of participants for the NBA Draft, which takes place June 25.

"Obviously, we support Osiris in this process and understand his willingness to weigh his options," said Illinois State head basketball coach Tim Jankovich. "This is a tremendous opportunity for him and, at the very least; it will be a great learning experience for him to build on for next year. We want what's in the best interest of Osiris and we will be behind him 100 percent."

Eldridge, who was named the 2009 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player, is a two-time first-team all-league selection and was named to the conference's all-defensive team for the first time in his career this past season.

The Chicago native ranked second on the team in scoring last season with 14 points per game. Eldridge was also second on the team in rebounding with 6.2 boards per contest. He led the Redbirds with 52 steals and ranked third with 83 assists.

Eldridge has led the Redbirds to 49 wins over the last two seasons and back-to-back postseason appearances.

osiris eldridge

Illinois State Basketball Preview: #76

Osiris Eldridge Declares For 2009 NBA Draft