Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball
The Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represents Illinois State University, located in Normal, Illinois, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They are currently led by head coach Dan Muller and play their home games at Redbird Arena as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. They have the national distinction of earning the most National Invitation Tournament berths without making the semifinals, and also have the longest NCAA Tournament drought in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Season-by-season records
SourcePostseason
NCAA Tournament results
The Redbirds have appeared in six NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 3–6.| 1983 | No. 6 | First Round | No. 11 | L 49–51 |
| 1984 | No. 8 | First Round Second Round | No. 9 Alabama No. 1 | W 49–48 L 61–75 |
| 1985 | No. 9 | First Round Second Round | No. 8 No. 1 Oklahoma | W 58–55 L 69–75 |
| 1990 | No. 14 | First Round | No. 3 Michigan | L 70–76 |
| 1997 | No. 11 | First Round | No. 6 Iowa State | L 57–69 |
| 1998 | No. 9 | First Round Second Round | No. 8 No. 1 Arizona | W 82–81 OT L 49–82 |
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NIT results
The Redbirds have appeared in 14 National Invitation Tournaments. Their combined record is 11–14.| 1977 | First round Quarterfinals | Creighton Houston | W 65–58 L 90–91 |
| 1978 | First round | Indiana State | L 71–73 |
| 1980 | First round Second round | West Texas State Illinois | W 80–63 L 65–75 |
| 1987 | First round Second round Quarterfinals | Akron Cleveland State La Salle | W 79–72 W 79–77 L 50–70 |
| 1988 | First round | Cleveland State | L 83–89 |
| 1995 | First round Second round | Utah State Washington State | W 93–87 L 80–83 |
| 1996 | First round Second round Quarterfinals | Mount St. Mary's Wisconsin Tulane | W 73–49 W 77–62 L 72–83 |
| 2001 | First round | Purdue | L 79–90 |
| 2008 | First round Second round | Utah State Dayton | W 61–57 L 48–55 |
| 2009 | First round | Kansas State | L 79–83OT |
| 2010 | First round | Dayton | L 42–63 |
| 2012 | First round Second round | Ole Miss Stanford | W 96–93OT L 88–92OT |
| 2015 | First round Second round | Green Bay Old Dominion | W 69–56 L 49–50 |
| 2017 | First round Second round | UC Irvine UCF | W 85–71 L 62–63 |
Source
CBI results
The Redbirds have appeared in one College Basketball Invitational. Their record is 2–1. They turned down a bid in the 2015-16 season and again in the 2017-18 season.| 2014 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals | Morehead State Texas A&M Siena | W 77–67 W 62–55 L 49–61 |
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