- Poor traveling conditions forced Illinois State to wait until this morning to leave for Terre Haute, Ind., and today's 6:05 p.m. Missouri Valley Conference basketball game against Indiana State.
An omen?
Porter Moser hopes so.
The ISU coach is just as frustrated as Redbird fans with his team's three-game losing streak and five losses in the past six games. However, Moser believes it is not too late for the Redbirds (12-14 overall, 4-11) to seize momentum in the next two weeks before heading to the Valley Tournament March 1-4 at St. Louis.
Maybe the journey didn't start out as planned, but the Redbirds can still get there on time.
"This is my profession. I'm judged by wins and losses. I get that," said Moser. "But you have to find a way in terms of keeping their confidence up and motivated to teach them where ? one minute of complete lax in this league can be the difference. You can't rest.
"We understand we can get a couple in a row and go into that tournament (on the rise). That's what we're trying to preach."
The "fine line" Moser likes to talk about was evident at the end of the first half Sunday at Wichita State. The Redbirds didn't check off on a rebound. They let the Shockers get a layup off an in-bounds play. A lazy pass resulted in a Wichita State steal and layup.
Instead of being tied or in the lead, ISU trailed 36-31 at the intermission.
That was just as critical as the last minute of the game when the Redbirds, trailing by a point and having a chance to take the lead, committed another costly turnover en route to a 69-64 loss.
With games against Indiana State (12-13, 5-10) and an ESPN BracketBusters contest Saturday at home versus Ball State (8-16), the Redbirds have a realistic shot of getting back to the .500 level this week.
Then, who knows?
"We're not paying attention to our record. We're trying to make a run at the end," said ISU point guard Boo Richardson. "If we find a way to continue to do little things like rebounding and (stopping) turnovers at the end of the game, I think we can pull through this conference tournament, and at a neutral site it will be a good thing for us."
First, ISU needs to beat Indiana State and stop a school-record 18-game Valley road losing streak. The Redbirds suffered one of their most frustrating defeats of the season against the Sycamores on Jan. 6 in Normal. Neither team played well, but Indiana State was able to sneak away with a 54-50 victory.
"That's one we let slip away against a team we could have beat," said Richardson. "They're a good team and started out the year and conference good. They have good players, but we let their big men hurt us. I think we're a way better team now."
Indiana State was 11-4 before going into a tailspin. The Sycamores have dropped nine of their last 10 games and are headed for the March 1 play-in round of the Valley tourney along with ISU.
The Sycamores scored 70 or more points in six of their first 12 games. They haven't topped 68 since.
"They're starting to guard (Marico) Stinson and (Cole) Holmstrom. It's not more complicated than that," said Indiana State coach Royce Waltman of his freshmen guards.
"In the nonconference they were playing looser. They were freshmen, getting open looks and making them. "In conference, the scouting is good and the defenses are tough and they're not as free. As freshmen, they're forcing shots."
ISU was thrown out of its normal road routine of arriving the day before the game because of the weather Tuesday.
If the Redbirds win on Valentine's Day - which they have done six straight times - Moser might think traveling on game day is really a sweet idea.
"Coaches worry about everything. Players, they worry less. It probably affects them less," said Moser. "It's what we have to deal with. I cannot control that. It's a circumstance we have to roll with."
An omen?
Porter Moser hopes so.
The ISU coach is just as frustrated as Redbird fans with his team's three-game losing streak and five losses in the past six games. However, Moser believes it is not too late for the Redbirds (12-14 overall, 4-11) to seize momentum in the next two weeks before heading to the Valley Tournament March 1-4 at St. Louis.
Maybe the journey didn't start out as planned, but the Redbirds can still get there on time.
"This is my profession. I'm judged by wins and losses. I get that," said Moser. "But you have to find a way in terms of keeping their confidence up and motivated to teach them where ? one minute of complete lax in this league can be the difference. You can't rest.
"We understand we can get a couple in a row and go into that tournament (on the rise). That's what we're trying to preach."
The "fine line" Moser likes to talk about was evident at the end of the first half Sunday at Wichita State. The Redbirds didn't check off on a rebound. They let the Shockers get a layup off an in-bounds play. A lazy pass resulted in a Wichita State steal and layup.
Instead of being tied or in the lead, ISU trailed 36-31 at the intermission.
That was just as critical as the last minute of the game when the Redbirds, trailing by a point and having a chance to take the lead, committed another costly turnover en route to a 69-64 loss.
With games against Indiana State (12-13, 5-10) and an ESPN BracketBusters contest Saturday at home versus Ball State (8-16), the Redbirds have a realistic shot of getting back to the .500 level this week.
Then, who knows?
"We're not paying attention to our record. We're trying to make a run at the end," said ISU point guard Boo Richardson. "If we find a way to continue to do little things like rebounding and (stopping) turnovers at the end of the game, I think we can pull through this conference tournament, and at a neutral site it will be a good thing for us."
First, ISU needs to beat Indiana State and stop a school-record 18-game Valley road losing streak. The Redbirds suffered one of their most frustrating defeats of the season against the Sycamores on Jan. 6 in Normal. Neither team played well, but Indiana State was able to sneak away with a 54-50 victory.
"That's one we let slip away against a team we could have beat," said Richardson. "They're a good team and started out the year and conference good. They have good players, but we let their big men hurt us. I think we're a way better team now."
Indiana State was 11-4 before going into a tailspin. The Sycamores have dropped nine of their last 10 games and are headed for the March 1 play-in round of the Valley tourney along with ISU.
The Sycamores scored 70 or more points in six of their first 12 games. They haven't topped 68 since.
"They're starting to guard (Marico) Stinson and (Cole) Holmstrom. It's not more complicated than that," said Indiana State coach Royce Waltman of his freshmen guards.
"In the nonconference they were playing looser. They were freshmen, getting open looks and making them. "In conference, the scouting is good and the defenses are tough and they're not as free. As freshmen, they're forcing shots."
ISU was thrown out of its normal road routine of arriving the day before the game because of the weather Tuesday.
If the Redbirds win on Valentine's Day - which they have done six straight times - Moser might think traveling on game day is really a sweet idea.
"Coaches worry about everything. Players, they worry less. It probably affects them less," said Moser. "It's what we have to deal with. I cannot control that. It's a circumstance we have to roll with."
