There's an advantage being 7 feet tall. David Ndiaye can look down and view things others can't.
What the sophomore from Senegal observed from Illinois State's basketball team following Saturday's dreadful performance against Wichita State gave him comfort.
"I liked how I saw the team the last two days in practice. Everybody came in ready and everyone was locked in," he said. "They didn't like that game, but moving forward it gives us more motivation. We have a lot more to give. It's a lesson."
Whether there are any psychological scars from the 86-45 smackdown applied by the Shockers should be answered quickly. ISU faces Drake at 7 p.m. Tuesday in a Missouri Valley Conference game at the Knapp Center, completing a four-game stretch in 10 days.
The Redbirds (19-5), who had a 12-game winning streak snapped, fell back into a tie for the Valley lead with Wichita State at 11-1 with six games left. It was ISU's worst loss since Feb. 7, 1991, when Tulsa administered an 84-41 beating.
ISU coach Dan Muller said he isn't worried about the 41-point loss three days ago affecting his team's confidence.
"It's been addressed multiple times in different ways, starting at the end of the game," said Muller. "We're going in like any road game knowing we have a tough battle on our hands. This team is focused on playing good basketball."
Drake (7-17, 5-7) has lost eight straight to the Redbirds. The Bulldogs enjoyed a nine-point lead early at Redbird Arena on Jan. 21 before ISU took a 72-58 victory.
The Redbirds know their perimeter defense will have to be alert. Drake fired up 32 3-point attempts in Normal, making 10.
"They play with great freedom and confidence," said Muller.
About the only silver lining for the Redbirds against Wichita State was the play of Ndiaye off the bench.
Ndiaye pulled down a career-high eight rebounds in 21 minutes, which tied his career high. He missed his only two shots, but that didn't matter to Muller.
"He was, by far, our best performer and competitor for what is expected of him," said the ISU coach. "I thought he battled, rebounded and guarded. He was really good defensively. He missed a couple shots around the rim after he rolled. That's a little bit of inexperience, but he's playing better."
Ndiaye also is playing pain free. He missed the first nine games this season after suffering a stress fracture in his right foot.
With second-leading scorer MiKyle McIntosh expected to be sidelined at least another two weeks after surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee, Ndiaye is being counted on like never before.
"I feel since MiKyle is out everyone needs to give a little more than they were giving," said Ndiaye. "I have more to give and if we want to get to the place we want to, we have to give more on both ends."
While the Redbird defense had a complete second-half meltdown Saturday, that has not been the norm since mid-December. ISU still ranks sixth nationally in field goal percentage defense (.379) and 14th in scoring defense (62.6).
The Redbird offense is in more urgent need of fixing.
ISU hasn't shot better than 50 percent from the field since beating Wichita State, 76-62, in Normal on Jan. 14. Turnovers continue to be a problem, with Saturday's 19 a season high.
"We're not going to be as good offensively without MiKyle. That's not going to change," said Muller. "We have to make more shots and take care of the ball."
Drake interim coach Jeff Rutter, who is 6-9 after taking over when Ray Giacoletti resigned on Dec. 7, doesn't expect the ISU that played Saturday to show up at the Knapp Center.
"In the NBA Finals you have the two best teams in the league and some of those (series) you could have a game or two with a margin like that," said Rutter. "I'm sure Illinois State looks at it as a bump in the road and anything can happen on any given night."
What the sophomore from Senegal observed from Illinois State's basketball team following Saturday's dreadful performance against Wichita State gave him comfort.
"I liked how I saw the team the last two days in practice. Everybody came in ready and everyone was locked in," he said. "They didn't like that game, but moving forward it gives us more motivation. We have a lot more to give. It's a lesson."
Whether there are any psychological scars from the 86-45 smackdown applied by the Shockers should be answered quickly. ISU faces Drake at 7 p.m. Tuesday in a Missouri Valley Conference game at the Knapp Center, completing a four-game stretch in 10 days.
The Redbirds (19-5), who had a 12-game winning streak snapped, fell back into a tie for the Valley lead with Wichita State at 11-1 with six games left. It was ISU's worst loss since Feb. 7, 1991, when Tulsa administered an 84-41 beating.
ISU coach Dan Muller said he isn't worried about the 41-point loss three days ago affecting his team's confidence.
"It's been addressed multiple times in different ways, starting at the end of the game," said Muller. "We're going in like any road game knowing we have a tough battle on our hands. This team is focused on playing good basketball."
Drake (7-17, 5-7) has lost eight straight to the Redbirds. The Bulldogs enjoyed a nine-point lead early at Redbird Arena on Jan. 21 before ISU took a 72-58 victory.
The Redbirds know their perimeter defense will have to be alert. Drake fired up 32 3-point attempts in Normal, making 10.
"They play with great freedom and confidence," said Muller.
About the only silver lining for the Redbirds against Wichita State was the play of Ndiaye off the bench.
Ndiaye pulled down a career-high eight rebounds in 21 minutes, which tied his career high. He missed his only two shots, but that didn't matter to Muller.
"He was, by far, our best performer and competitor for what is expected of him," said the ISU coach. "I thought he battled, rebounded and guarded. He was really good defensively. He missed a couple shots around the rim after he rolled. That's a little bit of inexperience, but he's playing better."
Ndiaye also is playing pain free. He missed the first nine games this season after suffering a stress fracture in his right foot.
With second-leading scorer MiKyle McIntosh expected to be sidelined at least another two weeks after surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee, Ndiaye is being counted on like never before.
"I feel since MiKyle is out everyone needs to give a little more than they were giving," said Ndiaye. "I have more to give and if we want to get to the place we want to, we have to give more on both ends."
While the Redbird defense had a complete second-half meltdown Saturday, that has not been the norm since mid-December. ISU still ranks sixth nationally in field goal percentage defense (.379) and 14th in scoring defense (62.6).
The Redbird offense is in more urgent need of fixing.
ISU hasn't shot better than 50 percent from the field since beating Wichita State, 76-62, in Normal on Jan. 14. Turnovers continue to be a problem, with Saturday's 19 a season high.
"We're not going to be as good offensively without MiKyle. That's not going to change," said Muller. "We have to make more shots and take care of the ball."
Drake interim coach Jeff Rutter, who is 6-9 after taking over when Ray Giacoletti resigned on Dec. 7, doesn't expect the ISU that played Saturday to show up at the Knapp Center.
"In the NBA Finals you have the two best teams in the league and some of those (series) you could have a game or two with a margin like that," said Rutter. "I'm sure Illinois State looks at it as a bump in the road and anything can happen on any given night."
