Forget about checking for other Missouri Valley Conference scores in the regular season's last two weeks.
The fate of Illinois State's basketball team in the race for third place in the Valley lies with one team:
The Redbirds.
ISU (14-12 overall) is tied for third with Missouri State and Northern Iowa at 7-7. Those just happen to be the two teams that ISU plays this week, beginning with Tuesday's 7:05 p.m. game against Missouri State (17-9) at Redbird Arena.
"Coach said yesterday we actually control our own destiny," said ISU junior guard Daishon Knight. "If we can beat those teams we'll be in great shape. If they so happen to beat us, we'll drop. We have to get out there and take care of our own business."
Knight earned the Valley Newcomer of the Week award for the fourth time on Monday. He scored a career-high 26 points in Saturday's 70-54 victory over Bradley and averaged 20.5 points while shooting 54.2 percent from the field and 5 of 10 from 3-point range in two games.
"I said it back in November, we have to make shots as most teams do," said ISU coach Dan Muller. "Daishon is a guy who can make shots in different ways for us."
Tuesday is the fourth game in the last 10 days for ISU. The Redbirds then get a five-day break before facing UNI in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Sunday.
Muller doesn't believe fatigue is an issue, especially because no one usually plays heavy minutes for the Redbirds. Knight added playing two games at Redbird Arena with the support of home fans to end this stretch also helps.
"(Sunday) in practice the guys actually seemed excited," said Knight. "We talked about our next opponent and everyone seemed excited and ready and with energy."
ISU opened the Valley season on Jan. 2 against Missouri State in Springfield. The Redbirds enjoyed a 16-point first-half lead and led by five with two minutes left before the Bears rallied for a 78-70 overtime victory.
Marcus Marshall scored 14 points for Missouri State in that game. However, last season's Valley Freshman of the Year is out for the season after surgery for a knee injury.
Another sophomore, Dorrian Williams, has taken Marshall's spot at point guard.
"You don't play teams in conference with this big of a break very often," said Muller. "As coaches you remember the players, but the truth is your players ? and because we have so many new players it's not like we've played them multiple years ? it's like starting over again."
Bradley and Southern Illinois are tied for sixth in the Valley, a game out of the third-place pack. ISU closes the regular season at SIU on March 1.
"The only game that matters now is Missouri State, but we knew going into the Bradley game every team we were competing with in that mix we had left on our schedule," said Muller. "That's good and bad. We did a good job against Bradley and now we have to do a good job against Missouri State."
Jones update: Muller said junior forward John Jones' recovery from Jan. 27 surgery for a broken bone in his right foot is "going fine."
"It's a very common basketball injury. We know what it is," said Muller. "What we don't know is the week or two difference in how people heal. That timing will determine whether he can play in the conference tournament or not (March 6-9 in St. Louis)."
Unless there is a setback, Muller was more confident that Jones would be available should the Redbirds advance to a postseason tournament.
The fate of Illinois State's basketball team in the race for third place in the Valley lies with one team:
The Redbirds.
ISU (14-12 overall) is tied for third with Missouri State and Northern Iowa at 7-7. Those just happen to be the two teams that ISU plays this week, beginning with Tuesday's 7:05 p.m. game against Missouri State (17-9) at Redbird Arena.
"Coach said yesterday we actually control our own destiny," said ISU junior guard Daishon Knight. "If we can beat those teams we'll be in great shape. If they so happen to beat us, we'll drop. We have to get out there and take care of our own business."
Knight earned the Valley Newcomer of the Week award for the fourth time on Monday. He scored a career-high 26 points in Saturday's 70-54 victory over Bradley and averaged 20.5 points while shooting 54.2 percent from the field and 5 of 10 from 3-point range in two games.
"I said it back in November, we have to make shots as most teams do," said ISU coach Dan Muller. "Daishon is a guy who can make shots in different ways for us."
Tuesday is the fourth game in the last 10 days for ISU. The Redbirds then get a five-day break before facing UNI in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Sunday.
Muller doesn't believe fatigue is an issue, especially because no one usually plays heavy minutes for the Redbirds. Knight added playing two games at Redbird Arena with the support of home fans to end this stretch also helps.
"(Sunday) in practice the guys actually seemed excited," said Knight. "We talked about our next opponent and everyone seemed excited and ready and with energy."
ISU opened the Valley season on Jan. 2 against Missouri State in Springfield. The Redbirds enjoyed a 16-point first-half lead and led by five with two minutes left before the Bears rallied for a 78-70 overtime victory.
Marcus Marshall scored 14 points for Missouri State in that game. However, last season's Valley Freshman of the Year is out for the season after surgery for a knee injury.
Another sophomore, Dorrian Williams, has taken Marshall's spot at point guard.
"You don't play teams in conference with this big of a break very often," said Muller. "As coaches you remember the players, but the truth is your players ? and because we have so many new players it's not like we've played them multiple years ? it's like starting over again."
Bradley and Southern Illinois are tied for sixth in the Valley, a game out of the third-place pack. ISU closes the regular season at SIU on March 1.
"The only game that matters now is Missouri State, but we knew going into the Bradley game every team we were competing with in that mix we had left on our schedule," said Muller. "That's good and bad. We did a good job against Bradley and now we have to do a good job against Missouri State."
Jones update: Muller said junior forward John Jones' recovery from Jan. 27 surgery for a broken bone in his right foot is "going fine."
"It's a very common basketball injury. We know what it is," said Muller. "What we don't know is the week or two difference in how people heal. That timing will determine whether he can play in the conference tournament or not (March 6-9 in St. Louis)."
Unless there is a setback, Muller was more confident that Jones would be available should the Redbirds advance to a postseason tournament.
