INDIANAPOLIS — The most prominent underdog story unfolding in Indianapolis this week concluded on Thursday evening.
While no team competing in Saturday’s NCAA Tournament Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium could be considered an underdog, a different ‘Cinderella’ narrative concluded elsewhere in Indianapolis. Illinois State’s season finished with an 88-66 defeat to Auburn in the NIT semifinals, held at Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Despite being a No. 4 seed in the 32-team bracket, the Redbirds faced an uphill battle in a semifinal round dominated by three No. 1 seeds. Following their victory, Auburn is set to face Tulsa in the NIT championship on Sunday evening at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tulsa secured its spot by overcoming New Mexico 74-69 in Thursday’s initial semifinal.
The NIT semifinal offered Illinois State a significant stage, broadcast on ESPN from a historic arena. Head Coach Ryan Pedon views this experience as a crucial advancement for a program that has consistently increased its win tally throughout his four-year tenure.
NIT Final Four photos: Auburn 88, Illinois State 66
Pedon remarked, “It’s invaluable for our players to witness firsthand what it takes to reach this level.” He added, “Auburn is an exceptionally strong and well-coached team. I believe this experience will greatly benefit our program overall, as well as the individual players returning next season.”
Auburn, a Final Four participant in the NCAA Tournament last year, is currently coached by Steven Pearl, son of the recently retired Bruce Pearl (who stepped down in September). The Tigers were among the initial teams just outside the NCAA Tournament’s 68-team field on Selection Sunday.
As the sole power conference representative left in the NIT, Auburn demonstrated its superiority on Thursday. Auburn (21-16) compelled Illinois State (23-13) to commit 11 turnovers in the first half, establishing a 13-point advantage by halftime.
By the game’s conclusion, Illinois State had accumulated 18 turnovers, from which Auburn capitalized with 26 points.
Auburn guard Tahaad Pettiford commented, “That alone created a significant gap between us and them,” elaborating, “It simply streamlined our offensive plays.”
Keyshawn Hall, Auburn’s guard, topped all scorers with 24 points. For the Redbirds, freshman guard Ty’Reek Coleman, hailing from Aurora and Waubonsie Valley High, was their leading scorer with 17 points.
Auburn progresses to its inaugural NIT championship game. The Tigers’ dominant performance on Thursday night clearly made an impact on their adversaries.
Pedon asserted, “That was unequivocally an NCAA Tournament-level team. Not merely a bubble team; they were truly that formidable. I commend them for that.”
Due to the introduction of Fox Sports’ College Basketball Crown postseason event, the NIT, traditionally the go-to tournament for teams missing March Madness, now sees fewer power conference participants.
However, Auburn’s participation demonstrates that even prominent programs can still derive advantages from competing in this storied tournament.
Steven Pearl stated, “We transformed a challenging circumstance—being excluded on Selection Sunday—into what I believe is a positive outcome.” He added, “Their current level of joyful play is truly rewarding for me as a coach.”
For Illinois State, this defeat represented a challenging conclusion to a season that didn’t consistently unfold as anticipated. Despite bringing back three of their four leading scorers, the Redbirds began the season as the Missouri Valley preseason favorites. Ultimately, they placed third in the conference and were eliminated from the MVC Tournament in the quarterfinals.
Initially, Pedon and his squad were uncertain about their NIT inclusion. Nevertheless, their 21-point victory over Kent State in the opening round ignited a postseason journey that eventually brought them to Indianapolis.
Subsequently, Illinois State secured road wins against Wake Forest and Dayton en route to the semifinals. This appearance marked the program’s inaugural NIT semifinal, following quarterfinal finishes in 1977, 1987, and 1996. Furthermore, Thursday evening represented the first time the men’s basketball program had competed in April since 1899.
Junior guard Ty Pence, who contributed 13 points, commented, “Having the opportunity to play postseason and additional basketball beyond the regular season is always a privilege.” He added, “It has been truly enjoyable to get more playing time alongside our seniors.”
Pedon guided the Redbirds to consecutive 20-win seasons, a feat not accomplished since the 2008-09 and 2009-10 campaigns. Last year, the program achieved a 22-14 record and secured victory in the CBI postseason tournament.
While Thursday’s outcome in Indianapolis wasn’t what they desired, Pedon remains confident that two consecutive postseason appearances signify his program’s positive trajectory.
Pedon expressed, “I truly believe what we are constructing here is something special. I hold onto the traditional approach. Perhaps in a couple of years, I’ll become entirely cynical, I can’t say, but I am committed to fiercely striving to establish a program — not merely a team, but a sustained program — that, even if we don’t retain everyone, can consistently rejuvenate itself year after year to contend for our conference championship.”
WNIT championship game
Illinois State (24-13) is set to compete against Marshall (27-9) in the WNIT final this Saturday at 2 p.m. in Huntington, W.Va. The Redbirds advanced by overcoming South Dakota 67-60 in a semifinal match on Wednesday in Vermillion, S.D. Both teams are vying for their inaugural WNIT championship.