A weekend of Basketball in Bloomington

There were more exciting games in Bloomington - Normal this weekend than one sports shooter could handle.  Friday night started it off with games at both U High and Bloomington.  With the Bloomington Raiders hosting the Normal West Wildcats, it was a pick to watch the intercity rivals.  Bloomington came out on top this round.



20140207 West Wildcats at Bloomington Raiders boys basketball photos - Images by Alan Look

On Saturday, it was the annual Pink Games at Illinois Wesleyan as both the Men's and Women's teams hosted the Elmhurst Bluejays.  Both genders of the Titans sported some Pink and proceeds from a raffle and other fan oriented events went to the fight on breast cancer.  The Titans came out winners as well as they bested the Bluejays in both games.



20140208 Elmhurst Bluejays at Illinois Wesleyan Women's Basketball photos - Images by Alan Look



20140208 Elmhurst Bluejays at Illinois Wesleyan Men's basketball photos - Images by Alan Look

www.alanlook.com - Chimper

Wichita State (4) comes from behind to beat Illinois State

The Wichita State Shockers showed up at Redbird Arena on January 22 with an undefeated season.  They left with it still intact.  The Redbirds scored the first points of the game and kept it a back and forth game through the first half.  Starting the 2nd half, the Redbirds had a 3 point lead.  The Shockers however picked up their game, leading by as much as 18 points.  The Redbirds stormed back with less than 8 minutes left to cut the margin to 9.  The effort fell once more as the Shockers led by 15, 70-55 at the buzzer.



20140122 Wichita State at Illinois State - Images by Alan Look

Redbird Arena turns 25, Redbirds notch another win

On January 11, 2014 Redbird Arena turned 25.  The Redbirds won their first game in the arena on that very same night.  The results were the same 25 years later with the Redbirds defeating the most recent addition to the Missouri Valley Conference and the two teams first such meeting.  The Loyola Ramblers are led by Porter Moser.  Moser, many will remember was the Redbird coach before Tim Jankovich.  Jankovich left and Dan Muller is now in his second year.  Final score of this game - 59-50.


20140111 Loyola Ramblers at Illinois State Redbirds Men's basketball photos - Images by Alan Look

-Chimper -

Southern Illinois Salukis fall the Illinois State Redbirds

20140105 Southern Illinois at Illinois State men's basketball photos - Images by Alan Look

In the middle of a good old fashioned blizzard, Redbird Arena opened up for a Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball game between the Southern Illinois Salukis and the Illinois State Redbirds.  The crowd was sparse.

The Redbirds led by as much as 18 points and ended up on top at the final buzzer 66-48.

An errant scoreboard caused several minutes delay.

IWU Titans time 2

Congrats to the Illinois Wesleyan Titan Basketball teams. Yes, both the IWU Titan Men's and the IWU Titan Women's teams this season have broke the barrier in Division III to make it to the respective NCAA tournaments.

Seems like I can never get enough free time to cover them too many times, but I generally manage to get there once or twice a season. If you never consider attending, you should. Especially when they are at home in the Shirk Center. The closeness of the seating creates a very exciting and competitive environment. I don't think you will find a gym where you can get closer to the action without being in it. Add the pep band you get some real atmosphere.

Oh, one more plus - at least in my eyes... I've never seen a break for a media time out! The game just keeps moving at the participants pace. Keeps the raw playing power and emotion in the game. Players, coaches and officials may see it different.

Congrats to all the Titans.

Ladies first!

20111217 St. Francis V Illinois Wesleyan Women - Images by Alan Look


20111217 Washington U V Illinois Wesleyan - Images by Alan Look