McLean County Times

The Illinois State men's basketball team will participate in the postseason for the first time since the 2016-17 season, having accepted a bid to play in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI), presented by Purple.

"We're very excited to accept this bid to play in the CBI," said head coach Ryan Pedon. "Having the ability to extend our season is a great thing for our program for a multitude of reasons. First, it will give our players an opportunity to play more basketball together. The chemistry in our program is very special, and this tournament will provide another shared experience for the group. Secondly, being invited to play postseason basketball represents growth for our program. It has been nine seasons since we have been invited to play in a postseason tournament. I am thankful to our administration for their support and we look forward to representing our school and conference in Daytona Beach."

The 2025 CBI is a single-elimination tournament featuring 16 teams from across the country competing in Florida. Teams not selected for the NCAA Tournament will participate, with opening rounds on March 22 and 23, quarterfinals on March 24, semifinals on March 25, and the championship on March 26.

The Redbirds' opponent and bracket details will be revealed on Sunday, March 16.

Illinois State holds a record of 19-14 this season, marking their most wins since the 2016-17 season and third-most over the last twelve years.

Their last postseason appearance was in the NIT during the 2016-17 season. In the past, they competed in the CBI during the 2013-14 season, where they defeated Morehead State and Texas A&M before losing to Siena.

Tickets for the event became available through Ticketmaster.com on January 20th and can also be purchased at the Ocean Center box office during game days.