Illinois State meets Abilene Christian in NIT
Abilene Christian Wildcats (22-12, 9-8 WAC) at Illinois State Redbirds (22-12, 15-7 MVC)
BOTTOM LINE: Illinois State and Abilene Christian meet in the National Invitation Tournament.
The Redbirds are 15-7 against MVC opponents and 7-5 in non-conference play. Illinois State is third in the MVC scoring 75.3 points while shooting 48.1% from the field.
The Wildcats' record in WAC games is 9-8. Abilene Christian is third in the WAC scoring 71.6 points per game and is shooting 43.5%.
Illinois State's average of 6.5 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.4 fewer made shots on average than the 6.9 per game Abilene Christian gives up. Abilene Christian averages 7.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.3 fewer makes per game than Illinois State allows.
TOP PERFORMERS: Shannon Dowell is shooting 48.8% and averaging 16.9 points for the Redbirds. Elyce Knudsen is averaging 15.2 points over the last 10 games.
Bella Earle is shooting 43.9% and averaging 14.0 points for the Wildcats. Meredith Mayes is averaging 14.7 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Redbirds: 7-3, averaging 75.2 points, 32.2 rebounds, 15.9 assists, 5.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.9 points per game.
Wildcats: 7-3, averaging 69.5 points, 29.6 rebounds, 13.1 assists, 9.1 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 42.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 62.0 points.
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Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
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Miami Herald
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Donnell Woolford, Clemson CB/PRTwo-time All-American, two-time all-ACC. Clemson leader in broken up passes and punt returns for a score. 10. Antwaan Randle El, Indiana QB2001 First Team All-American. First player in FBS history to pass for 6,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards in career. Finished career with more rushing yards than any quarterback in FBS history.9. Ken Dorsey, Miami QB2002 First Team All-American who led the Canes to back-to-back BCS Championship games, winning the national title his junior season. Two-time Big East Co-Offensive Player of the Year and 2001 Maxwell Player of the Year. 8. Eric Bieniemy, Colorado RB1990 unanimous First Team All-American and finished third in 1990 Heisman voting. Played in two national championships, leading Buffs to 1990 national title. Two-time All-Big 8, still holds eight Colorado records.7. Peter Warrick, Florida State WRTwo-time First Team All-American who led FSU to a national championship at the 2000 Sugar Bowl. 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Cam Newton, Auburn QB2010 Heisman winner, leading Auburn to the national title. Won the Davey O'Brien, Maxwell, and Walter Camp awards. 2010 SEC Offensive Player of the Year. According to the National Football Foundation, to shorten and sum up the criteria:1. A player has to have been a First Team All-American on a list recognized by the NCAA. No Joe Montana.2. He's eligible ten years after his final year of playing.3. Post-career citizenship is factored into the voting, and an extra boost is given to those who earned a degree. O.J. Simpson is still in.4. Players must have played within the last 50 years. 5. A coach is eligible three years after retiring or if he's older than 70, and active coaches are eligible after age 75. He had to be a head coach for at least ten years and had to have coaches at least 100 games with a .600 minimum winning percentage (but this is being tweaked so Mike Leach will eventually become eligible). © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
English Teacher & Backyard Flowers: A Washington shot putter's record-breaking journey
WASHINGTON, Illinois (WMBD) – Joe Atkins may be one of the quietest athletes at a track meet, but his results are certainly loud enough. The Panther senior broke the Mid-Illini conference meet record with a throw of 62 feet, 3 inches. Even though he's ranked second in all of Illinois, he won't be satisfied until he's at the top of the podium. It's a little shaky. I'm not feeling too great about it, but I'm doing my best. I mean, I'm sort of going for gold. [The #1-ranked guy] right now is about a good close to a meter ahead of me. Joe Atkins In middle school, Joe started as a sprinter. His move to shot put came from maybe the last source you would expect. 'My eighth grade English teacher transferred me from sprinting with all my friends, to shot…She said I was a little bigger,' Atkins said. He may not be completing The Odyssey, but Joe's journey did begin right at home. There's nothing too fancy… I got a little extra practice. I do like not the full technique, but I do like some standing throws in my backyard… Try not to hit my mom's flowers. Joe Atkins When asked if he ever hit the flowers, Atkins laughed and said 'I mean if she ever asks, no.' As he focuses for the state meet and a future career at Illinois State, Joe likes the solitude of the ring. 'I'm more of a individual guy, and I just like the fact that, you know, if something happens, it's all it's all on me. And I can make whatever adjustments I need to do by myself,' Atkins said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
