1971–72 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team

The 1971–72 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represented Illinois State University during the 1971–72 NCAA University Division men's basketball season. The Redbirds, led by second-year head coach Will Robinsion, played their home games at Horton Field House in Normal, Illinois as members of the Conference of Midwestern Universities. They finished the season 16–10, 6–2 in conference play to finish in second place.

1971–72 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball
Conference	Conference of Midwestern Universities
Record	16–10 (6–2 CMU)
Head coach	Will Robinson (2nd season)
Assistant coaches	Warren Crews John Parker Gene Smithson
Home arena	Horton Field House

Roster

1971–72 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Hometown F 45 Myron Litwiller 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) — Sr Armington, IL 51 Dennis Murray 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) — Sr Detroit, MI F 30 Jim Smith (C) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) — Sr Mount Vernon, IL 55 Carlos Thomas 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) — Sr Chicago, IL G 20 Doug Collins 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) — Jr Benton, IL 41 Fred Points 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) — Jr Columbus, OH 5 Tom Prombo 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) — Jr Chicago Heights, IL G 13 Dan Witt 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) — Jr Maple Park, IL G Kent Arends 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) — So Melvin, IL C 43 Stepney Bacon 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) — So Detroit, MI C 24 Ron deVries 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) — So Detroit, MI 54 Ron Eeten 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) — So San Jose, IL F 25 Duane Fox 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) — So Inkster, MI 31 Mack Rush 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) — So St. Louis, MO F 53 Clarence Weaver 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) — So St. Louis, MO	Head coach Will Robinson (West Virginia State) Assistant coach(es) Warren Crews (Southeast Missouri State) John Parker (Detroit Mercy) Gene Smithson (North Central (IL)) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster Last update: January 17, 2021

Schedule

Date time, TV	Rank#	Opponent#	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Regular season
December 1, 1971*		Oral Roberts	L 93–95	0–1	40 – Collins	9 – Bacon	–	Horton Field House  Normal, IL
December 3, 1971*		vs. Western Illinois Chip Cage Classic [Semifinal]	W 70–50	1–1	–	–	–	Ronald W Finch Fieldhouse  Mount Pleasant, MI
December 4, 1971*		vs. Eastern Illinois Chip Cage Classic [Final]	L 73–77	1–2	–	–	–	Ronald W Finch Fieldhouse  Mount Pleasant, MI
December 6, 1971*		Southwest Missouri State	W 99–70	2–2	28 – Collins	13 – Bacon	–	Horton Field House  Normal, IL
December 8, 1971*		Southeast Missouri State	W 99–72	3–2	34 – Collins	–	–	Horton Field House  Normal, IL
December 11, 1971*		at Murray State	L 74–85	3–3	29 – Collins	10 – deVries	–	Racer Arena  Murray, KY
December 14, 1971*		at Iowa State	L 85–106	3–4	–	–	–	James H Hilton Coliseum  Ames, IA
December 15, 1971*		at Northeast Missouri State	W 86–75	4–4	–	–	–	John J Pershing Arena  Kirksville, MO
December 18, 1971*		at Buffalo	L 74–80	4–5	28 – Collins	8 – Collins	–	Clark Hall  Buffalo, NY
December 29, 1971*		vs. DePauw Dominican Holiday Tournament [Semifinal]	W 118–90	5–5	42 – Collins	–	–	Theatre/Gymnasium Complex  Racine, WI
December 30, 1971*		vs. Buffalo State Dominican Holiday Tournament [Final]	W 78–73	6–5	26 – Smith	–	–	Theatre/Gymnasium Complex  Racine, WI
January 5, 1971*		MacMurray	W 116–73	7–5	31 – Collins	14 – deVries	–	Horton Field House  Normal, IL
January 8, 1972		Indiana State	L 66–69	7–6 (0–1)	36 – Collins	10 – deVries, Weaver	–	Horton Field House  Normal, IL
January 10, 1972*		at Morehead State	L 94–104	7–7	36 – Collins	13 – deVries	–	Wetherby Gymnasium  Morehead, KY
January 15, 1972 7:30 pm		Ball State	W 99–92	8–7 (1–1)	55 – Collins	–	–	Horton Field House  Normal, IL
January 18, 1972*		Winona State	W 107–91	9–7	45 – Collins	–	–	Horton Field House  Normal, IL
January 29, 1972		at Indiana State	W 91–76	10–7 (2–1)	–	–	–	Indiana State College Arena  Terre Haute, IN
February 1, 1972*		at Pacific	L 94–107	10–8	42 – Collins	13 – deVries	–	Pacific Pavilion  Stockton, CA
February 4, 1972*		at No. 5 California State–Long Beach	L 63–88	10–9	26 – Collins	11 – Bacon	–	University Gym  Long Beach, CA
February 9, 1972		Northern Illinois	L 85–99	10–10 (2–2)	28 – Collins	20 – deVries	–	Horton Field House (8,500) Normal, IL
February 12, 1972 7:35 pm		at Southern Illinois	W 90–83	11–10 (3–2)	30 – Collins	15 – deVries	–	SIU Arena  Carbondale, IL
February 16, 1972		at Ball State	W 98–71	12–10 (4–2)	39 – Collins	–	–	Irving Gymnasium  Muncie, IN
February 19, 1972*		Central Michigan	W 75–60	13–10	26 – Collins	12 – deVries	–	Horton Field House  Normal, IL
February 23, 1972		at Northern Illinois	W 86–85	14–10 (5–2)	–	–	–	Chick Evans Field House (4,422) DeKalb, IL
February 26, 1972*		at Central Missouri State	W 92–75	15–10	32 – Collins	12 – Bacon	–	Garrison Gym  Warrensburg, MO
February 29, 1972*		Athletes In Action Exhibition	W 94–70		–	–	–	Horton Field House  Normal, IL
March 4, 1972  WRAU		Southern Illinois	W 88–84	16–10 (6–2)	36 – Collins	22 – deVries	–	Horton Field House  Normal, IL
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Standard Time.

Source