Illinois State Boasts Top NIT Resume, Says Steven Pearl
Auburn arrives at the NIT semifinal stage, set to face Illinois State on Thursday evening. The Tigers chase the first NIT championship in program history.
Auburn’s lineup and scoring balance
Head coach Steven Pearl has used the same starting five in all three NIT games. Each starter is scoring in double figures during the postseason.
| Kevin Overton | 17.0 ppg |
| Keyshawn Hall | 14.7 ppg |
| Elyjah Freeman | 12.6 ppg |
| Tahaad Pettiford | 12.0 ppg |
| Filip Jovic | 10.7 ppg |
Guard Tahaad Pettiford is about 11 points shy of 1,000 career points. He said last season’s Final Four run and the unfinished business motivate him.
Illinois State’s path to the semifinals
The Redbirds advanced after consecutive road wins over Wake Forest and Dayton. Those victories followed a 20-point win over Kent State.
Steven Pearl praised Illinois State for the resume they have built. He called their stretch among the best performances in the tournament.
Team style and defense
Illinois State has shown physical play and strong defensive execution. The Redbirds rank 37th in scoring defense, allowing 67.9 points per game.
They have kept opponents under 70 points frequently. Pearl noted their ability to limit teams to one shot and the presence of reliable shooters.
Matchup notes and broadcast
Opponents are shooting 47.7 percent from the floor against Auburn in the NIT. Auburn has outscored its postseason foes by a 134-128 margin.
Elyjah Freeman stressed the importance of maintaining leads and defending for all forty minutes. The semifinal is scheduled for Thursday at 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
Filmogaz.com will follow developments and provide updates from the semifinal matchup.
