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INDIANAPOLIS (WMBD/WYZZ) — The Redbirds are at the NIT Final Four
Illinois State practiced Wednesday at iconic Hinkle Fieldhouse, where the Redbirds will play Auburn in the NIT semifinals on Thursday night. The 1986 movie ‘Hoosiers’ was filmed at Hinkle.
ISU (23-12) may feel like a Hollywood underdog as it gets ready to tangle with Auburn (20-16) in the first ever meeting between the schools.
“Playing at Hinkle is really, really cool, with all the history and stuff,” said ISU junior center Chase Walker. It’s an exciting time. I think me, Johnny and the rest of the guys are super excited to be here.”
ISU, which finished third in the Missouri Valley Conference, is playing in its first NIT Final Four. The Redbirds won the CBI title last March.
“We knew we had a chance to prove ourselves, being from the MVC,” said ISU junior guard Johhny Kinziger of ISU’s run in the NIT.”
The Redbirds have beaten Kent State, Wake Forest and Dayton in the NIT. The last two wins were on the road.
“It started with Wake Forest, then we go to Dayton, and now we get a chance to play Auburn,” said Kinziger. “It’s a really good chance for us to put our name out there and put our school’s name out there by playing those big conference teams.”
The ISU-Auburn game is set for an 8:30 p.m. start on Thursday.
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