1981–82 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team

1981–82 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball
ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference
Record17–12 (9–7 MVC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaHorton Field House
1981–82 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Bradley 13 3   .813 26 10   .722
No. 10 Tulsa 12 4   .750 24 6   .800
Wichita State 12 4   .750 23 6   .793
New Mexico State 10 6   .625 17 11   .607
Illinois State 9 7   .563 17 12   .586
Drake 7 9   .438 12 15   .444
Southern Illinois 7 9   .438 11 16   .407
Creighton 4 12   .250 7 20   .259
Indiana State 3 13   .188 9 18   .333
West Texas State 3 13   .188 11 15   .423
1982 MVC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1981–82 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represented Illinois State University during the 1981–82 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Redbirds, led by fourth year head coach Bob Donewald, played their home games at Horton Field House and competed as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.

They finished the season 17–12, 9–7 in conference play to finish in fifth place. They were the number four seed for the Missouri Valley Conference tournament as Wichita State University was serving the first of a two-year probation and therefore prohibited from postseason competition. They made it to the championship game before losing to the tenth ranked University of Tulsa.