1987–88 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team

1987–88 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball
NIT, First Round
ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference
Record18–13 (9–5 MVC)
Head coach
Home arenaHorton Field House
1987–88 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 11 Bradley 12 2   .857 26 5   .839
Wichita State 11 3   .786 20 10   .667
Illinois State 9 5   .643 18 13   .581
Southern Illinois 6 8   .429 12 16   .429
Creighton 6 8   .429 16 16   .500
Drake 5 9   .357 14 14   .500
Tulsa 4 10   .286 8 20   .286
Indiana State 3 11   .214 7 21   .250
1988 MVC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1987–88 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represented Illinois State University during the 1987–88 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Redbirds, led by tenth year head coach Bob Donewald, played their home games at Horton Field House and were a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Redbirds finished the season 18–13, 9–5 in conference play to finish in third place. They were the number three seed in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. They were victorious in a quarterfinal game versus Drake University and in a semifinal game versus Wichita State University, but defeated beaten in the final game versus Bradley University.

The Redbirds received an at-large bid to the 1988 National Invitation Tournament. They lost to Cleveland State University in the first round.