1989–90 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team

1989–90 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball
NCAA tournament, first round
ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference
Record18–13 (9–5 MVC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaRedbird Arena
1989–90 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Southern Illinois 10 4   .714 26 8   .765
Illinois State 9 5   .643 18 13   .581
Creighton 9 5   .643 21 12   .636
Tulsa 9 5   .643 17 13   .567
Bradley 6 8   .429 11 20   .355
Wichita State 6 8   .429 10 19   .345
Drake 5 9   .357 13 18   .419
Indiana State 2 12   .143 8 20   .286
1990 MVC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1989–90 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represented Illinois State University during the 1989–90 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Redbirds, led by first year head coach Bob Bender, played their first full season of home games at Redbird Arena and were members of the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Redbirds finished the season 18–13, 9–5 in conference play to finish in a three-way tie for second place. They were the number two seed for the Missouri Valley Conference tournament by virtue of holding tie-breakers over Creighton University and Tulsa University. They defeated Drake University in the quarterfinal round, Creighton University in the semifinal round, and Southern Illinois University in the final round to win the championship (their second in the conference).

The Redbirds won the conference autobid to the 1990 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. They were assigned to the West Regional as the number fourteen seed and lost to the University of Michigan in the first round.