2008–09 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team

2008–09 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball
SMU Tip–Off Classic champion
World Vision Invitational champion
NIT tournament, First Round
ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference
Record24–10 (11–7 MVC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaDoug Collins Court at Redbird Arena
2008–09 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Northern Iowa 14 4   .778 23 11   .676
Creighton 14 4   .778 27 8   .771
Illinois State 11 7   .611 24 10   .706
Bradley 10 8   .556 21 15   .583
Southern Illinois 8 10   .444 13 18   .419
Evansville 8 10   .444 17 14   .548
Wichita State 8 10   .444 17 17   .500
Drake 7 11   .389 17 16   .515
Indiana State 7 11   .389 11 21   .344
Missouri State 3 15   .167 11 20   .355
Missouri Valley Conference tournament winner
As of April 1, 2009
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2008–09 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represented Illinois State University during the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Redbirds, led by second year head coach Tim Jankovich, played their home games at Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena and were a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Redbirds finished the season 24–10, 11–7 in conference play to finish in third place. They were the number three seed for the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. They won their quarterfinal game versus the University of Evansville and semifinal game versus Creighton University but lost their final game versus the University of Northern Iowa.

The Redbirds received an at-large bid to the 2009 National Invitation Tournament and were assigned the number five seed in the San Diego State University regional. They were defeated by Kansas State University in the first round.