With their stunning victory over rival Bradley last week, the Redbirds moved to fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference standings. Both Jackie Carmichael and Tyler have stepped up as of recent, proving to be assets to this squad. Tyler Brown has scored in double digits, four games in a row. And Carmichael is ranked thirteenth in the nation, with 12 double-doubles. These senior leaders are the ones we need to show up in the coming weeks. After a devastating loss to Wichita State Sunday, ISU is going to need consistent play from their standouts. Currently, Illinois State sits at a tie with Evansville and Bradley in the MVC, with a Valley record of 7-8. This situation makes Wednesday’s game at Evansville that much more important. With the conference tournament in sight, the Redbirds need to stay aggressive and win out the remaining Valley games. If Carmichael and Brown continue to lead this team, there is no doubt in my mind that we will see these Redbirds in the Conference Championship come March.