Illinois State head coach Dan Muller’s Redbirds shared the MVC regular season title with Wichita State, which went on to wreck ISU in the MVC tournament title game, 70-50. Illinois State did earn a No. 1 seed in this year’s NIT for their troubles, though, but none of that information is the reason why we’re here.
On Monday, Muller started planning his program’s future and logged onto Twitter to put out a call for a home-and-home opponent during next season. You can’t help but admire the mid-major coach’s gumption, especially so since the self-deprecation, use of a bitmoji, and truth value — ISU would definitely constitute a quality road win — come together for a perfect coaching tweet.
ACC BIG 10 BIG 12 SEC PAC 12 BIG EAST. It's me again. Looking 4 home & home next year. Pls call me 4 chance 4 QUALITY road win, top 33 RPI pic.twitter.com/zYAZpR3kJn
— Dan Muller (@DanMuller) March 13, 2017
Ross Bjork soon saw Muller’s wonderfully reasonable request, and himself asked Muller to reach out, which Muller apparently did.
.Hey @DanMuller I'm here with Coach Kennedy & since he doesn't do Twitter, he said to give us a call. We'd love to match up. https://t.co/eLrdBp0UIn
— Ross Bjork (@RossBjorkAD) March 13, 2017
(Andy Kennedy is indeed not on Twitter, even though we all wish he were.)
@RossBjorkAD Would LOVE to. I will be having my people get in touch with your people TODAY. AKA, i am going to text AK in 10 minutes.
— Dan Muller (@DanMuller) March 13, 2017
That’s a lot of A’s and K’S, there, Muller.
.Our people (Twitterless AK) are ready @DanMuller
— Ross Bjork (@RossBjorkAD) March 13, 2017
Your bitmoji game is strong. Good luck in the NIT.
And then, presto.
Talked to AK (Hope it was him & not Randy). Need to figure out dates but it's a done deal if we do. AK said it's the TWARD invitational. pic.twitter.com/NCOiWexjW3
— Dan Muller (@DanMuller) March 13, 2017
A bitmoji of Dan Muller shattering the backboard? A bitmoji of Dan Muller shattering the backboard. Here’s Ole Miss basketball’s account sending out the confirmation .GIF, too.
.@DanMuller We'll see you next season pic.twitter.com/Rc35rgagqc
— Ole Miss Basketball (@OleMissMBB) March 13, 2017
The truly winning play here is AK’s idea to dub the series the T-Ward Invitational, which will honor the memory of former Kennedy assistant Torrey Ward, who was with Ole Miss from 2006-11, then moved on to Illinois State for two years before tragically dying in a plane accident in April 2015. Illinois State’s deputy athletic director Aaron Leetch was also taken in the incident, which continues to have a sprawling effect on many people’s lives.