A year later, Redbirds in a different place going to UNI

Buy Now Illinois State sophomore Madison Williams, middle, battles for a rebound against Illinois-Chicago earlier this season. Williams is playing through a sore knee as the Redbirds travel to Northern Iowa on Wednesday.

LEWIS MARIEN, THE PANTAGRAPH CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The last time Illinois State's basketball team ventured into the McLeod Center, a Missouri Valley Conference championship was on the line.

This time, the Redbirds just will be trying to stay in the Valley's upper division at the league's midway point.

ISU, which clinched a share of the MVC regular-season title in last year's finale against Northern Iowa, meets the Panthers at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Redbirds (10-10 overall), who…