There is still a long way to go in the Missouri Valley Conference basketball season. And, yes, Illinois State will lose a game or two or maybe three along the way.

But the Redbirds sure had the look of a conference champion in dismantling Creighton, 86-64, on Saturday night before a sellout crowd at Redbird Arena.

Forget the 3-pointers that dropped or the jaw-dropping lob pass from Emmanuel Holloway to Osiris Eldridge for a dunk early in the game. The most pleasing thing to Coach Tim Jankovich is the Redbirds’ defensive effort is really starting to resemble last season.

ISU is getting after it defensively. Creighton’s Booker Woodfox, the most lethal shooter in the league (and maybe country), tried to force a couple early. Then, when Woodfox had open looks, he missed those, too. Woodfox probably thought that Holloway was Velcro-ed to him at times.

Jankovich made a semi-startling statement after the game. Jankovich said he thinks ISU’s defense has caught up to the offense. On this night, anyway, it has, and the same could be said for Wednesday’s 30-point blowout against Evansville.

Eldridge paced ISU with 20 points. His back-to-back 3-pointers were the back-breakers as ISU zoomed away from a 52-45 lead with 10 minutes left. But look beyond the offense. Eldridge had nine rebounds and really took P’Allen Stinnett out of the game. Eldridge’s defense may never catch his offense, but Jankovich believes Eldridge is starting to turn into the Valley’s best defender, too.

Scary thought for the rest of the league over the next year-and-a-half.

Those who bought $3 specially priced upper bowl tickets had to be thrilled. Hopefully, they will come back when ISU charges full price for those tickets. Usually, Redbird Arena lacks a buzz when the students are on break. You could tell the students weren’t there during pregame introductions when the Creighton players weren’t booed, but the fans got into it during the game. This is the kind of atmosphere that Jankovich was used to at Kansas every game. When there is electricity inside Redbird Arena, it is a tough place for visitors to play.

OK, this one is over. ISU is 14-0 and one of five undefeated teams in the country left, but it’s on to the next game. Bradley held up its end of the bargain by winning at Missouri State. So the two arch-rivals are both 3-0 in the league ahead of Tuesday’s 7:05 p.m. game in Peoria. Perfect. The emotion will be high in Carver Arena, even though the Bradley students are on break.

It has been seven years since the Redbirds were victorious in Peoria. This is the time for ISU to break that streak. The Redbird players seem to like being undefeated. I covered an Illinois team in the 2004-05 season that won 29 straight games. Those Illini of Deron Williams and Dee Brown thrived in the spotlight and couldn’t wait for the next game. I get the same sense about this group of Redbirds.

ISU isn’t quite receiving the media attention those Illini did, but with each victory there will be more microphones and cameras in their faces after games. ISU has great senior leadership in Champ Oguchi, Holloway, Brandon Sampay and Brandon Holtz. If they stay focused and remain grounded, this undefeated stuff could go on for awhile.

Also, the reader who said he remembered Jankovich getting a technical last season is right. My bad. I believe it was at Bradley, although I’m not exactly sure. Jankovich didn’t say a word, kind of waving his hands, and was T’d up. He is still trying to figure out how that happened.

HALFTIME REPORT:

Illinois State treated a sellout crowd to some spine-tingling dunks on Saturday at Redbird Arena. But the Redbirds probably are a little bummed holding only a 35-31 halftime lead against Creighton in an early-season Valley showdown.

The Redbirds have outplayed the Bluejays most of the way. But ISU has missed several point-blank putbacks. The lead easily could be 10 or 12 points.

ISU held a 34-23 lead with 3:21 left but let the Bluejays get back in the game with an 8-1 run before intermission.

Osiris Eldridge came out on fire for ISU. He seemed intent to show he’s the Valley Player of the Year as voted in the preseason. Eldridge finished the half with 14 points and five rebounds. He also had a highlight dunk on a lob feed from Emmanuel Holloway on a break that had the fans roaring with approval.

ISU owns a 26-16 rebounding advantage, but those missed putbacks have cost them dearly. Defensively, the Redbirds are holding a good-shooting Creighton team to 36.7 percent. Booker Woodfox, probably the league’s best shooter, is only 2 of 6.

The Redbirds did play the final nine minutes without Champ Oguchi, who picked up his second foul and went to the bench with ISU leading 23-19. Oguchi made an early 3, but that’s his only offensive contribution.

Also, Lloyd Phillips (0 of 5) has tried to force a couple shots and needs to play more under control.

Coach Tim Jankovich is really into the game. He nearly came out to halfcourt to argue with referee Gene Grimshaw after a charging call against Phillips with 3:55 left in the half wiped out an ISU basket. Assistant coach Rob Judson had to hold back Jankovich, who doesn’t have a technical yet in two years as ISU coach.

Jankovich knows this is a much more important game for ISU than the Bluejays. The Redbirds simply can’t afford a home league loss this early, even if it’s to the Valley favorite.

PREGAME REPORT:

It is easy to know a big game is being played at Redbird Arena on Saturday night. The satellite trucks are stacked in the loading dock as the Missouri Valley Conference Game of the Week pits Illinois State and Creighton.

But it isn’t just the trucks that give away the big theme night. The Associated Press has sent a reporter to the game, a rarity at ISU, while a couple other media have converged. And why not?

ISU (13-0) is among only five unbeaten teams left in the country, while Creighton (12-2) is on a nine-game winning streak. You can already feel the buzz in the building.

Those in the student section and behind the baskets have a red towel with the words “Bring It On” written on them. TV wants a festive atmosphere. Early indications are it’s going to be close to a full house. Those $3 upper bowl tickets were a good thing to do. Get the fans in and hopefully they’ll come back.

Assistant athletic director Todd Kober just informed me there are less than 100 tickets left with 20 minutes left. This could be the first non-Bradley sellout since Jan. 25, 1992.

It should be interesting to see Coach Tim Jankovich’s reaction when he comes out just before tipoff. His mouth will probably be wide open seeing the stands full and the opponent isn’t Bradley or Southern Illinois.