NORMAL — Being a California kid, Phil Fayne isn't too fond of Central Illinois winters. So the freak burst of snow that appeared earlier this month definitely surprised Illinois State's senior forward.
"I wasn't prepared for it. Halloween hasn't even passed," said Fayne. "After Halloween passes I'll be braced for snow, but before that ..."
The 6-foot-9, 220-pounder was selected to the all-Missouri Valley Conference preseason first team last week in voting by league coaches, media and sports information directors. Fayne is coming off a junior year in which he averaged 15.6 points and a team-high 7.