NORMAL — Playing against someone else isn't the only thing Josiah Strong and his Illinois State basketball teammates are happy about after battling each other in practice for more than a month.
Seeing fans at Redbird Arena — after last season's COVID-19 interrupted campaign was played mostly with empty seats — is definitely a sight Strong is eager to soak in.
"My freshman year at Navy we played in front of some fans, but that's the only experience I have Division I playing in front of fans," said the Redbird senior guard.