Men’s Basketball Bill Salyer
NORMAL, Ill. – The Redbirds shot at a blistering pace on Sunday in a 10-point win over Belmont, and will look to continue their hot shooting on Wednesday evening when the squad hosts the Eastern Michigan Eagles, the second of three consecutive home games for ISU.
QUICK HITTERS
• ISU’s three-point percentage of 61.9 against Belmont (13-of-21) is tied for the 15th-best shooting game in NCAA Division I this season.
• With four different players have scored at least 20 points in a game this season, the Redbirds have the most 20-point scorers in the MVC this season.
• Eastern Michigan head coach Stan Heath has faced Illinois State twice as a head coach, the first on December 22, 2001 when as head coach of Kent State he led the Golden Flashes to a 61-48 win over the Redbirds inside CEFCU Arena, and last season when the Eagles picked up a 103-98 double-overtime win in Ypsilanti.
• The Redbirds rank fifth in the NCAA in free throw percentage this season, making 122-of-150 (81.3%).
• Kendall Lewis is one of eight student-athletes in NCAA Division I with at least a dozen assists, steals, and blocked shots, and of that group, he is the only one to have scored at least 110 points.
• Having made all 13 of his free throw tries this season, Malachi Poindexter has the 10th-most makes without a miss in the country this season.
• With their win over Belmont on Sunday afternoon, it snapped the Bruins’ 59-game streak of wins when leading at halftime. The Redbirds trailed 31-30 at intermission before out-scoring their Nashville opponent 57-46 in the second half.
• ISU’s 57 second-half points against Belmont on Sunday is the sixth-highest second-half scoring period in the history of CEFCU / Redbird Arena, and the eighth-highest scoring period.
• This season Illinois State plays eight games against schools whose mascot starts with the same letter as the school name. In all, there are 37 alliterative schools in NCAA Division I, including Wednesday’s opponent, the Eastern Michigan Eagles.
• Kendall Lewis has three games this season in which he has pulled down 13+ rebounds. That is tied for the second-highest total in the country this season, second only to Oscar Tshiebwe, last season’s National Player of the Year in NCAA Division I.
• Illinois State is 66-44 all-time against schools from the state of Michigan, including a 22-9 overall record against Eastern Michigan and 34-26 all-time against the Central Michigan Chippewas. ISU has yet to play Michigan State, and the only two schools that the Redbirds don’t have a winning record against is Michigan (0-1) and Western Michigan (3-5).
• This season Illinois State basketball is returning to its roots and playing a game inside of historic Horton Field House. Since 1989 CEFCU Arena (formerly Redbird Arena) has served as host to Redbird basketball games, but for one day, ISU men’s basketball will return to Horton Fieldhouse on December 10 when the Redbirds host SIUE.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Eastern Michigan, which features former top high school prospect Emoni Bates, makes its way into CEFCU Arena on Wednesday night after falling 101-73 in its last game to Florida Atlantic University.
In the loss Bates scored a game-high 29 points, making 11-of-20 shots from the field and 7-of-10 shots from long range. Tyson Acuff scored 15 points for the Eagles, while Kevin-David Rice scored 11. Bates’ six rebounds led the team, while Noah Farrakhan dished out two assists to pace the team.
For the season EMU is led by Bates’ 21.5 point per game average, which leads the Mid-American Conference, while Farrakhan averages 13.4 points per game and Acuff 12.9. Rice’s 9.0 point per game average is just off of the double-figure pace, as the Eagles average 75.4 points per game. Bates is the team’s leading rebounder with 52, as Acuff and Farrakhan each have given out 24 assists.
PUTTING THE FREE IN FREE THROWS
This season, having made 122 of 150 free throws, Illinois State ranks fifth in NCAA Division I in the category. While it is still very early into the season, if kept up through the remainder of the year, the percentage would be a school and conference record, and there have been just 21 schools in NCAA Division I history to finish a season with a free throw percentage at .800 or better.
STRONG OVERALL NUMBERS
Later in the notes we talk about how last season ISU forward Kendall Lewis had one of just four total seasons in program history with 30+ blocks, steals, and assists. Lewis is back to his same tricks this season, as he is one of just eight players in NCAA Division I with at least 12 blocks, 12 steals, and 12 assists this season, and he has more points (113) than anyone else on that list..
STRIVING FOR PERFECTION
Every season, all players strive for perfection on the basketball court. Through nine games in the 2022-23 season, Illinois State junior guard Malachi Poindexter has accomplished that at the free throw line, as he is a perfect 13-for-13 at the charity stripe. That represents the 10th-highest make total this season in NCAA Division I without a miss.
ALLITERATIVE ADVANTAGE
There are 37 schools whose school name starts with the same letter as its mascot. Of those 37, the Redbirds face off against five different opponents, accounting for eight total games as three schools (Belmont, Bradley, and Southern Illinois) are in the MVC alongside the Redbirds (Chicago State Cougars and Eastern Michigan Eagles are the other two schools that ISU faces this season). Credit for the idea behind this note goes to ISU assistant coach Andrew Dakich.
PURPLE REIGN
This season Illinois State has eight games scheduled against schools with purple as one of their school colors (or violet, if you’re a Roy G Biv kind of person). Those eight games represent the most such games in a season in program history, topping the previous high-water mark of seven set set four different times, most recently in 2014-15 when the ‘Birds faced Weber State, and three games each against UNI and Evansville. There are 23 schools in NCAA Division I with purple/violet as one of their school colors including: Albany, Alcorn State, Central Arkansas, Clemson, East Carolina, Furman, High Point, Holy Cross, James Madison, Kansas State, Lipscomb, LSU, Niagara, Northwestern, Northwestern State, Portland, Stephen F. Austin, Tennessee Tech, TCU, Washington, Weber State, Western Carolina, and Western Illinois. (credit for the idea behind this note goes to men’s basketball graduate assistant Jack Betz)
MILESTONE REACHED
On a three-pointer with 12:35 to play in the first half against Western Kentucky, Illinois State fifth-year guard Seneca Knight scored his 1,000th career point between his time at San Jose State, BYU, and now at Illinois State
BIG GAME BOARDS
This season there have been 186 NCAA Division I basketball players to have a game of at least 13 rebounds, with 145 of those players doing it just once. There are 26 players that have two games of at least 13 rebounds, and 13 players, including ISU’s Kendall Lewis, have done it three times this season. The lone player in the country with more 13+ rebound games than Lewis is defending Naismith National Player of the Year Oscar Tshibwe of Kentucky.
PLAYING THE LONG GAME
After Illinois State’s season-opening loss, Illinois State’s 20 head coaches have a 13-7 combined record in their first game on the sidelines for ISU. Of the coaches that won the 13 games, none have led Illinois State to an NCAA Tournament berth. On the other side of the ledger, each of Illinois State’s last five head coaches to lose their ISU opener have taken the Redbirds to a NCAA tournament appearance in their career.
BABY BIRD AND PROUD PAPA
Illinois State Assistant Basketball Coach, Walter Offutt, and his wife Nicole are the proud parents of a healthy baby boy. We wish Coach Offutt and his family the best. Current Men’s Basketball Chief of Staff, Mike Mastroianni, will cover the assistant basketball coach role while Coach Offutt is on parental leave.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
With his three-games at the Cayman Islands Classic, Illinois State fifth-year guard Seneca Knight was named to the All-Tournament Team at the event. He averaged 13.0 points, 7.3 rebounds – both leading the team – while also grabbing three steals and dishing out five assists over the three games.
FIRST-YEAR COACHES IN NCAA DIVISION I
Illinois State head coach Ryan Pedon is one of a surprisingly-large 59 head coaches that will be in their first season at their current schools – the list does not include four head coaches this season: Steve Prohm at Murray State, Thad Matta at Butler, Ed Conroy at the Citadel, and Lorenzo Romar at Pepperdine who are in their first year in their second stints at their school (as of games played on December 1)
ILLINOIS STATE VS THE WOLVERINE STATE
Despite having just seven schools, Illinois State has played 110 games against schools from the state, and have a 66-44 advantage inm the all-time series, including a 22-9 record against Eastern Michigan and 34-26 against Central Michigan.
NON-STATE STATE SCHOOLS
There are 358 NCAA Division I schools (including the transitional schools) playing basketball this season. Of those schools, 67 have “State” in its name. Of that 67, 31 are direct state schools (ie, Illinois State), while five others have the state in their name, but with a descriptor (Central Connecticut, East Tennessee, Southeast Missouri). The remainder of the schools – 31 total – have no direct state reference in its name (Boise State, Wichita State, etc.) but use State in the name. Of that group, Illinois State will face off against four such schools in the non-conference season: Murray, Northwestern, Chicago, and Ball.
RETURN TO HORTON
For many longtime Redbird fans, some of their fondest memories of Illinois State basketball come from games that were hosted inside historic Horton Field House. Since 1989, CEFCU Arena has served as host of Redbird basketball games but for one day only, ISU men’s basketball will return to Horton Field House with Redbird legend Doug Collins in attendance on December 10 when the Redbirds host SIU-Edwardsville at 3 p.m.
Horton Fieldhouse – which was the home of the Redbird basketball program from its opening on December 4, 1963, through the previously last played contest on December 2, 1988. The arena played host to numerous classic ISU victories, including: a 91-81 win over ninth-ranked Tulsa during the 1984 season; an 81-76 win over fourth-ranked Indiana State – featuring future NBA Hall of Famer Larry Bird – during the 1977-78 season; and an 88-84 win over fourth-ranked UNLV in 1977.
REBOUNDING IN THE OPENER
With his 14 rebounds in the 2022-23 season opener against Western Illinois, Redbird forward Kendall Lewis tied for the third-most total rebounds in the opening game of the season in program history.
BIG MAKES
Incoming Illinois State transfer Joe Petrakis made 58 three-point baskets last season. While a big number of itself, it is especially rare with how big Petrakis is. Last season he was one of just seven players in NCAA Division I to be 6-10 or taller and make 50 three-pointers in a season. Of those seven, just four are playing collegiate basketball in 2022-23.
CONSECUTIVE 10+ REBOUND GAMES TO OPEN SEASON
Kendall Lewis had reached double-figure rebounds in each of the team’s first three games, becoming one of just seven players in school history to open the season with at least two straight double-figure games, before the stretch was snapped with a seven rebound game in the team’s fourth game of the season.
RARE 30-30-30
Last season Illinois State senior forward Kendall Lewis has 38 steals, 32 blocked shots, and 33 assists. Since 1993-94, only 30 players in the MVC have put up at least 30 points, 30 steals, and 30 assists in a single season, and he is one of just two players – along with Cameron Krutwig – to do it since 2017-18. He is the first Redbird since 2007-08 to be a part of the 30-30-30 club, and one of four players in school history to be a part of the group. Additionally, including Lewis, there are just 16 players in the country this season with at least 32 in all three categories.
TALL TEAM
With the team having six players standing 6-8 or taller, this Illinois State squad has the fifth-tallest average height of any team in program history with an average height of 6-6, this years’ team trails the tallest two teams (1976-77 and 1987-88) by just over 1/10 of an inch per player. Below are the top-10 tallest and shortest Illinois State teams since 1962-63.
LOCAL FLAIR
When new Illinois State head coach Ryan Pedon brought in Colton Sandage on scholarship, he became the first Bloomington/Normal resident to be brought in on scholarship since his brother, Brandon, in 2005-09. Lijah Donnelly, who initially came to ISU as a walk-on was given a scholarship during his second season. Since 1962-63, there have been just 11 Redbird men’s basketball players from the pair of towns.
REDBIRDS SIGN THREE TO NLI’s
In his first signing class as head coach of the Illinois State Redbirds, ISU head men’s basketball coach Ryan Pedon has announced that three future Redbirds: Johnny Kinziger, Ty Pence, and Chase Walker; have signed their National Letters of Intent to play for ISU starting in the 2023-24 season.
Johnny Kinziger, a 6-0 point guard, is a two-time All-State honoree at De Pere, Wisconsin. Last season he averaged 21 points, four points, and four assists per game, and is 150 points away from becoming his school’s all-time leading scorer.
Ty Pence is a 6-6 guard from St. Joseph’s, Illinois, and is also a two-time All-State performer. The second highest nationally-rated recruit in program history, he is ranked 188th nationally after averaging 23.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game last season.
The third and final signee is 6-9 forward Chase Walker, from Columbus, Ohio. Walker was named to the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I Special Mention list after averaging 17.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, earning him Central Catholic League Player of the Year accolades.
STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM NOW WE’RE HERE
There are 57 NCAA Division I head men’s basketball coaches who played at the NCAA Division III level (the lowest of the NCAA’s three divisions). Among those is Illinois State first-year head coach Ryan Pedon who played at the College of Wooster, the same school as first-year South Carolina head coach Lamont Paris. Additionally, Marquette head coach Shaka Smart (Kenyon) and Clemson head coach Brad Brownell (DePauw) played in the same conference (North Coast Athletic Conference) as the Wooster pair.
The remaining coaches with a Division III background are Alabama’s Nate Oats (Marantha Baptist), Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd (Whitman), Boston U’s Joe Jones (SUNY-Oswego), Bucknell’s Nathan Davis (Randolph-Macon), Buffalo’s Jim Whitesell (Luther), Campbell’s Kevin McGeehan (Gettysburg), Charlotte’s Ron Sanchez (SUNY-Oneonta), Columbia’s Jim Engles (Dickinson), Dartmouth’s David McLaughlin (Colby), Drexel’s Zach Spiker (Ithaca), Eastern Washington’s David Riley (Whitworth), Fairleigh Dickinson’s Tobin Anderson (Wesleyan), George Washington’s Chris Caputo (Westfield State), Hawai’i’s Eran Ganot (Swarthmore), Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger (UW-Whitewater), Longwood’s Griff Aldrich (Hampden-Sydney), Marist’s John Dunne (Ithaca), McNeese’s John Aiken (Southern Maine), Mississippi State’s Chris Jans (Loras), Mount St. Mary’s Dan Engelstad (St. Mary’s), New Orleans’ Mark Slessinger (Aurora), Nicholls’ Austin Claunch (Emory), Norfolk State’s Robert Jones (New Paltz), North Florida’s Matthew Driscoll (Greensboro), Northeastern’s Bill Coen (Hamilton), Penn’s Steve Donahue (Ursinus), Penn State’s Micah Shrewsberry (Hanover), Purdue Fort Wayne’s Jon Coffman (Washington & Lee), Rice’s Scott Pera (PSU-Harrisburg), Sacred Heart’s Anthony Latina (Brandeis), Saint Joseph’s Billy Lange (Rowan), St. Thomas’ John Tauer (St. Thomas), San Diego’s Steve Lavin (Chapman), San Francisco’s Chris Gerlufsen (Randolph-Macon), Santa Clara’s Herb Sendek (Carnegie Mellon), South Dakota’s Eric Peterson (UW-LaCrosse), Texas A&M Corpus Christi’s Steve Lutz (Texas Lutheran), Texas-Arlington’s Greg Young (Howard Payne), Towson’s Pat Skerry (Tufts), Tulsa’s Eric Konkol (UW-Eau Claire), UC Irvine’s Russell Turner (Hampden-Sydney), UMass Lowell’s Pat Duquette (Williams), UMBC’s Jim Ferry (Keene State), USC’s Andy Enfield (Johns Hopkins), Utah State’s Ryan Odom (Hampden-Sydney), VCU’s Mike Rhoades (Lebanon Valley), Vermont’s John Becker (Catholic Univ.), Virginia Tech’s Mike Young (Emory and Henry), Washington State’s Kyle Smith (Hamilton), Western Illinois’ Rob Jeter (UW-Platteville), William & Mary’s Dane Fischer (Ithaca), and Wisconsin’s Greg Gard (UW-Platteville.
SAME ARENA, NEW NAME
Illinois State University and CEFCU (pronounced SEFF-Q) have come to terms on a naming rights and sponsorship agreement valued at approximately $3.1 million over 10 years. The agreement, which will support the funding for ongoing and ever-evolving costs associated with the student-athlete experience, was initiated by LEARFIELD’s Redbird Sports Properties, the University’s athletics multimedia rightsholder. The former Redbird Arena will be known as CEFCU Arena – Home of the Redbirds, with the University’s Board of Trustees approving the arena name change at its October 14 meeting. The CEFCU Arena naming rights and sponsorship agreement will continue to support funding of the Redbird Student-Athlete experience. Particularly in these ever-evolving times, funding is vital to maintaining and expanding upon the current NCAA, Division I student-athlete experience.
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