Men’s Basketball Bill Salyer
NORMAL, Ill. – After falling in an overtime heartbreaker to open MVC play for the season, the Redbirds return home for the second game of the conference season, hosting the Belmont Bruins in a 1 p.m. tip-off at CEFCU Arena.
QUICK HITTERS
• With his 20-point, 12-rebound double-double in the MVC opener against Murray State, Illinois State fifth-year guard Seneca Knight is one of just 14 guards in NCAA Division I to have a game of at least 20 points and 12 rebounds.
• Illinois State’s free throw percentage of .812 stands seventh in NCAA Division I, and the Redbirds are one of 10 schools in the country to be making at least 80% of their free tries in the young season.
• ISU senior Kendall Lewis is one of 11 players in NCAA Division I to have at least 10 steals, 10 blocked shots and 10 assists on the season.
• By winning his first two true road games of his career, Illinois State head men’s basketball coach Ryan Pedon became the first Redbird head coach since Gene Smithson in 1975 to win the first two true road games of their ISU career.
• Lewis has three games this season with at least 13 rebounds, tied for the highest total in the country alongside eight other men’s basketball players this season.
• 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.
• This season Illinois State has eight games scheduled against schools with purple as one of their school colors – those eight games are a new single-season school record.
• The Redbirds are 13-9 all-time against schools within the state of Tennessee, including a 1-0 mark over the state’s flagship University, topping the Volunteers in the opening game of the 1998 NCAA Tournament.
• Illinois State head coach Ryan Pedon is one of an eye-popping 59 head coaches across NCAA Division I who are in their first season at leading their current school.
• This season’s Redbird squad has an average height of 6-feet, 6-inches, which is the fifth-tallest Redbird team since 1962-63, and just a fraction (.08 of an inch) from the tallest team to suit up for ISU.
• Colton Sandage is one of 11 basketball players in Redbird basketball since 1962-63 to call the twin cities of Bloomington and Normal home. He is the first since his brother – Brandon Holtz – to come into the program on scholarship.
• 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 BRUINS
Belmont enters its second MVC game in program history on a four-game winning streak, with wins over George Mason, Howard, Georgia State, and Valparaiso.
In the team’s most recent win, a 76-64 victory over Valparaiso, graduate transfer Drew Friberg scored a team-high 20 points, making 6-of-11 shots from long range, while Cade Tyson cored 15, and EJ Bellinger 14. Tyson and Even Brauns each pulled down a team-best eight rebounds, while Keishawn Davidson dished out five assists.
This season the team has three players averaging at least 14 points per game, led by a 19.4 point per game average from leading scorer Ben Sheppard while Friberg and Tyson each average 14.3 points per game.
Brauns leads the team with 44 total rebounds, while Sheppard and Ja’Kobi Gillespie are in a tight battle for the team assist lead, with Sheppard dishing out 35 and Gillespie 32. Gillespie’s 16 steals lead the team, as do Braun’s 14 blocked shots.
PUTTING THE FREE IN FREE THROWS
This season, having made 108 of 133 free throws, Illinois State ranks seventh 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 11 players in NCAA Division I with at least 10 blocks, 10 steals, and 10 assists this season, and one of three to do it with 100+ points on the season.
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).
FEELING AT HOME ON THE ROAD
By winning his first two true road games of his career, Illinois State head men’s basketball coach Ryan Pedon became the first Redbird head coach since Gene Smithson in 1975 to win the first two true road games of their ISU career.
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 168 NCAA Division I basketball players to have a game of at least 13 rebounds, with 133 of those players doing it just once. There are 26 players that have two games of at least 13 rebounds, while just nine players, including ISU’s Kendall Lewis, have done it three times this season.
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.
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.
| ISU HEAD COACHES IN REDBIRD OPENER | ||||
| Coach | Years | First Opponent | W / L | NCAA Tournaments |
| B.C. Edwards | 1898-1902 | Bloomington YMCA | W | None |
| J.P. Stewart | 1902-1906 | Eureka | W | None |
| William Bawden | 1906-1908 | Bradley | W | None |
| George Binnewies | 1908-1910 | Hedding | W | None |
| Harrison Russell | 1910-1923 | Illinois Wesleyan | W | None |
| Clifford E. Horton | 1923-1925 | Eastern Illinois | W | None |
| Don Karnes | 1925-1927 | Chicago YMCA | L | None |
| Joseph Cogdal | 1927-1949 | Chicago YMCA | W | None |
| James “Pim” Goff | 1949-1957 | Millikin | L | 1957 |
| James Collie | 1957-1970 | Bradley | L | 1962, 1967, 1968, 1969 |
| Will Robinson | 1970-1975 | Bemidji State | W | None |
| Gene Smithson | 1975-1978 | Lewis | W | None |
| Bob Donewald | 1978-1989 | Indiana State | L | 1983, 1984, 1985 |
| Bob Bender | 1989-1993 | Green Bay | L | 1990 |
| Kevin Stallings | 1993-1999 | Northwestern | L | 1997, 1998 |
| Tom Richardson | 1999-2003 | Oakland | W | None |
| Porter Moser | 2003-2007 | Florida A&M | W | None |
| Tim Jankovich | 2007-2012 | Missouri-St. Louis | W | None |
| Dan Muller | 2012-2022 | UC Santa Barbara | W | None |
| Ryan Pedon | 2022-pres. | Western Illinois | L | — |
ILLINOIS STATE VS THE VOLUNTEER STATE
There are a dozen NCAA Division I schools located inside of the state of Tennessee, with the Redbirds holding a 13-9 overall record. Among the wins against the schools from the Volunteer state is ISU’s 1998 win over Tennessee in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
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)
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 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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