Former Illinois State head coach Porter Moser, currently an assistant at Saint Louis, left Arkansas-Little Rock for the ISU head coaching position in 2003. He was the Redbird head coach from 2003-07, while former Trojan Daniyal Robinson served as an assistant coach at Illinois State on Moser's staff.
ANYTHING BUT NATURAL
Today is rarity for Illinois State, playing a college basketball game in the state of Arkansas. The last time ISU played in "the Natural State" was on Dec. 6, 1972, at Arkansas. The Redbirds downed the Razorbacks on their home floor, 81-67. Back then, a postage stamp cost 8¢ and Richard Nixon was the President of the United States. Carole King had the album of the year and M*A*S*H premiered on CBS.
USING THE BELT
Over the years, Illinois State has had its share of success against the current members of the Sun Belt Conference. Overall, the Redbirds are 20-6 (.769) against the active members of the Sun Belt, and do not have a losing record against any member. The Redbirds have never faced UALR prior.
NON-CON SUCCESS
Head coach Tim Jankovich owns a 33-9 record (.786) against non-conference opponents during his time with the Redbirds.
THESE 'BIRDS ARE YOUNG
As the most inexperienced team in the Valley entering the season, the Illinois State roster had combined to play a total of 3,257 minutes for the Redbirds. Opening the season, the Redbirds had combined to play 10 Division I seasons, which ranked ISU No. 23, as one of the most inexperienced teams in the nation.
MAGNUM RPI
According to the RPI Report, Illinois State has the best three-year RPI rating in the Missouri Valley Conference. Over the last three seasons, the Redbirds are averaging an RPI rating of 56.7, while Northern Iowa and Creighton are tied for second with an average of 67.3.
THE BENCH MARK
The Illinois State bench has definitely left its mark on the early 2010-11 season, in fact, it is responsible for both Redbird victories. In ISU's wins over SIU Edwardsville and Tennessee State, the Redbird starters were outscored by the opponent counterparts. However, in each game, the Illinois State bench carried the weight and has combined to score 73 points in the two games, or 36.5 points per contest.
THE PERFECT BALANCE
In each of the first two Redbird games this season, Illinois State has had nine players crack into the scoring column - in the first half. In total, 10 players have scored for the Redbirds this season, so with nine individuals scoring in each of the last two first halves it shows the unselfishness of the Illinois State squad.
BOARDING CALL
There is a lot left in the season, but after two games the Redbirds have three players averaging six rebounds or more per game. Justin Clark leads the team with 6.5 boards per contest, while Jackie Carmichael and Tony Lewis have each grabbed six rebounds per game. The last time ISU had three players average six or more rebounds on the same team was in 1977-78, when Billy Lewis (8.6), Joe Galvin (7.9) and Del Yarbrough (7.3) accomplished the feat.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
This season, after only two games, sophomore Justin Clark has sank six three-pointers on 13 attempts. Last season, over 31 games, Clark made eight treys on 43 tries. After converting a career-best six threes against Tennessee State, he could realistically eclipse last season's three-point total in just three games.
NAW, I'M DOING JUST FINE, CLARK
Sophomore Justin Clark will look to carry the momentum of his career performance against Tennessee State. Clark finished the game with a career-best 20 points, while sinking a career-high six three-pointers. On the season, Clark is shooting 50 percent from the field and 46.2 percent on threes. Just last season, Clark shot 23.8 percent from the floor and 18.6 percent from beyond the arch.
HAVING SEEN THAT IN A WHILE
In Wednesday night's victory over Tennessee State, the Redbirds combined to make 11 three-pointers in the contest. The double-digit threes was something Illinois State didn't accomplish during the entire 2009-10 season. Which is odd, considering that the Tennessee State game marked the 19th double-digit made three-point shooting effort by the Redbirds in the Tim Jankovich-era.
ON A MISH-ION
Senior Blake Mishler opened up his final season by tossing in a career-best 18 points against SIU Edwardsville on Nov. 14. Mishler topped his old mark of 12 points, which he scored at East Tennessee State during his freshman season. He was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line, while adding a 5-for-8 shooting effort.
OPENING STATEMENT
The 2010-11 Illinois State men's basketball team made a statement Sunday with a 92-64 win over SIU Edwardsville. The Redbirds' 92 points were the most points scored by Illinois State in a season opener since the 1997-98 season, when ISU beat Oakland, 101-66. That team went on to make the first of its two-straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
WALKING THE LINE
In his first three seasons at Illinois State, Tim Jankovich's Redbirds have shot a combined 67.6 percent from the free throw line and only once did his team shoot 70 percent from the line (2009-10). Through two games, it looks like free throws could be more of a benefit than a detriment for the Redbirds this season. Illinois State is leading the Valley with an 84.1 percent clip, shooting 37-for-44.
THAT 70's SHOW
ISU's success during the Tim Jankovich-era has been pretty much based on 70 points. When the Redbirds score 70 or more points, Illinois State owns a 43-9 record (.827) in his four seasons. When ISU opponent's score less than 70 points, the Redbirds are 64-13 (.831) during that span.
CARMICHAEL FOR THE BLOCK
Sophomore Jackie Carmichael ended his first season with the Redbirds, as the most-prolific freshman shot blocker in Illinois State history. Carmichael swatted away 46 shots during the 2009-10 season, crushing the old mark of 36 set by Mike VandeGarde during his freshman campaign in 1990-91. With his 46 career blocks, Carmichael's season total tied for sixth-best in ISU history. He also only needs 13 more to crack the top-10 for career blocked shots at Illinois State.
ERR, EKEY FOR THE BLOCK?
Jackie Carmichael's freshman shot block record might be short lived with freshman Jon Ekey swatting six combined shots in the first two games. He posted four blocked shots in the season opener against SIU Edwardsville. Ekey currently leads the Valley in blocks per game and is on pace to finish with approximately 93 blocked shots on the season which would not only be the freshman record, but would rank second in a season in Illinois State history.
HE GIVETH AND HE TAKETH AWAY
Not only does Jon Ekey lead the Missouri Valley Conference in blocked shots, but he also leads Illinois State in assists. Through two games, Ekey has totaled a team-best six blocked shots, while adding nine assists. In addition to his team-best nine assists, Ekey has only committed two turnovers.
START ME UP
The Redbirds have not had any problems getting off to a quick start so far this season. Against Tennessee State, Illinois State made eight of its first 12 field goal attempts and jumped out to an 18-8 lead. In the season opener, the Redbirds converted their first seven shots and started the game with a 16-5 advantage.
FEAR THE BEARD
Sophomore Jackie Carmichael, a member of the 2010 Valley All-Freshman Team, will look to become only the second Redbird to earn first team all-league honors after being named to the all-freshman team. With Carmichael, the Redbirds have had seven players named to the Valley All-Freshman Team and only Osiris Eldridge went on to earn first-team all-league accolades (three times).
THREECOLA!
The Redbirds finished the 2008-09 season with 297 made three-pointers, which set the school standard for treys in a season. The made threes topped the old mark (255), which was set during the 2007-08 season, and Illinois State sank 193 treys during the 2009-10 campaign. Under head coach Tim Jankovich, the Redbirds have made 759 three-pointers in 104 games, or 7.3 per contest.
THREE-YEAR TURNAROUND
Entering his fourth year at the helm, Tim Jankovich has turned Illinois State from a probable Valley Tournament play-in team into a part of the championship conversation. Jankovich and his staff have returned ISU basketball to its glory with a record of 72-31 (.699), including a 35-19 (.648) mark in Valley regular-season games. In the three years prior to this staff's arrival, ISU was 41-48 (.461) overall and 18-36 (.333) in league play.
TWENTY, TWENTY, TWENTY, THEY'VE DONE IT AGAIN
With the BracketBusters win over Morehead State last season, ISU posted its third-straight 20-win campaign, which hadn't happened in Normal, Ill., since the 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons. It also became the 16th 20-win season for the Redbirds since the program became an NCAA Division I program prior to the 1970-71 season.
335-STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A TREY
Illinois State enters today's game at Arkansas-Little Rock with at least one made three in 335-straight games. The last time ISU didn't sink a trey was an 82-43 loss at Creighton, Dec. 12, 1999.
A RETURN TO POSTSEASON
Illinois State, which became an NCAA Division I program prior to the 1970-71 season, enjoyed postseason play for the 17th time last season. The Redbirds have qualified for the NCAA Tournament six times (1983, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1997 and 1998) and the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 11 times (1977, 1978, 1980, 1987, 1988, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2008, 2009 and 2010).
