The Bears' Adam Leonard, the 2010 Valley Newcomer of the Year, earned preseason All-Valley honorable mention honors.
NEW YEAR'S IS NEW
For the fourth time in the last five seasons, the Redbirds will play a game on New Year's Day. The amazing thing, despite the recent trend, is that these games are the only time Illinois State has played on New Year's Day since becoming an NCAA Division I program prior to the 1970-71 season. The Redbirds are 1-2 all-time on New Year's Day and ISU suffered a 68-64 loss at Missouri State on New Year's Day last year.
NOT GETTING ANY KICKS
The Illinois State campus has historic Route 66 running through it, but in the last eight games the Redbird offense has had a tough time reaching 66. In fact, ISU hasn't scored 66 points since its 81-63 win over South Dakota on Nov. 26. The current eight-game streak is longest stretch of a similar scoring drought for the Redbirds since the final 10 games of the 2005-06 season.
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 44-9 record (.830) in his four seasons. When ISU opponent's score less than 70 points, the Redbirds are 70-16 (.814) during that span.
FOUR SCORE AND NINE GAMES AGO
The last time Illinois State has had four players score double-digits in a single game was the Nov. 26 victory over South Dakota, which was nine games ago. During that span, ISU has had three games where three players were in double-digits. The 'Birds are 5-3 during this time, while averaging 58.1 points per game.
RARE COMBO
Through 12 games, Illinois State's Austin Hill leads the Redbirds in both scoring (10.7 ppg.) and assists (25). If he could maintain this statistical control, Hill would become only the third Redbird in the NCAA Division I era to lead the team in both scoring and assists. Hill would join Vince Greene (2002-03) and Tarise Bryson (1999-2000), both 1,000-point scorers at Illinois State.
WHO WANTS TO SCORE?
Illinois State's Austin Hill leads the team in scoring with 10.7 points per game, which would be the lowest scoring average by a team leader for the Redbirds since the 2005-06 season. Greg Dilligard led that team with 9.9 points per game, while ISU averaged 55.5 points per game.
THE POWER OF THREES
The most obvious explanation for Illinois State's inconsistent start this season can be found with the team's shooting percentage. On the season, ISU is shooting 29.0 percent from three-point range, which would rank as the lowest single-season effort in school history, undercutting the 30.4 percentage during the 1990-91 campaign.
ARCH MADNESS
After the first two games of the season, Illinois State appeared to have a strong perimeter team with a combined 14-for-33 (.424) effort on threes. However, in the last 10 games, shooting from beyond the arch has dried up for the Redbirds. Illinois State has shot 46-for-174 (.264) and not a single player is shooting over 37.5 percent during that span.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO SHOOTING
In Illinois State's eight wins, the Redbirds are shooting 45.4 percent from the field (191-for-421) and 33.9 percent on threes (42-for-124). In the four losses, ISU is shooting 38.2 percent from the floor (84-for-220)and 21.7 percent from beyond the arch (18-for-83).
HANDLING ADVERSITY
The Redbirds haven't had to face much adversity in the Tim Jankovich-era, but when coming off a rare loss Illinois State has responded well. Illinois State is doing just that, after losing to Creighton Wednesday. The Redbirds are 25-9 (.735) in the 34 previous games when coming off a loss under the guidance of Jankovich.
FREEDOM OF CHOICES
In 12 games this season, Illinois State has had 10 different players post a double-digit scoring game. The Redbirds have had 30 double-figure performances to date on the campaign achieved by: Jackie Carmichael (7), Austin Hill (6), Blake Mishler (4), Tony Lewis (3), Trey Blue (2), Justin Clark (2), Anthony Cousin (2), John Wilkins (2), Jon Ekey (1) and Alex Rubin (1).
FINDING THE RIGHT COMBO
Already this season, the Redbirds have had more players earn a spot in the starting lineup than the team did all of last season. The Redbirds have had nine different players start for five different starting five combinations.
BLOCK PARTY
Illinois State's Jon Ekey (19) and Jackie Carmichael (17) are among the top-three shot blockers in the Missouri Valley Conference this season. With two of the top-three shot blockers in the conference, it is no surprise that the Redbirds rank among the league leaders in second-place with 4.4 blocks per game. At this pace, the Redbirds would have the third-best blocks per game average in school history.
OUI OUI
Is French-born Illinois State sophomore John Wilkins starting to find his three-point shooting groove? Yes! In his first two games, Wilkins combined to score a total of six points, but in his last five contests Wilkins is averaging 10.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, while shooting a combined 9-for-20 (.450) from three.
THE BENCH MARK
The Illinois State bench has definitely left its mark during the 2010-11 season, in fact, it has accounted for 42.0 percent of the Redbirds' scoring. In all but two games this season, the Redbird starters have been outscored by the opponent counterparts. However, in 11-of-12 games, the ISU bench carried the weight and has combined to score 321 points this season, or 26.8 points per contest.
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.
NOW BOARDING
Senior Tony Lewis has taken the lead rebounding role for the Redbirds this season. He is averaging 7.8 boards per game, which ranks second in the Valley. He is also the league-leader in offensive caroms with 3.1 per game. Lewis has had six games this season with eight or more rebounds.
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 63 career blocks, Carmichael ranks 10th for career blocked shots at ISU and he needs seven more to surpass Dinma Odiakosa (69) for ninth place.
ERR, EKEY FOR THE BLOCK?
Jackie Carmichael's ISU freshman shot block record might be short lived, as freshman Jon Ekey has collected 19 blocked shots this season. The Valley leader in blocks per game (1.6) is on pace to finish with approximately 50 blocked shots on the season, which would not only be the freshman record, but would mark the third-best, single-season blocked shot total in Illinois State history.
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).
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 79-35 (.693), including a 35-20 (.636) 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.
345-STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A TREY
Illinois State enters the game at Missouri State with at least one made three in 345-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).
