Junior Kenneth Faried and senior Maze Stallworth were named to the 2009-10 Preseason All-OVC Team, while Faried was tabbed as the OVC Preseason Player of the Year. He is averaging a double-double with 17.1 points and 13.5 rebounds per contest, and his rebounding average leads the nation.
THIRTYSOMETHING
Heading into the season, senior Dinma Odiakosa had never scored 20 or more points in a collegiate game. So far this season, he has scored 20 or more points in three games, and has notched his first 30-point scoring effort. Odiakosa fired in 30 points Wednesday night against Missouri State and became the first non-guard Redbird to score 30 points in a game since Rico Hill's 31-point scoring game against Missouri State, March 3, 1997, in the championship game of the State Farm Valley Tournament.
NON-CON SUCCESS
Head coach Tim Jankovich owns a 30-8 record (.789) against non-conference opponents during his time with the Redbirds.
IN-SEASON MEDIA CONFERENCES
ISU Athletics Media Relations will host eight in-season media conferences during the 2009-10 season. Each conference will feature head coach Tim Jankovich and a member of the ISU basketball team. The media conferences start at 1 p.m., and the remaining scheduled date is March 2.
VALLEY TELECONFERENCES
Teleconferences with The Valley head coaches will be conducted each Tuesday throughout the season. The first teleconference is slated for Dec. 15, followed by every Tuesday from Jan. 5 to March 2. The conferences begin at 10 a.m. CT. To participate in the conference calls, call 913.981.4900. Illinois State head coach Tim Jankovich will participate at 10:30 a.m.
DAZZLING DINMA
Dinma Odiakosa has been nothing short of dazzling as of late. Not only is he coming off of a 30-point scoring effort, but he has scored in double-figures in nine-straight games. During that span, he is averaging a team-best 16.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, while being named Valley Player of the Week twice.
A PERFECT 10
With Wednesday's 76-72 win over Missouri State, Illinois State earned its 10th Missouri Valley Conference victory this season. Since the Valley expanded to 10 league members prior to the 1991-92 season, the Redbirds have posted at least 10 wins, 12 times in the last 18 seasons.
ANYTHING BUT BUSTERS
In the eight-year history of the event, the Redbirds boast an 11-2 record in games established by the BracketBusters concept, which includes the return games. The 11 victories are the most by any team that has participated in the made-for-TV event.
HE GIVETH, AND HE TAKETH AWAY
Senior Lloyd Phillips leads ISU in assists and steals this season. He has dished out 117 assists, or 4.3 per game, which ranks third in the Valley. He also leads the Valley in steals with 50, or 1.9 per game. With his 50 steals, Phillips has tied Richard Thomas' steal total during the 1992-93 season which ranks as the 10th highest single-season output in school history. Phillips has 10 games this season with three or more steals. In those 10 games, the Redbirds are 10-0.
DOWNING THE OVC
As of late, the Redbirds have been "naughty by nature" when facing members of the Ohio Valley Conference. Illinois State has won 22-straight games against members of the OVC, while head coach Tim Jankovich is 4-0 against the OVC while at ISU. Against the current members of the Ohio Valley Conference, the Redbirds own an 90-53 all-time record (.629).
20/20/20
With a win today, Illinois State would post its third-straight 20-win season, which hasn't happened in Normal, Ill., since the 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98 campaigns. It would also be the 16th 20-win season for the Redbirds since the program became an NCAA Division I program prior to the 1970-71 season.
THE COMEBACK KIDS
After trailing by five points at halftime against Missouri State Wednesday night, the Redbirds rallied for a 76-72 Valley win. The victory marked the seventh time this season when ISU won after trailing at half. The Redbirds are 7-7 this season when behind at the intermission. When leading at the half, ISU is 12-0.
MOVING ON UP
Osiris Eldridge continues to pass the greatest scorers in ISU history. The Chicago native became only the seventh Redbird player in Illinois State history to score 1,600-points in his career. He currently ranks No. 6 with 1,747 career tallies and needs 52 points to surpass Bill Sarver (1,798) for fifth place.
THE TRADITION CONTINUES
In the 39 completed years of being an NCAA Division I program, the Redbirds have had 32 winning seasons. With 19 wins this season, the Redbirds will have another winning season this year.
HOME SWEET HOME
Illinois State is in its 22nd season of basketball action on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. The Redbirds notched a 13-2 home record last season and a 16-2 home mark the year before. Under head coach Tim Jankovich, the Redbirds are 42-6 (.875) when playing at home. ISU owns a 226-82 (.734) all-time record on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Osiris Eldridge (15.6 ppg.) and Dinma Odiakosa (8.6 rpg.) lead the Valley in scoring and rebounding, respectively, and are looking to become the first teammates to sweep those statistical categories since 1992 (Ashraf Amaya of Southern Illinois did both that year). That statistical double has only happened eight times in the past 50 seasons (six of those eight were done by the same person, not teammates).
AUSTIN POWER
Junior college transfer Austin Hill has provided an offensive power boost for the Redbirds in the last four games off the bench. Over the last four games, all wins, Hill is fourth on the team in points scored with nine per game. He is also shooting 14-for-26 (.538) from the field and a 3-for-4 effort on threes.
SECOND-HALF ADJUSTMENTS
Illinois State head coach Tim Jankovich's halftime speeches must have really been riveting in the last four games. In three of those four contests, the Birds have emerged from the locker room on fire, shooting 63 percent or better in the game's second 20 minutes.
THE 700 CLUB
With a career-best 15 rebounds at Bradley Feb. 9, Dinma Odiakosa pushed his career rebounding total over the 700 plateau and now has 717 career boards. As a result, Odiakosa became only the ninth Redbird in school history to total 700 or more rebounds in a career.
PHILLIN' IT UP
In seven of the last nine games, senior Lloyd Phillips has scored in double-figures, including a career-best 22 points at Wichita State. Against Drake on Feb. 6, Phillips sank the game-winning three-pointer with 24 seconds remaining. He is averaging 12 points per game over the last nine contests, while shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 42.9 percent on threes. He also leads the team with 17 steals during that time.
THAT 70's SHOW
ISU's success this season is pretty much based on 70 points. When the Redbirds score 70 or more points this season, Illinois State is 14-1. When ISU opponent's score less than 70 points, the Redbirds are 15-3.
CARMICHAEL FOR THE BLOCK
After 27 games, Jackie Carmichael is eyeing the school record for the most blocked shots by a freshman. On the season, Carmichael has a team-leading 31 blocks and is on pace to beat the ISU mark. Mike VandeGarde collected 36 blocked shots during his freshman campaign in 1990-91.
PAINTING THE TOWN RED
The Illinois State offense has had a new focus in the last nine games - pound the ball inside. Not only has Dinma Odiakosa responded, but so have the other Redbird post players. During that time, the Redbirds are averaging 32.7 points per game in the paint, while the Redbirds, as a team, are averaging 69.3 points per game over the last nine games. As a result, 47.2 percent of ISU's offense is coming from short range.
VALUING THE ROCK
Illinois State's Alex Rubin sees the value in an offensive possession. As a result, he leads the team in assist-to-turnover ratio on the season. Rubin boasts a 4.46 assist-to-turnover ratio with 58 assists and only 13 turnovers. In the last nine games, Rubin's awareness has even peaked where he has 22 assists and only three miscues for an 7.33 assist-to-turnover ratio.
SECOND-CHANCE CHAMP
Senior Dinma Odiakosa is Illinois State's all-time leader in offensive caroms. Odiakosa now has 292 in his career, which topped Greg Dilligard, who had 260 offensive boards from 2003-07. Odiakosa also currently leads the Valley in both total rebounding (8.6 rpg.) and offensive rebounds (3.7 rpg.). This season, Odiakosa has 100 offensive rebounds, which is only one behind his school record of 101 offensive rebounds.
327-STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A TREY
Illinois State enters the Morehead State game with at least one made three in 327-straight games. The last time ISU didn't sink a trey was an 82-43 loss at Creighton Dec. 12, 1999.
HIGH FREQUENCY
Dinma Odiakosa has been on a different wavelength this season. The senior is shooting 63.3 percent from the field (136-for-215), which leads the Valley. He hasn't been ranked nationally, because the rankings are based on averaging five made field goals per game. However, with his 12 made field goals against Missouri State, Odiakosa is currently posting 5.04 per contest. Odiakosa's season percentage would rank fifth all-time, if the season ended today.
OSIRIS, THE GOD OF THE THREES
In mythology, Osiris is an Egyptian god, typically called the god of the afterlife, underworld or dead. In Redbird lore, Osiris Eldridge is now the god of the three-point shot. With three treys against Central Michigan, Eldridge became the school-record holder and has 266 career three-point field goals, surpassing the old mark by Gregg Alexander of 224. Eldridge is tied for No. 5 spot all-time in the Valley with former Missouri State guard Johnny Murdock (266).
A RETURN TO POSTSEASON
Illinois State, which became an NCAA Division I program prior to the 1970-71 season, enjoyed postseason play for the 16th 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) 10 times (1977, 1978, 1980, 1987, 1988, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2008 and 2009).
