In addition to the league standings, Wichita State leads the Valley in scoring offense (77.2), scoring margin (+14.2), field goal percentage defense (40.7), three-point field goal percentage (39.7), rebounding offense (38.4), rebounding defense (28.7), rebounding margin (+9.7), assists (16.8) and three-point field goals made (8.4).
GIVING UP THE LONG BALL
In each of the last two games, the Redbirds have surrendered 11 and 10 made three-pointers, respectively. Illinois State has allowed 10-plus treys in three games this year, including the last two. The Redbirds have also allowed nine or more threes six times this season. Over the last three games, ISU foes are averaging 8.3 made threes per contest. Illinois State's opponent, Wichita State, leads the Valley in three-pointers per game with 8.4 treys per contest.
LETHAL WEAPON 3
Glimpses of potential have been seen with the Illinois State team in the first three league games, especially from a sophomore corps of Jackie Carmichael, Anthony Cousin and John Wilkins. The threesome are each averaging double-figures in league play, with Cousin leading the way with 15.7 points per game. The team's regular-season leading scorer, Carmichael is averaging 15.3 points per game in league play, while Wilkins is posting 10.7 points per contest.
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT NICE GUYS
Lying and cheating don't appear on the stat sheet, but steals do. Illinois State did not have a single steal against Indiana State Tuesday night, marking the first time the Redbirds have not posted a steal in a game since Jan. 30, 2008, at Northern Iowa. In addition to the lack of steals, Illinois State has only forced 14 turnovers in its last two games - six at Missouri State and eight at Indiana State.
TWENTY SOMETHING
With Anthony Cousin's 23-point effort at Missouri State, the Redbirds now have five players on their roster who have scored at least 20 points in an NCAA Division I game, including four this season. Jackie Carmichael has three 20-point efforts in his career and two this season, while Cousin, Justin Clark and Jon Ekey have each posted one 20-point game this season. Trey Blue had a 20-point effort with Fordham.
THERE IS NO 'D' IN VALLEY
However, if the Redbirds are going to improve their conference standing they are going to have to put a 'D' in Valley. Through three league games, Illinois State opponents are shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 49 percent from beyond the arch. Redbird league foes are also averaging 72.7 points per game.
FREEDOM OF CHOICES
So far this season, Illinois State has had 10 different players post a double-digit scoring game. The Redbirds have had 36 double-figure performances to date on the campaign achieved by: Jackie Carmichael (9), Austin Hill (6), Blake Mishler (4), Anthony Cousin (4), John Wilkins (4), Tony Lewis (3), Trey Blue (2), Justin Clark (2), Jon Ekey (1) and Alex Rubin (1).
A SENIOR MOMENT
In the last two games, Illinois State has not been getting a lift from its senior class. Austin Hill, Tony Lewis, Blake Mishler and Alex Rubin have combined for 8-for-25 (.320) shooting, including 1-for-6 (.167) on threes. They have also totaled 20 points in the two games over 122 minutes, while committing 11 of ISU's 22 turnovers during that span.
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 44-10 record (.815) in his four seasons. When ISU opponent's score less than 70 points, the Redbirds are 70-16 (.814) during that span.
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 29.2 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 12 games, shooting from beyond the arch has dried up for the Redbirds. Illinois State has shot 55-for-203 (.271) and only John Wilkins (38.9 percent) is shooting over 37.5 percent during that span.
OUI OUI
Is French-born ISU 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 seven contests Wilkins is averaging 10.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, while shooting a combined 13-for-29 (.448) from three.
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 six different starting five combinations.
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 at Indiana State. The Redbirds are 25-11 (.694) in the 36 previous games when coming off a loss under the guidance of Jankovich.
BLOCK PARTY
Illinois State's Jon Ekey (21) and Jackie Carmichael (18) 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 4.1 blocks per game. At this pace, the Redbirds would have the third-best blocks per game average in school history.
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 7.0 boards per game, which ranks fifth in the Valley. He is also the league-leader in offensive caroms with 2.7 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 64 career blocks, Carmichael ranks 10th for career blocked shots at ISU and he needs six 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 21 blocked shots this season. The Valley leader in blocks per game (1.5) is on pace to finish with approximately 47 blocked shots on the season, which would not only be the freshman record, but would mark the fifth-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).
FOUR-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 79-37 (.681), including a 35-22 (.614) mark in Valley regular-season games. In the four years prior to this staff's arrival, ISU was 51-67 (.432) overall and 22-50 (.306) in league play.
347-STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A TREY
Illinois State enters the game against Wichita State with at least one made three in 347-straight games. The last time ISU didn't sink a trey was an 82-43 loss at Creighton, Dec. 12, 1999.
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.
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).
