Quincy (96 votes) was predicted to finish second in the GLVC North Division Preseason Poll, behind Drury (113 votes).
THE SWAT TEAM
Last season, Illinois State's Jon Ekey and Jackie Carmichael became the first set of Missouri Valley Conference teammates to finish the regular-season ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in blocked shots since the 1986-87 season. Ekey finished the year with 52 swats (1.7 bpg.), while Carmichael added 36 rejections (1.2 bpg.). Bradley's Donald Powell and Luke Jackson were the last pair of teammates to finish in the top-2 for blocked shots. Ekey also became the second Redbird to lead the Valley in blocked shots, joining Mike VandeGarde, who led the league with 1.52 blocks per game during the 1991-92 season.
FEAR THE BEARD
Junior Jackie Carmichael is the team's top-returning scorer for the second-straight season. Carmichael averaged 9.8 points per game last season and led the squad with 22 double-digit scoring efforts. Carmichael also returns as Illinois State's top rebounder. He averaged 5.4 rebounds per game last season and collected three double-doubles on the year.
WILKINS FOR THREE ... OUI!
Junior John Wilkins returns as the Redbirds' most-prolific three-point shooter from a season ago. Wilkins led the team with 33 made three-pointers and also paced the Redbirds in three-point shooting percentage, sinking treys at a 37.1 percent clip.
A HOUSE DIVIDED
The make up of Illinois State's 2011-12 roster is pretty split - right down the middle in fact. The Redbirds return six players with game experience from last season, while welcoming six newcomers.
THE RIGHT HALF IS BACK
Even though the Redbirds only return six players from last season's team, they must be the right guys. The six returning players accounted for 52.7 percent of the scoring last season and five of the players were among the team's top-seven scorers.
THE NEXT BEST THING
Illinois State has a pair of players this season who were runner-up for Mr. Basketball in their respective home state. Junior Anthony Cousin was runner-up for Mr. Basketball in Alaska in 2008, while in 2011, Nic Moore was runner-up for Mr. Basketball in Indiana.
THE GREAT WHITE NORTH
Illinois State got a jump on the 2011-12 season with a four-game tour to Canada in August. The Redbirds posted a 2-2 mark, while facing off against collegiate programs in Canada, as well as professional all-star teams. In addition to the four games, the Redbirds were also granted, per NCAA rules, 10 days of practice leading up to the trip.
PLANTING A THRE
Freshman Jordan Threloff should be an inside presence for years to come and the 6-foot-10, 255-pound center is anxious to return to the court. After redshirting last season, Threloff gave the Illinois State coaching staff a taste of what the future holds with multiple double-digit scoring efforts during the team's four-game tour to Canada.
A TRUE AMERICAN COUSIN
Junior guard Anthony Cousin knows what it's like to go above and beyond the call of duty. As a son of an Army sergeant, Cousin has lived in Kentucky, Virginia, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Connecticut, Kansas and now Illinois. His relocations around the United States has totaled 12,016 miles, before arriving at his lifelong goal of playing NCAA Division I basketball.
MOORE TO COME
Illinois State's Nic Moore is probably the Redbirds' most highly-touted freshman since Osiris Eldridge wore the Redbird uniform in 2007. Multiple internet sites have projected Moore as the Missouri Valley Conference's Freshman of the Year. Moore finished his prep career with 1,891 points and averaged 27.2 points per game as a senior.
KEEPING WHAT'S OURS
In 14 of ISU's 19 losses last season, the Redbirds held a lead in each of those games. In eight of the defeats, Illinois State owned a lead during the second half.
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 46-10 record (.821) in his four seasons. When ISU opponent's score less than 70 points, the Redbirds are 72-25 (.742) during that span.
TWENTY SOMETHING
ISU enters the season with four players on the roster who have scored at least 20 points in an NCAA Division I game. Jackie Carmichael has four 20-point efforts in his career and three this season, while Anthony Cousin and Jon Ekey have each posted one 20-point game. Trey Blue had a 20-point effort while playing at Fordham.
HOME SWEET HOME
Illinois State enters its 24th season of basketball action on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. Under head coach Tim Jankovich, the Redbirds are 54-14 (.794) when playing at home. ISU owns a 238-90 (.726) all-time record on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
364-STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A TREY
Illinois State enters the 2011-12 season with at least one made three in 364-straight games. The last time ISU didn't sink a trey was an 82-43 loss at Creighton, Dec. 12, 1999.
