Bradley was projected to finish fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll, as compiled by league coaches, media and sports information directors. Maniscalco was tabbed on the league's all-preseason team, while Brown and Andrew Warren earned honorable mention honors.
EITHER A WIN, OR SEEDED NO. 10
Illinois State has to defeat Bradley in order to stay out the 10th spot in the 2011 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, due to the second phase of the league tie-breaker formula - non-conference strength of schedule. A Redbird victory, would guarantee ISU the No. 9 seed at next week's league tournament with a 2-0 head-to-head record against Bradley, in case of a tie.
LET'S GO STREAKING
Illinois State's Valley season has been one of streaks this year. The Redbirds stumbled out of the gate with an eight-game losing skid, before winning three-straight games. However, the tide has turned again and ISU is currently in the midst of a six-game losing streak. It is the first time Illinois State has had two separate six-game losing streaks in the same season since the 2002-03 campaign.
SENIOR FAREWELL
The Illinois State home crowd will say farewell to another senior class Tuesday night prior to the Bradley game. ISU seniors Matt Coates, Austin Hill, Tony Lewis, Blake Mishler and Alex Rubin have combined to score 1,356 points, grab 694 rebounds, dish out 278 assists, post 132 steals and to win 82 games.
CLARK TRANSFORMATION
Sophomore Justin Clark has shown glimpses of the offensive prowess he possessed as a prep player in his first two seasons at Illinois State, but those had been few and far between. Prior to the two games last week, Clark had played 54 college games and made 17 three-point field goals, while shooting 19.3 percent from beyond the arc over nearly two seasons. Over the last two games, that has all changed. Clark posted back-to-back double-digit scoring games for the first time in his college career, while shooting 9-for-14 (.643) from the floor and 5-for-8 (.625) on threes.
BOARDING CALL
Illinois State's Tony Lewis has been dominant on the glass all season and leads the team with 6.4 boards per contest. Lewis has led the Redbirds in rebounding in 17 games and has posted eight or more rebounds in 10 games this season.
LEAD ELEMENT
In 12 of ISU's 15 losses, there has been an element of a Redbird lead in each of the games. In seven of the defeats, Illinois State has been in the lead during the second half.
AUSTIN POWER
Senior Austin Hill has really stepped up his game as of late, including his back-to-back career-best efforts with 23 points against Missouri State followed by 27 tallies at Creighton. Hill has posted double-digit scoring efforts in seven of his last 10 games. He is averaging 13.1 points per game over his last nine contests and has shot a combined 49-for-95 (.516) from the field during that span.
RACING TO 500
Senior Austin Hill, who transferred from Southeastern Community College, and sophomore Jackie Carmichael are both approaching the 500-point scoring milestone in their second season with Illinois State. Hill needs only four more points, as the team's highest active scorer with 496 points, while Carmichael has 487 career points.
FINDING THE MARK FROM THE ARC?
Over the last two games, Illinois State is shooting 46.2 percent on threes with an 12-for-26 effort from beyond the arc. That effort is 15.5 percent better than ISU's overall season average.
TWENTY SOMETHING
With Austin Hill's back-to-back 20-point efforts against Missouri State and at Creighton, ISU now has six players on their roster who have scored at least 20 points in an NCAA Division I game, including five this season. Jackie Carmichael has four 20-point efforts in his career and three this season, while Hill has two on the year. Anthony Cousin, Justin Clark and Jon Ekey have each posted one 20-point game this season. Trey Blue had a 20-point effort with Fordham.
E-KEY BLOCK
For architects, the key block is the keystone, or center block, of a stone arch. For the ISU defense, Jon Ekey's shot-blocking ability has been front and center. Ekey has 47 blocked shots this season, which ranks tied for No. 5 in a single season in Redbird history and is also the school's freshman record for blocked shots. Ekey dethroned teammate Jackie Carmichael, who claimed the mark last season with 46 blocks.
THREE'S COMPANY, AND USUALLY A WIN
Good things have happened to Illinois State this season when three Redbirds score in double-figures. Unfortunately, it hasn't happed as much as Illinois State would like. When three or more players score double-digits, the Redbirds are 8-4 this season, as opposed to 10-13 when two or more Redbirds reach double-digits.
THE ABILITY TO SCORE IS THERE
During the campaign, Illinois State has had 13 different players see court time and 10 of them have led the team in scoring for at least one game this season. In fact, ISU had a streak this season of seven-straight games with seven different leading scorers.
HOME SWEET HOME
Illinois State is in its 23rd season of basketball action on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. Under head coach Tim Jankovich, the Redbirds are 53-14 (.791) when playing at home. ISU owns a 237-90 (.725) all-time record on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
A 60-POINT LIMIT
The Redbirds have had difficulty scoring more than 60 points in a game all season. Illinois State has scored less than 60 points 16 times this season, including in five of the last six games. For the year, ISU is scoring 61.5 points per game, which would be the lowest scoring average by a Redbird team since the 2006-07 season (55.5 ppg.).
FREEDOM OF CHOICES
So far this season, Illinois State has had 10 different players post a double-digit scoring game. The Redbirds have had 65 double-figure performances to date on the campaign achieved by: Austin Hill (14), Jackie Carmichael (13), Anthony Cousin (7), John Wilkins (7), Blake Mishler (6), Trey Blue (6), Tony Lewis (6), Justin Clark (4), Jon Ekey (2) and Alex Rubin (1).
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 71-24 (.747) during that span.
361-STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A TREY
Illinois State enters the game against Bradley with at least one made three in 361-straight games. The last time ISU didn't sink a trey was an 82-43 loss at Creighton, Dec. 12, 1999.
FINDING THE RIGHT COMBO
Illinois State has had more players earn a spot in the starting lineup than the team did all of last season. The Redbirds have had 10 different players start for 11 different starting five combinations. ISU has had the same lineup in each of the last two games, with Anthony Cousin, Austin Hill, Jon Ekey, Blake Mishler and Tony Lewis.
BLOCK PARTY
Illinois State's Jon Ekey (47) and Jackie Carmichael (34) are the top two shot blockers in the Missouri Valley Conference this season. With the two top shot blockers in the conference, it is no surprise that the Redbirds rank second in the conference with 4.0 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.
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, but that mark was topped this season by teammate Jon Ekey. With 80 career blocks, Carmichael is seventh in career blocked shots at ISU and needs nine more to surpass Bill Braksick (88) for sixth place.
A GO-GO GOPHER
Both the Illinois State men's basketball and football programs were benefactors by the transfer of Bryant Allen from Minnesota. Allen, who is an ISU football scholarship student-athlete, will be eligible immediately for the Redbirds on the gridiron, but won't be able to play until the completion of the 2011 fall semester due to NCAA residency rules. With the Gophers, Allen, a six-foot, 170-pound guard, played in nine games during the 2009-10 season, all as a reserve. He scored seven points over 22 minutes played.
THREE GUARDS INK WITH ISU FOR 2011-12
Illinois State head basketball coach Tim Jankovich solidified the Redbird backcourt for years to come as guards Johnny Hill (Glenbard East), Nic Moore (Warsaw, Ind.) and Nick Zeisloft (Lyons Township) each signed National Letters of Intent (NLIs) to continue their education and basketball careers at Illinois State, during the early signing period on Nov. 10.
