Evansville has nine players averaging 10 or more minutes per game and seven on the roster posting more than five points per game.
REMEMBERING ROBERTS
Illinois State enters the final game at Roberts Stadium looking to break even. The Redbirds boast an 11-12 all-time mark in the facility, including a 10-9 record against Evansville. In addition to facing the Purple Aces, the Redbirds are 1-3 all-time in the NCAA College Division Tournament, which was played in Roberts Stadium during the 1960s.
BRAVER THAN BRAVE
Sophomore Jackie Carmichael collected his third double-double of the season and his second against Bradley earlier this week. On the season, Carmichael averaged 21.5 points and 15.0 rebounds per game against the Braves, while shooting a combined 19-for-29 (.655) from the free throw line.
5150
This isn't a Van Halen note, it's about the final score of Tuesday's win over Bradley. With the win, Illinois State posted its lowest point total in a victory since the 49-47 win at Evansville on Feb. 20, 2008.
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. Then the tide turned again and ISU lost six-straight, before winning Tuesday against Bradley, 51-50. It is the first time Illinois State has had two separate six-game losing streaks in the same season since the 2002-03 campaign.
THE ROAD WARRIOR
Sophomore Justin Clark has picked up his game over the last three road contests. Clark is averaging 11.5 points per contest in the last three ISU road games, while shooting 9-for-14 (.643) from the field and 5-for-8 (.625) on threes. On the season, Clark is averaging 3.3 points per game and shoots 35.2 percent from the floor and 25 percent 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 17 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 eight of his last 11 games. He is averaging 12.8 points per game over his last 11 contests and has shot a combined 53-for-105 (.505) from the field during that span.
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 48 blocked shots this season, which ranks tied for No. 4 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.
IT AIN'T OVER, 'TIL IT'S OVER
In Illinois State's four Valley victories, the Redbirds trailed by at least nine points in each game. Against Southern Illinois, ISU found itself down 11 points early in the first half before recording the win. At Bradley, the Redbirds trailed by 15 points in the first half, but ISU turned it into another victory. Against Drake, ISU was down by nine points before posting the win, and Tuesday, against Bradley, the Redbirds were down by 11 points before mounting their comeback.
ARC MADNESS
The most obvious explanation for Illinois State's uncharacteristic record this season can be found with the team's shooting percentage. On the season, ISU is shooting 29.9 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.
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 11-13 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.
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 17 times this season, including in six of the last seven games. For the year, ISU is scoring 61.1 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 (15), Jackie Carmichael (14), 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 72-24 (.750) during that span.
362-STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A TREY
Illinois State enters the game at Evansville with at least one made three in 362-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 12 different starting five combinations. With senior night, ISU unveiled a new lineup for the season with Alex Rubin, Austin Hill, Jon Ekey, Blake Mishler and Tony Lewis.
BLOCK PARTY
Illinois State's Jon Ekey (48) and Jackie Carmichael (36) 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 4.1 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.
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 82 career blocks, Carmichael is seventh in career blocked shots at ISU and needs seven 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.
