Redbirds Take to the Road Against BYU

NORMAL, Ill. - Now with a 4-4 overall record, the Illinois State Redbirds take back to the road for a Wednesday evening contest at BYU, who has a 6-2 record.

GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State Redbirds (4-4) at BYU Cougars (6-2)
When: Wednesday, Dec. 6
Tip-Off: 8 p.m. CT 
Location: Provo, Utah
Arena: Marriott Center (18,987)
TV: BYUtv
    Dave McCann, play-by-play
    Blaine Fowler, analyst
    Spencer Linton, sideline
Radio: Illinois State Radio Network
    Dick Luedke, play-by-play
    Mike Matthews, analyst
Live Stats: BYU StatBroadcast

SETTING THE TABLE

•    Illinois State has the sixth-highest opponent win percentage in the country, as its Division I opponents have a 27-10 record excluding the games against the Redbirds. (page 4)
•    With Illinois State's game against BYU, it will have played a game in all four of the time zones in the contiguous United States. It is the first time that the Redbirds have played in all four time zones since the 1989-90 season. (page 4)
•    In six of Illinois State's first nine games, the Redbirds will be facing off against a team for the first time in program history, including the game against BYU.
•    The Illinois State duo of Keyshawn Evans and Phil Fayne combine to average 37.0 points per game, which is the highest combined total in the Missouri Valley Conference. (page 5)
•    Illinois State has had nine runs this season of nine points or more, including five of 10 or more points. (page 5)
•    Illinois State's 108-68 record over the last five-plus seasons (Dan Muller's tenure) is the most wins and highest winning percentage in the state of Illinois. (page 6)
•    Illinois State head coach Dan Muller is one of 35 head coaches in the country that are leading their alma mater, and of the 35, he has the 13th-most wins with his school. (page 5)
•    Evans stands fifth in NCAA Division I in three-point field goals per game, fifth in total three-point field goals, and 27th in three-point field goal percentage. (page 6)
•    Evans' 35.7 assist percentage is fifth-best in the country (according to SportsReference.com), and Milik Yarbrough's 44.6 assist rate (according to KenPom.com) ranks eighth in the country.
•    Both Fayne and Evans have scored in double-figures in all eight games this season.
•    In each of the last four seasons, Illinois State's men's basketball program has exceed its preseason coaches poll expectation.
•    Illinois State is 67-18 on its home floor over the last five-plus seasons.

SCOUTING THE COUGARS

BYU comes into the mid-week meeting having won its last three games with wins over UMass, Utah Valley, and Utah State.

In the team's last game, a 75-66 win over Utah State, two players: Yoeli Childs and McKay Cannon, each scored 17 points. Elijah Bryant scored 15 points, while TJ Haws added 10. Childs pulled down eight rebounds to tie for the game-high, while also leading the team with two blocked shots.

For the season, Childs leads the team in scoring (16.9), rebounding (9.0), and blocked shots (22). Bryant averages 16.5 points, while Cannon averages 12.5 and Haws 10.5.

Haws has dished out a team-best 34 assists, 4.3 per game, while Bryant has a team-best 11 steals. 

STRONG SCHEDULE

This season's opponents have combined for a 27-10 overall record (excluding games played against Illinois State), which is a .730 winning percentage, sixth-best such percentage in the country. 

Additionally, Illinois State's future schedule is also very strong, with all but two opponents during the upcoming schedule (three games total) holding a losing record. As such, the Redbirds' strength of schedule is ranked 12th in the country. 

COVERING THE COUNTRY

With Illinois State's game at BYU, which is in the Mountain Time Zone, the Redbirds will have played games in all four time zones in the contiguous United States (South Carolina, ET; home games, CT; BYU, MT; and Nevada, PT). That occurrence is the first time for Illinois State since the 1989-90 season. During the 1989-90 season the Redbirds faced Fairleigh Dickinson (ET), home games (CT), Colorado (MT), and vs. Michigan in the NCAA Tournament, played in Long Beach, Calif.