INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Illinois State men's basketball team will play in its final non-home non-conference game of the season when the squad travels to Indianapolis to take on the Ball State Cardinals in the inaugural Indy Classic.
QUICK HITTERS
• Saturday's game is the third time the two programs have met over the past three seasons, with each school winning on their own home floors - Illinois State won by 21 last season in Illinois.
• Illinois State has a season free throw percentage of .815, which is the fourth-highest in NCAA Division I.
• ISU senior forward Kendall Lewis is one of just seven players in the country this season to have at least 13 assists, steals, and blocked shots, while scoring at least 140 points.
• Having made all 13 of his free throw tries this season, Malachi Poindexter has the seventh-most makes without a miss in the country this season.
• Illinois State head coach Ryan Pedon and Ball State head coach Michael Lewis are one of 59 head coaches in their first seasons at the respective schools. Additionally, the two were on staff together at Butler during the 2015-16 and remain close friends.
• Darius Burford has made 28-of-30 free throws this season, which stands as the eighth-highest individual free throw percentage in the country.
• After Illinois State's season-opening loss, Illinois State's 20 head coaches have a 13-7 combined record in their first game on the sidelines for ISU. Of the coaches that won the 13 games, none have led Illinois State to an NCAA Tournament berth. On the other side of the ledger, each of Illinois State's last five head coaches to lose their ISU opener have taken the Redbirds to a NCAA tournament appearance in their career.
• Illinois State fifth-year guard Colton Sandage was named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week after averaging 22 points and 4.5 rebounds, helping the Redbirds to a 2-0 week.
• Kendall Lewis has three games this season in which he has pulled down 13+ rebounds. That is tied for the seventh-highest total in the country this season.
• Illinois State is 154-108 all-time against schools in the Mid-American Conference, and 142-122 all-time against schools inside the state of Indiana.
• Of the 358 NCAA Division I schools in the country playing basketball this season, 67 have "State" in their school name. Of that 67, 31 are direct state schools (ie, Illinois State, Indiana State, etc.), while five others have the state in their name but with a description (East Tennessee). The remainder of the schools - 31 total - have no direct state reference in its name. Of that group, Illinois State faces off against four such schools, including Saturday's opponent Ball State (and will also face Chicago, Murray, and Northwestern).
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
Ball State enters the neutral site game riding a two-game win streak with victories over Eastern Illinois and Evansville.Â
In the most recent win, an 88-69 victory at home against the Evansville Aces, Ball State got a game-high 20 points from Jaylin Sellers, with Payton Sparks (18), Jarron Coleman (15), and Bahseer Jihad (12) each reaching the double-figure scoring plateau. Sparks pulled down a dozen rebounds for the double-doulbe, while Jihad grabbed seven.Â
For the season the Cardinals have four players averaging in double-figure scoring and a fifth just off of the pace. Sparks leads the team in scoring (14.8 per game), and rebounding (8.3), making 61.4 percent of his shots during the year. Jaylin Sellers averages 13.1 points per game, while Coleman averages 12.9 while dishing out a team-best 34 assists.Â
Damarius Jacobs averages 13.9 and leads the team in blocked shots (13), steals (18), and is two assists off of the team lead (32). Jalen Windham is just off of the double-figure pace at 9.8 points per game, with Mickey Pearson close behind at 7.4 points per game. Sellers has made 58.3 percent of his long-range tries (14-of-24) during the year, with Coleman's 23 long-range makes (23-of-57, 40.4%) marking the team high in that category.
PUTTING THE FREE IN FREE THROWS
This season, having made 172 of 211 free throws, Illinois State ranks fourth in NCAA Division I in the category. While it is still very early into the season, if kept up through the remainder of the year, the percentage would be a school and conference record. There have been just 21 schools in NCAA Division I history to finish a season with a free throw percentage at .800 or better.
STRONG OVERALL NUMBERS
Later in the notes we talk about how last season ISU forward Kendall Lewis had one of just four total seasons in program history with 30+ blocks, steals, and assists. Lewis is back to his same tricks this season, as he is one of just seven players in NCAA Division I with at least 13 blocks, 13 steals, and 13 assists this season, while scoring at least 140 points.
STRIVING FOR PERFECTION
Every season, all players strive for perfection on the basketball court. Through 11 games in the 2022-23 season, Illinois State junior guard Malachi Poindexter has accomplished that at the free throw line, as he is a perfect 13-for-13 at the charity stripe. That represents the seventh-highest make total this season in NCAA Division I without a miss.
ALLITERATIVE ADVANTAGE
There are 37 schools whose school name starts with the same letter as its mascot. Of those 37, the Redbirds face off against five different opponents, accounting for eight total games as three schools (Belmont, Bradley, and Southern Illinois) are in the MVC alongside the Redbirds (Chicago State Cougars and Eastern Michigan Eagles are the other two schools that ISU faces this season. (credit for the idea behind the note goes to ISU MBB assistant coach Andrew Dakich
STEADY ON THE MAKES
The Redbirds are one of the top free throw shooting teams in the NCAA - ranking fourth - and helping the 'Birds to their high percentage is junior guard Darius Burford, who stands eighth in the country in percentage among players that have an average of 2.5 makes per game (the NCAA stats minimum).
BIG GAME BOARDS
This season there have been 222 NCAA Division I basketball players to have a game of at least 13 rebounds. Three players have five games of 13 or more rebounds, with three others - including reigning National Player of the Year Oscar Tschibwe - having four such games. Kendall Lewis - with three 13+ rebounding games on the season - is one of 14 players with three games in that grouping.
PLAYING THE LONG GAME
After Illinois State's season-opening loss, Illinois State's 20 head coaches have a 13-7 combined record in their first game on the sidelines for ISU. Of the coaches that won the 13 games, none have led Illinois State to an NCAA Tournament berth. On the other side of the ledger, each of Illinois State's last five head coaches to lose their ISU opener have taken the Redbirds to a NCAA tournament appearance in their career.Â
NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Behind a week in which he averaged 22 points and the Redbirds won a pair of games, Illinois State fifth-year guard Colton Sandage was named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week. He averaged 22 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in a week in which the Redbirds went 2-0 – and 3-0 over a seven-day stretch with the team's win over Belmont on Sunday. Made half of his 20 shots from the field, 4-of-10 from beyond the arc, and 20-of-24 (83.3%) from the charity stripe over the two games. He also had two assists and a blocked shot during the week
FRIENDLY FOE
When Illinois State head coach Ryan Pedon and Ball State head coach Michael Lewis face off on Saturday, it won't just be a meeting of two longtime assistant coaches taking the reigns of their own programs. The two are friends dating back to their days as assistant coaches under Chris Holtmann's Butler Bulldogs squad in 2015-16, and have remained close ever since.
ILLINOIS STATE VS THE MAC
With ISU's contest against the Ball State Cardinals, it marks the second time this season that the Redbirds have faced off against a MAC school after topping the Eastern Michigan Eagles on December 7 inside of CEFCU Arena. In Redbird basketball history ISU is 154-108 all-time against schools from the conference, including a 66-39 mark against Northern Illinois and 23-9 against Eastern Michigan.
ILLINOIS STATE VS THE HOOSIER STATE
There are 10 NCAA Division I schools inside of the state border of Indiana, including three within the Missouri Valley Conference. The program is 142-122Â all-time against teams from the Hoosier State, including a 67-62 mark against Indiana State and 45-21 against Evansville.
BABY BIRD AND PROUD PAPA
Illinois State Assistant Basketball Coach, Walter Offutt, and his wife Nicole are the proud parents of a healthy baby boy. Â We wish Coach Offutt and his family the best. Â Current Men's Basketball Chief of Staff, Mike Mastroianni, will cover the assistant basketball coach role while Coach Offutt is on parental leave.
NON-STATE STATE SCHOOLS
There are 358 NCAA Division I schools (including the transitional schools) playing basketball this season. Of those schools, 67 have "State" in its name. Of that 67, 31 are direct state schools (ie, Illinois State), while five others have the state in their name, but with a descriptor (Central Connecticut, East Tennessee, Southeast Missouri). The remainder of the schools - 31 total - have no direct state reference in its name (Boise State, Wichita State, etc.) but use State in the name. Of that group, Illinois State will face off against four such schools in the non-conference season: Murray, Northwestern, Chicago, and Ball.
MILESTONE REACHED
On a three-pointer with 12:35 to play in the first half against Western Kentucky, Illinois State fifth-year guard Seneca Knight scored his 1,000th career point between his time at San Jose State, BYU, and now at Illinois State.
PURPLE REIGN
This season Illinois State has eight games scheduled against schools with purple as one of their school colors (or violet, if you're a Roy G Biv kind of person). Those eight games represent the most such games in a season in program history, topping the previous high-water mark of seven set set four different times, most recently in 2014-15 when the 'Birds faced Weber State, and three games each against UNI and Evansville. There are 23 schools in NCAA Division I with purple/violet as one of their school colors including: Albany, Alcorn State, Central Arkansas, Clemson, East Carolina, Furman, High Point, Holy Cross, James Madison, Kansas State, Lipscomb, LSU, Niagara, Northwestern, Northwestern State, Portland, Stephen F. Austin, Tennessee Tech, TCU, Washington, Weber State, Western Carolina, and Western Illinois. (credit for the idea behind this note goes to men's basketball graduate assistant Jack Betz).
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
With his three-games at the Cayman Islands Classic, Illinois State fifth-year guard Seneca Knight was named to the All-Tournament Team at the event. He averaged 13.0 points, 7.3 rebounds - both leading the team - while also grabbing three steals and dishing out five assists over the three games.
REBOUNDING IN THE OPENER
With his 14 rebounds in the 2022-23 season opener against Western Illinois, Redbird forward Kendall Lewis tied for the third-most total rebounds in the opening game of the season in program history.Â
BIG MAKES
Incoming Illinois State transfer Joe Petrakis made 58 three-point baskets last season. While a big number of itself, it is especially rare with how big Petrakis is. Last season he was one of just seven players in NCAA Division I to be 6-10 or taller and make 50 three-pointers in a season. Of those seven, just four are playing collegiate basketball in 2022-23.
CONSECUTIVE 10+ REBOUND GAMES TO OPEN SEASON
Kendall Lewis had reached double-figure rebounds in each of the team's first three games, becoming one of just seven players in school history to open the season with at least two straight double-figure games, before the stretch was snapped with a seven rebound game in the team's fourth game of the season.
RARE 30-30-30
Last season Illinois State senior forward Kendall Lewis has 38 steals, 32 blocked shots, and 33 assists. Since 1993-94, only 30 players in the MVC have put up at least 30 points, 30 steals, and 30 assists in a single season, and he is one of just two players - along with Cameron Krutwig - to do it since 2017-18. He is the first Redbird since 2007-08 to be a part of the 30-30-30 club, and one of four players in school history to be a part of the group. Additionally, including Lewis, there are just 16 players in the country this season with at least 32 in all three categories.
TALL TEAM
With the team having six players standing 6-8 or taller, this Illinois State squad has the fifth-tallest average height of any team in program history with an average height of 6-6, this years' team trails the tallest two teams (1976-77 and 1987-88) by just over 1/10 of an inch per player. Below are the top-10 tallest and shortest Illinois State teams since 1962-63.
LOCAL FLAIR
When new Illinois State head coach Ryan Pedon brought in Colton Sandage on scholarship, he became the first Bloomington/Normal resident to be brought in on scholarship since his brother, Brandon, in 2005-09. Lijah Donnelly, who initially came to ISU as a walk-on was given a scholarship during his second season. Since 1962-63, there have been just 11 Redbird men's basketball players from the pair of towns.
RETURN TO HORTON
For many longtime Redbird fans, some of their fondest memories of Illinois State basketball come from games that were hosted inside historic Horton Field House. Since 1989, CEFCU Arena has served as host of Redbird basketball games but for one day only, ISU men's basketball returned to Horton Field House with Redbird legend Doug Collins in attendance on December 10 when the Redbirds topped SIU Edwardsville 77-71 in front of 3,420 loud ISU fans.
  Â
Horton Fieldhouse – which was the home of the Redbird basketball program from its opening on December 4, 1963, through the previously last played contest on December 2, 1988. The arena played host to numerous classic ISU victories, including: a 91-81 win over ninth-ranked Tulsa during the 1984 season; an 81-76 win over fourth-ranked Indiana State – featuring future NBA Hall of Famer Larry Bird – during the 1977-78 season; and an 88-84 win over fourth-ranked UNLV in 1977
REDBIRDS SIGN THREE TO NLI's
In his first signing class as head coach of the Illinois State Redbirds, ISU head men's basketball coach Ryan Pedon has announced that three future Redbirds: Johnny Kinziger, Ty Pence, and Chase Walker; have signed their National Letters of Intent to play for ISU starting in the 2023-24 season.
  Â
Johnny Kinziger, a 6-0 point guard, is a two-time All-State honoree at De Pere, Wisconsin. Last season he averaged 21 points, four points, and four assists per game, and is 150 points away from becoming his school's all-time leading scorer.
  Â
Ty Pence is a 6-6 guard from St. Joseph's, Illinois, and is also a two-time All-State performer. The second highest nationally-rated recruit in program history, he is ranked 188th nationally after averaging 23.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game last season.Â
  Â
The third and final signee is 6-9 forward Chase Walker, from Columbus, Ohio. Walker was named to the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I Special Mention list after averaging 17.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, earning him Central Catholic League Player of the Year accolades.
MAKING OVER HALF
Recently the Redbirds had back-to-back games of making at least half of their shots, falling a game shy of marking the 12th time since 1990-91 that a Redbird team hit over half of their shots in a game for three straight games. During that span, the longest streak was six games held by the 2012-13 squad.
SAME ARENA, NEW NAME
Illinois State University and CEFCU (pronounced SEFF-Q) have come to terms on a naming rights and sponsorship agreement valued at approximately $3.1 million over 10 years. The agreement, which will support the funding for ongoing and ever-evolving costs associated with the student-athlete experience, was initiated by LEARFIELD's Redbird Sports Properties, the University's athletics multimedia rightsholder. The former Redbird Arena will be known as CEFCU Arena – Home of the Redbirds, with the University's Board of Trustees approving the arena name change at its October 14 meeting. The CEFCU Arena naming rights and sponsorship agreement will continue to support funding of the Redbird Student-Athlete experience. Particularly in these ever-evolving times, funding is vital to maintaining and expanding upon the current NCAA, Division I student-athlete experience
STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM NOW WE'RE HERE
There are 57 NCAA Division I head men's basketball coaches who played at the NCAA Division III level (the lowest of the NCAA's three divisions). Among those is Illinois State first-year head coach Ryan Pedon who played at the College of Wooster, the same school as first-year South Carolina head coach Lamont Paris. Additionally, Marquette head coach Shaka Smart (Kenyon) and Clemson head coach Brad Brownell (DePauw) played in the same conference (North Coast Athletic Conference) as the Wooster pair.
  Â
The remaining coaches with a Division III background are Alabama's Nate Oats (Marantha Baptist), Arizona's Tommy Lloyd (Whitman), Boston U's Joe Jones (SUNY-Oswego), Bucknell's Nathan Davis (Randolph-Macon), Buffalo's Jim Whitesell (Luther), Campbell's Kevin McGeehan (Gettysburg), Charlotte's Ron Sanchez (SUNY-Oneonta), Columbia's Jim Engles (Dickinson), Dartmouth's David McLaughlin (Colby), Drexel's Zach Spiker (Ithaca), Eastern Washington's David Riley (Whitworth), Fairleigh Dickinson's Tobin Anderson (Wesleyan), George Washington's Chris Caputo (Westfield State), Hawai'i's Eran Ganot (Swarthmore), Iowa State's T.J. Otzelberger (UW-Whitewater), Longwood's Griff Aldrich (Hampden-Sydney), Marist's John Dunne (Ithaca), McNeese's John Aiken (Southern Maine), Mississippi State's Chris Jans (Loras), Mount St. Mary's Dan Engelstad (St. Mary's), New Orleans' Mark Slessinger (Aurora), Nicholls' Austin Claunch (Emory), Norfolk State's Robert Jones (New Paltz), North Florida's Matthew Driscoll (Greensboro), Northeastern's Bill Coen (Hamilton), Penn's Steve Donahue (Ursinus), Penn State's Micah Shrewsberry (Hanover), Purdue Fort Wayne's Jon Coffman (Washington & Lee), Rice's Scott Pera (PSU-Harrisburg), Sacred Heart's Anthony Latina (Brandeis), Saint Joseph's Billy Lange (Rowan), St. Thomas' John Tauer (St. Thomas), San Diego's Steve Lavin (Chapman), San Francisco's Chris Gerlufsen (Randolph-Macon), Santa Clara's Herb Sendek (Carnegie Mellon), South Dakota's Eric Peterson (UW-LaCrosse), Texas A&M Corpus Christi's Steve Lutz (Texas Lutheran), Texas-Arlington's Greg Young (Howard Payne), Towson's Pat Skerry (Tufts), Tulsa's Eric Konkol (UW-Eau Claire), UC Irvine's Russell Turner (Hampden-Sydney), UMass Lowell's Pat Duquette (Williams), UMBC's Jim Ferry (Keene State), USC's Andy Enfield (Johns Hopkins), Utah State's Ryan Odom (Hampden-Sydney), VCU's Mike Rhoades (Lebanon Valley), Vermont's John Becker (Catholic Univ.), Virginia Tech's Mike Young (Emory and Henry), Washington State's Kyle Smith (Hamilton), Western Illinois' Rob Jeter (UW-Platteville), William & Mary's Dane Fischer (Ithaca), and Wisconsin's Greg Gard (UW-Platteville)
FIRST-YEAR COACHES IN NCAA DIVISION I
Illinois State head coach Ryan Pedon is one of a surprisingly-large 59 head coaches that will be in their first season at their current schools - the list does not include four head coaches this season: Steve Prohm at Murray State, Thad Matta at Butler, Ed Conroy at the Citadel, and Lorenzo Romar at Pepperdine who are in their first year in their second stints at their school (as of games played on December 13)
