NORMAL, Ill. — Illinois State head men's basketball coach Ryan Pedon has unveiled the non-conference schedule for his inaugural season at the helm of the Redbird program.
The schedule features a game against the SEC's LSU, two games against MAC schools, and a resumption of two series that each have over 100 games between the two schools.
Before the season officially begins, the Redbirds will host the University of Wooster, Ryan Pedon's alma mater, on Sunday, October 30 for an exhibition game inside Redbird Arena.
The regular season opens on Monday, November 7 – the first time that the Redbirds have ever played on the date – against in-state foe Western Illinois, an opponent that ISU has faced 104 times. The Redbirds hold a 65-39 all-time lead in the series between the two schools – with the last contest coming during the 2000-01 basketball season – as ISU this season will feature former WIU guard Colton Sandage on its squad.
Three days later, on Thursday, November 10 the Redbirds will take to the road for the first time when the squad travels to nearby Charleston, Illinois, to battle the Eastern Illinois Panthers, whom Illinois State holds a 69-46 lead in 115 all-time games in the series – with the last meeting coming during the 1998-99 season.
After two games to start the season with a combined 219 meetings against ISU, the Redbirds play back-to-back games against Northwestern State – a program that Illinois State has yet to face in the history of the program. The first meeting with the Demons will be on Saturday, November 12 in Natchitoches, Louisiana, while the second will be on Thursday, November 17 inside Redbird Arena.
Monday, November 21 opens play at the 2022 Cayman Islands Classic for the Redbirds, as ISU will face off against the SEC's LSU for the first time in each of the programs' histories. The last meeting between Illinois State and a team from the SEC came during the 2018-19 season when the 'Birds hosted Ole Miss.
The second game of the Cayman Islands Classic will see ISU face either Akron or Western Kentucky on Tuesday, November 22 with the third game of the tournament coming on Wednesday, November 23. The Redbirds played in the Cayman Islands Classic during the 2018-19 season and went 2-1 with wins over Akron and Boise State.
After a pair of MVC games in late November/early December, the Redbirds close the non-conference season with four more games, starting on Wednesday, December 7 against Eastern Michigan, an opponent whom the Redbirds hold a 22-9 lead in the all-time series against.
A home contest on Saturday, December 10 against SIU Edwardsville follows the battle against the Eagles. ISU last faced the Cougars during the 2011-12 season and have a 7-0 record all-time against the in-state school.
Following a week off for finals, Illinois State will play in the inaugural Indy Classic against Ball State on December 17. The game, played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, will pit the Redbirds against the Ball State Cardinals, whom ISU dispatched of by an 85-64 score last season inside Redbird Arena. With a win against Ball State, Illinois State will once again hold the lead in the all-time series between the two programs, which is currently tied at 11 wins apiece.
The non-conference schedule culminates with a Tuesday, December 19 contest against the Chicago State Cougars, another rematch from the 2021-22 season where Illinois State prevailed 81-71. The all-time series against CSU is steeply in favor of Illinois State, as the Redbirds hold a 24-1 all-time advantage over 25 games played between the two schools.
There will be an opportunity for the community to meet the 2022-23 Redbirds in a revamped Hoopfest on October 7 inside Redbird Arena. Admission will be free.
For the 2022-23 season, the Redbirds return three players who started at least five games a season ago, including forward Kendall Lewis who averaged 9.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and dished out 33 assists while starting all 33 games during the season for ISU. Also back is forward Liam McChesney who averaged 4.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game while starting eight games, with forward Ryan Schmitt starting five times, averaging 3.1 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.
Newcomers to the squad include Sandage, who averaged 13.4 points per game for Western Illinois last season, Darius Burford who averaged 13.4 points for Elon, and two-year Virginia letterwinner Malachi Poindexter. Also new to the Redbirds in 2022-23 is guard Luke Kasubke, a former top-200 prospect and two-year Kansas State letterwinner, guard and BYU transfer Seneca Knight who put up 7.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game with the Cougars, and Joe Petrakis who averaged 8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game at Western Carolina, playing in 32 games with 30 starts.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
