NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State Basketball Coaches Shows, featuring Illinois State head men's basketball coach Ryan Pedon and women's basketball head coach Kristen Gillespie on air tonight live from BloNo Pizza Co. in Normal.
Fans unable to attend the show can listen on WJBC 1230 AM, the Varsity Network, and on GoRedbirds.com., as Pedon and Gillespie recap the Sunday afternoon exhibition doubleheader against Illinois Wesleyan and preview their upcoming matchups.
The Kristen Gillespie show, hosted by Greg Halbleib, starts tonight at 6 p.m. Gillespie will be joined by former Illinois State staff member and current Illinois Wesleyan assistant coach Brian Ehresman. Ehresman had a four-year stint at Illinois State, two seasons as graduate assistant (2017-19), and two seasons as video coordinator (2019-21). He has been an assistant with the Titans since the 2021-22 season.
Illinois State women's basketball (24-9, 17-3 MVC last season) comes into the show having picked up a 94-56 exhibition win over the Illinois Wesleyan Titans in which DeAnna Wilson scored a game-high 27 points while Abbie Aalsma scored 11 and Caroline Waite nine. The Redbirds open the season with back-to-back road games at Omaha on Monday, November 6 and on Saturday, November 11 at Green Bay.
The Ryan Pedon Show follows at 7 p.m., hosted by John Fitzgerald and Mike Matthews. Pedon will be joined this week by senior guard Dalton Banks. Banks started and played 19 minutes for the Redbirds against Illinois Wesleyan, tying for the team lead with three assists while scoring four points, blocking a shot, and pulling down two rebounds.
The men's basketball team (11-21, 6-14 MVC last season), picked up a 78-46 exhibition win over the Titans, and was led by Darius Burford who scored 19 points while Malachi Poindexter scored 17 and Ty Pence 13. ISU opens the regular season on Monday, November 6 when the Redbirds host the Lourdes Gray Wolves inside CEFCU Arena with a 7 p.m. tip-off.
Fans are invited to watch Monday's show live at BloNo Pizza Co., located at 1304 Cross Creek Drive in Normal, Illinois. However, for those unable to attend the show in person, it will be broadcast live on WJBC 1230 AM, the Varsity Network, and on GoRedbirds.com.
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