Redbirds Open Season with Exhibition Against Lewis

NORMAL, Ill. -  The Illinois State men's basketball team unofficially opens its 2024-25 season on Saturday afternoon, when the squad hosts the Lewis Flyers in an exhibition game against the NCAA Division II opponent.

SCOUTING LEWIS

Lewis comes into the game returning two starters from the squad last season that had an 18-13 overall record. Back for the Flyers is 6-7 forward Ryan Renfro, who averaged 9.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, while 6-6 forward Devon Vanderheydt is also back after putting up 7.6 points and 4.6 rebounds while playing in 31 games and starting 30. Paxton Warden, a 6-4 guard, started 13 games last season and averaged 7.2 and 3.9 rebounds per game. Rob Stroud, a 6-5 forward, played in 31 games last season, coming off the bench 29 times and averaged 8.7 points. The team also returns Cem Kerciman (6.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg), Anthony Sales Jr. (4.2 ppg, 0.7 rpg), and Bartosz Kapustka (2.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg). Guard Jaylin Gibson is a newcomer to Lewis; however, played for Eastern Illinois University last season where he faced off against the Redbirds inside CEFCU Arena, scoring nine points with four rebounds and three assists.
 

SCOUTING ILLINOIS STATE

The Redbirds come into the 2024-25 season returning eight players from the season before, including a trio of guards - Johnny Kinziger, Malachi Poindexter, and Dalton Banks - who averaged 8.7, 8.6, and 8.5 points per game, respectively. The trio started each of the team's last nine games the year before, one where ISU finished the season 15-17. Also returning for the Redbirds are guards Jordan Davis (3.5 ppg and 2.7 rpg) and Ty Pence, along with forwards Brandon Lieb (3.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and Chase Walker (3.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg). Newcomers for ISU include Boden Skunberg (14.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Landon Wolf (4.7 ppg, 15 assists), and Caden Boser (12.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg at Valdosta State). Three players - Jack Daugherty, Cade Norris, and Cameron Barnes - each either played high school or was a redshirt freshman last season.

PRESEASON PROJECTIONS

he Illinois State men's basketball team has been picked to finish fourth in the Preseason Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Poll, announced on Wednesday morning. In addition to the team prediction, sophomore guard Johnny Kinziger picked on the preseason First Team, and Malachi Poindexter to the preseason Second Team. The Redbirds earned 397 points in the poll, which has votes from the Conference's head coaches, athletics communications directors, and media members.