NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State Basketball Coaches Show, presented by The O'Brien Auto Team, featuring Illinois State head men's basketball coach Ryan Pedon and women's basketball head coach Kristen Gillespie, will air tonight live from Rob Dob's Restaurant and Bar in Bloomington.
Fans unable to attend the show can listen on WJBC 1230 AM, the Varsity Network, and on GoRedbirds.com., as Pedon and Gillespie recap last week's action and look ahead in MVC play this week.
Head women's basketball coach Kristen Gillespie's segment of the show, hosted by Greg Halbleib, starts at 6 p.m. Gillespie will be joined by graduate guard Elyce Knudsen. The Philo native is averaging 13.1 points per game in her first season as a Redbird, after four years as a Division III All-American at Millikin. She is coming off a season-high 24 points Sunday to help Illinois State to a win over UIC on the road.
Illinois State earned back-to-back road wins last week to improve to 5-2 in MVC play, taking down Valparaiso 79-65 and the Flames 75-66. Shannon Dowell put up 22 points in the win over the Beacons while Nevaeh Thomas posted 16 points and 12 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the year. Knudsen and Maya Wong (20 points) both tallied 20-point performances in the win over UIC Sunday to pull out a win. Illinois State returns to CEFCU Arena Sunday to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sport Day against Bradley at 2 p.m.
Head men's basketball coach Ryan Pedon's portion of the show follows at 6:45 p.m., hosted by John Fitzgerald and Mike Matthews. Pedon will be joined this week by graduate guard Dalton Banks. He has averaged 9.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game this season for the Redbirds, which includes 10 double-figure scoring performances. Banks, who scored a career-high 23 points Nov. 12 earlier this season in a win over Ohio, has posted 13 points in consecutive games.
The Redbirds are coming off a 74-68 win over Missouri State Saturday inside CEFCU Arena, as Johnny Kinziger tallied 19 points to help Illinois State erase a 13-point first-half deficit. Landon Wolf totaled 17 points and 11 rebounds to post his first-career double-double in the win. Illinois State hosts Indiana State Tuesday night at 7 p.m. inside CEFCU Arena, before traveling to Bradley for the first meeting this season in the I-74 Rivalry.
Fans are invited to watch Monday's show live at Rob Dob's. However, for those unable to attend the show in person, it will be broadcast live on WJBC 1230 AM, the Varsity Network, and on the Illinois State Athletics Facebook page.
Occurring weekly (with a few exceptions because of game and travel schedules), the 2025 basketball coaches show schedule and location will be as follows:
Jan. 27 – Avanti's
Feb. 3 – Rob Dob's
Feb. 10 – Avanti's
Feb. 17 – Rob Dob's
Mar. 3 – Avanti's
Mar. 10 – Rob Dob's
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
