NORMAL, Ill. - With the Redbirds on their longest win streak since the 2016-17 season, ISU hosts the Chicago State Cougars on Saturday night inside CEFCU Arena, as the Birds look to extend their streak to seven games.
QUICK HITTERS
• Last weekend the Illinois State Redbirds won their first in-season tournament title since the 2010-11 season, the first outside of Normal, Illinois, since the 2008-09 season, and the 17th all-time in program history
• The Redbirds hold a 25-1 lead in the all-time series with Chicago State, and have won the last 12 meetings
• ISU's current six-game win streak is tied for the 10th-longest win streak by a Redbird team since the 1992-93 season, and the longest streak since the 2016-17 season
• ISU freshman Ty'Reek Coleman is on a pace with his field goal shooting numbers that only a small handful of freshman in NCAA history have accomplished
• The Redbirds have four different players who have scored 20+ points in a game this season, tied for the most in the MVC through the first week of December, while ISU's nine players having scored in double-digits are also tied atop the MVC teams
• ISU is one of 28 schools in the country this season to have two freshmen to have scored 17+ points in a single game this season
• Illinois State's 52-point win over Coastal Carolina on November 23 is the 14th-largest margin of victory in the NCAA this season by a NCAA Division I school against a NCAA Division I school
• The Redbirds have the sixth-best offensive rebounding percentage, allowing the sixth-fewest offensive rebounds this season.
• ISU held Coastal Carolina to just 42 points in their win on November 23, tied for the fifth-fewest points allowed to a NCAA Division I team this season
• Chase Walker's season free throw percentage — .787 — is the tenth-best among college student-athletes standing 6-9 or taller with at least 35 makes
• Illinois State has committed just 74 turnovers this season, and their average of 9.3 turnovers per game ranks 14th in the country
• With his 100 points through the first seven games of the season, Ty'Reek Coleman reached the century mark for a season in the second-fastest time frame in program history
• Redbird freshman Ty'Reek Coleman was named the MVC's opening Freshman of the Week after his performances against Ohio and Cornell
• Johnny Kinziger's career free throw percentage of .867 is the 15th-highest active career free throw percentage in NCAA Division I, and 43rd-highest among all NCAA divisions
• This season the Redbirds have had 11 runs of nine or more points, including a season-high 21 on November 20 against Rockford
• ISU's Kinziger has the fourth-highest field goal percentage in the country who have played at least 30 minutes per game, and are under 6-0
• The Redbirds are coming off a post-season tournament championship at the Purple CBI hosted in Daytona Beach, Florida
WINNING STREAK
The Illinois State Redbirds are riding a six-game win streak, which is tied for the 10th-longest such streak since 1992-93.
| Strk |
Season |
Beginning |
Ending |
| 14 |
2008-09 |
Nov. 15 at Wright State |
Jan. 6 at Bradley |
| 12 |
2016-17 |
Dec. 25 vs Tulsa |
Feb. 4 vs Wichita State |
| 9 |
2007-08 |
Dec. 8 vs Cincinnati |
Jan. 19 at Drake |
| 8 |
2016-17 |
Feb. 7 at Drake |
Mar. 5 vs Wichita State |
| 7 |
2009-10 |
Nov. 15 at SIUE |
Dec. 13 vs Niagara |
| 7 |
2000-01 |
Dec. 3 at Central Michigan |
Jan. 6 vs Indiana State |
| 7 |
1997-98 |
Feb. 18 at Evansville |
Mar. 14 vs Arizona |
| 7 |
1997-98 |
Jan. 21 at Bradley |
Feb. 15 vs Missouri State |
| 7 |
1993-94 |
Feb. 7 vs Tulsa |
Feb. 27 vs Southern Illinois |
| 6 |
2025-26 |
Nov. 16 vs Long Beach State |
- |
TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS
With Illinois State's win at the Terry's Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational, the Redbirds secured their 17th in-season tournament win in program history, the first since 2010-11, and the first outside of Normal since 2008-09.
| Season |
Tournament (record) |
Location |
| 1959-60 |
Ottawa Tournament (3-0) |
Ottawa, Kan. |
| 1965-66 |
Mid-West Invitational (3-0) |
Emporia, Kan. |
| 1968-69 |
Hatter Invitational (2-0) |
Deland, Fla. |
| 1971-72 |
Dominican Holiday Tournament (2-0) |
Racine, Wis. |
| 1975-76 |
Bradley Invitational (2-0) |
Peoria, Ill. |
| 1976-77 |
Connecticut Classic (2-0) |
Hartford, Conn. |
| 1977-78 |
Charlotte Invitational (2-0) |
Charlotte, N.C. |
| 1978-79 |
Illinois State Holiday Festival (2-0) |
Normal, Ill. |
| 1979-80 |
Illinois State Holiday Festival (2-0) |
Normal, Ill. |
| 1984-85 |
American Savings Classic (2-0) |
Stockton, Calif. |
| 1984-85 |
Fleet Classic (2-0) |
Providence, R.I. |
| 1998-99 |
Hawai'i Pacific Shootout (3-0) |
Honolulu, Hawai'i |
| 2008-09 |
SMU Tip-Off Classic (3-0) |
Dallas, Texas |
| 2008-09 |
World Vision Invitational (3-0) |
Normal, Ill. |
| 2009-10 |
Basketball Travelers Classic (3-0) |
Normal, Ill. |
| 2010-11 |
Global Sports Roundball Classic (3-0) |
Normal, Ill. |
| 2025-26 |
Terry's Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational (2-0) |
Kissimmee, Fla. |
FOUR WITH 20+
While Illinois State is tied for the highest total in the MVC with nine players who have scored in double-digits this season, the team is also tied for the top mark with four players who have scored at least 20 points in a game.
2X FRESHMAN SCORING
This season in NCAA Division I basketball there have been 168 freshmen that have scored at least 17 points in a game, with Illinois State being the home of two of those on that list. The Redbirds are one of just 28 schools to have two or more people on that list of 168 student athletes, a list that includes Air Force (3), Alabama, American, Arizona (4), Arkansas, Boston U. (3), Brown, Cal State Fullerton, Colorado, Duke, Fairfield, Houston, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Miami (Ohio), New Mexico, North Dakota (3), Northeastern, Northern Illinois, Penn State, Portland, Sam Houston State, South Dakota, Stony Brook, UC Irvine, and UNC Greensboro.
EARLY PERCENTAGES
This season, Ty'Reek Coleman is of to a fast start, as he is averaging 13.6 points per game while making 55 percent of his shots from the field, 40 percent from long range, and just under 70 percent from the free throw line. Since 1980-81, there have been just nine freshmen to have a scoring average of 13.5, and shooting percentages of .550 (FG), .400 (3FG), and .675 (FT) while playing at least 27 minutes per game.
| Student-Athlete |
School |
Season |
PPG |
FG% |
3FG% |
FT% |
| Bol Bol |
Oregon |
2018-19 |
21.0 |
.561 |
.520 |
.757 |
| Calbert Cheaney |
Indiana |
1989-90 |
17.1 |
.572 |
.490 |
.750 |
| TJ Leaf |
UCLA |
2016-17 |
16.3 |
.617 |
.466 |
.679 |
| Chris Bosh |
Georgia Tech |
2002-03 |
15.6 |
.560 |
.478 |
.730 |
| Kingston Flemings |
Houston |
2025-26 |
15.3 |
.608 |
.524 |
.714 |
| Tony Mitchell |
North Texas |
2011-12 |
14.7 |
.567 |
.439 |
.739 |
| Charles Bassey |
Western Kentucky |
2018-19 |
14.6 |
.627 |
.450 |
.769 |
| Nick Mayo |
Eastern Kentucky |
2015-16 |
14.5 |
.607 |
.556 |
.802 |
| Ty'Reek Coleman |
Illinois State |
2025-26 |
13.6 |
.552 |
.407 |
.686 |
DEFENSIVELY REBOUNDING
This season Illinois State allows an offensive rebounding percentage of 23.0, which is the sixth-best in the NCAA this season. Offensive rebounding percentage is a measure of the possible rebounds that are gathered by the offense, per the statistical analytics site KenPom.
BIG MARGINS
In the November 23, 94-42 win over Coastal Carolina, the 52-point margin of victory is tied for the 14th-largest in NCAA Division I this season against a NCAA Division I opponent. Only Gonzaga (72 vs Southern Utah), Georgia (64 vs Md. Eastern Shore), Iowa State (64 vs Alcorn State), UConn (63 vs UMass-Lowell), Louisville (59 vs South Carolina State), Illinois (58 vs Jackson State), Duke (58 vs Niagara), Louisville (57 vs NJIT), Miami (56 vs Delaware State), Duke (55 vs Army), Gonzaga (55 vs Texas Southern), Arkansas (54 vs Jackson State), and Ohio State (53, Mount St. Mary's) Â have a highest total against a Division I school.
EARLY SEASON PERFECTION
Through the first eight games this season, Landon Wolf is a perfect 8-of-8 at the free throw line. He is tied for 49th in the country for the most free throws without a miss in the NCAA, as 66 student-athletes are currently perfect at 8-for-8 or better. Three players - Coleton Benson of New Orleans, Jared Frey of UMass Lowell, and Nick Coval of Davidson are each 24-for-24 for the top spot on the list.
CHARITY STRIPE FOR THE BIG
Illinois State forward Chase Walker is making 78.7 percent of his free throws this season (37-of-47), and among players that are at least 6-9, and have made at least 37 free throws, Walker's percentage is tied for the 10th-best in the country.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
Not only was Illinois State's win over Coastal Carolina one of the top scoring margin totals in the NCAA this season, but by holding the Chanticleers to 42 points, it is tied for the eighth-fewest points allowed against a Division I school in the country this season.
| Rk |
Pts |
School |
Opponent |
Date |
| 1 |
29 |
Georgia |
UMES |
11/5/2025 |
| 2 |
37 |
Lafayette |
Ball State |
11/29/2025 |
| 3 |
38 |
Clemson |
New Hampshire |
11/3/2025 |
|
38 |
West Virginia |
Mercyhurst |
11/30/2025 |
| 5 |
41 |
Towson |
Norfolk State |
11/14/2025 |
|
41 |
Miami (Fla.) |
Delaware State |
11/23/2025 |
|
41 |
Presbyterian |
The Citadel |
11/30/2025 |
| 8 |
42 |
Illinois State |
Coastal Carolina |
11/23/2025 |
|
42 |
Duke |
Niagara |
11/21/2025 |
OFF TO A FAST START
Through nine Redbird games, Illinois State freshman Ty'Reek Coleman has scored 109 points. Since the 1972-73 season, when the NCAA started allowing freshman to compete again, only two freshman players in program history - Billy Lewis and Tarise Bryson - had scored more points through their first nine games of the season.
| Rk. |
Pts |
Student-Athlete |
Season |
| 1 |
168 |
Tarise Bryson |
1998-99 |
| 2 |
132 |
Billy Lewis |
1974-75 |
| 3 |
109 |
Ty'Reek Coleman |
2025-26 |
| 4 |
105 |
Hank Cornley |
1980-81 |
| 5 |
104 |
Dan Muller |
1994-95 |
Through 10 games, the freshman record is 178, as Tarise Bryson opened his Redbird career with a scoring average of 17.8 with Billy Lewis close behind (14.4).
| Rk. |
Pts |
Student-Athlete |
Season |
| 1 |
178 |
Tarise Bryson |
1998-99 |
| 2 |
144 |
Billy Lewis |
1974-75 |
| 3 |
120 |
Hank Cornley |
1980-81 |
| 4 |
112 |
Dan Muller |
1994-95 |
| 5 |
106 |
Markku Larkio |
1998-99 |
|
106 |
Cyrus Mann |
1974-75 |
CLIMBING NCAA CAREER LISTS
Over his two-plus seasons as a Redbird, ISU junior Johnny Kinziger has a career free throw percentage of .867, which is the 15th-highest active career free throw percentage in NCAA Division I and 43rd overall in NCAA basketball. (minimum of 110 free throw makes). Boden Skunberg ranks 76th among active players in career points, while his 123 games played puts him 29th on the list.
BIG SMALL PERCENTAGE
This season Johnny Kinziger has made nearly half of his 89 field goal attempts, and he is one of five players in the NCAA this season to be shooting .475 or better in 30 or more minutes played per game, all while being under 6-0 tall.
| Rk |
FG% |
Student-Athlete |
School |
MPG |
Ht. |
| 1 |
.511 |
Justice Shoats |
Siena |
34.1 |
5-11 |
| 2 |
.500 |
Colin Porter |
Liberty |
33.5 |
5-10 |
| 3 |
.485 |
Tre Beard |
Cleveland State |
30.1 |
5-10 |
| 4 |
.483 |
Johnny Kinziger |
Illinois State |
31.8 |
5-11 |
| 5 |
.468 |
U'Riyah Evans |
Kansas City |
30.9 |
5-11 |
BIG HOME OPENER FOR THE ROOK
In his second game in a Redbird uniform, and the first at home, freshman Ty'Reek Coleman shined, scoring 24 points, which is the 21st-most by a freshman in program history, the second-highest in a home debut by a freshman, and he is one of just 19 freshmen in the NCAA Division I to have had a game scoring total of 24.
WE'RE GOING STREAKING
Through nine games this season, Illinois State has had 11 scoring runs of at least nine consecutive points, with the longest-such mark being the 21-0 first-half run against the Rockford Regents.Â
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Using his strong second game, Illinois State freshman Ty'Reek Coleman was named the MVC Freshman of the Week, just the third Redbird to earn this honor, joining teammates Johnny Kinziger (Jan. 29, 2024 and Feb. 26, 2024) and Jack Daugherty (Dec. 23, 2025).
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Returning three of its top four scorers from last season, including two All-Missouri Valley Conference selections, the 2025-26 Illinois State men's basketball team — and players on the team — have high expectations put on it from numerous preseason prognostications. Mid-Major Madness, Lindy's Basketball Magazine, Blue Ribbon Basketball Magazine, and the MVC media poll have the Redbirds picked to win the MVC in 2025-26. Mid-Major Madness, Lindy's Basketball Magazine, and Blue Ribbon all have returning forward Chase Walker named as the Preseason Player of the Year, while Johnny Kinziger was named to the Preseason First Team by Blue Ribbon Basketball Magazine and Lindy's Basketball Magazine. The Field of 68 ranked Illinois State as the #3 Mid-Major Team in the country in their preseason poll, while also naming Walker the Mid-Major Preseason Player of the Year.
RETURNING SCORING
The Redbirds return players that combined to score 1,786 points from last season — 65.49 percent of the team's scoring — which is the fifth-highest total in the NCAA returning, and the team's returning scoring percentage is 10th-best heading into the 2025-26 season.
STAYING TRADITIONAL
Starting in the 2023-24 season, the NCAA started allowing student-athletes to wear non-traditional jersey numbers, outside of the typical 0-5 numbers. In the three seasons' worth of rosters since the adjustment, there have been just 15 schools to not have a "new number" on its rosters. Joining Illinois State on that list include Alabama State, Army West Point, Bethune-Cookman, Binghamton, Central Michigan, Delaware, ETSU, Holy Cross, Lehigh, Mississippi Valley, UMES, Vermont, Western Illinois, and Wright State.
