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 Pizza Payaa in Uptown Normal.
Fans are invited to watch Monday's show live at Pizza Payaa, located at 107 E Beaufort Street, Normal; 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.
Head women's basketball coach Kristen Gillespie's segment of the show, hosted by Greg Halbleib, starts at 6 p.m. and Gillespie, whose team is 9-8 this season and 3-3 in the MVC, will be joined by ISU freshman guard Jaeden Pratt. Illinois State women's basketball heads into the show after sweeping the week with a 75-61 win over UIC and an 82-71 win over Evansville.
Pratt has played in 16 games for the Redbirds, starting 13 times. She comes into the show averaging 6.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game with 20 assists and seven steals. She has scored in double-figures four times this season, including a career-high 15 points at home against Eastern Illinois on December 7, the same game she set her career high in rebounding with nine. ISU is back in action in a single-game week with a battle against the Valparaiso Beacons on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. inside CEFCU Arena.
Head men's basketball coach Ryan Pedons portion of the show follows at 6:45 p.m., hosted by John Fitzgerald and Mike Matthews. The Redbirds come into the show with a 12-5 record, and a 4-2 mark in MVC play. In their most recent game, the Redbirds fell at home to the UIC Flames.
Pedon will be joined this week by freshman guard Mason Klabo. The Fargo, North Dakota, native came back from a two-game absence due to illness to score 15 points against the Flames. This season in 15 games he is averaging 6.2 points per game with 29 rebounds and 19 assists. He has made 18-of-41 shots from long range (43.9 percent), and 53.8 percent (35-of-65) from the field. ISU travels to Terre Haute, Indiana, on Wednesday, January 14 before hosting I-74 rival Bradley on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.
Upcoming Coaches Show Schedule
Jan. 12 at Pizza Payaa (107 E. Beaufort Suite C, Normal)
Jan. 19 at Jesse's Grille (inside the Marriott, 201 Broadway, Normal)
Jan. 26 at Rob Dob's (801 N. Hershey Rd. Bloomington)
Feb. 2 at Pizza Payaa (107 E. Beaufort Suite C, Normal)
Feb. 9 (No Show)
Feb. 16 at Jesse's Grille (inside the Marriott, 201 Broadway, Normal)
Feb. 23 at Rob Dob's (801 N. Hershey Rd. Bloomington)
March 2 at Pizza Payaa (107 E. Beaufort Suite C, Normal)
March 9 at Jesse's Grille (inside the Marriott, 201 Broadway, Normal)
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