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 Jesse's Grill in the lobby of the Marriott in Uptown Normal.
Fans are invited to watch Monday's show live at Jesse's Grill, located at 201 Broadway in 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. with Associate Head Coach Scott Gillespie filling in this week. The Redbirds are 10-8 this season and 4-3 in the MVC, and Gillespie will be joined by ISU sophomore guard Trista Fayta. Illinois State heads into the show after picking up a 93-74 win over Valparaiso at CEFCU Arena on Thursday night to improve to 9-0 at home on the season.
Fayta has started in all 18 games for the Redbirds and comes into the show averaging 10.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game with a team-leading 103 assists and 25 steals. The Green Bay, Wisconsin, native has scored in double-figures eight times this season, including a pair of 19 point efforts. Last time out against Valpo, Fayta recorded the first triple-double for the Redbirds since 1991, when she scored 14 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 10 assists against the Beacons. ISU hits the road this week for a Thursday match up against UIC in Chicago, followed by a Sunday tilt against Indiana State in Terre Haute.
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. The Redbirds come into the show with a 13-6 record, and a 5-3 mark in MVC play. In their most recent game, the Redbirds ran away with a dominating 88-62 win over I-74 rival Bradley on Saturday afternoon, winning by an 88-62 final score.
Pedon will be joined this week by freshman guard Ty'Reek Coleman. The Aurora, Illinois, native averaged 13 points per game for the Redbirds last week, including an 18-point effort on the road at Indiana State. This season in 18 games he is averaging 10.7 points per game with 35 assists and 12 steals. He has made 23-of-49 shots from long range (46.9 percent), and 52.4 percent (65-of-124) from the field. ISU will host Northern Iowa at CEFCU Arena on Wednesday night at 8 p.m., before traveling to Nashville to take on Belmont on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Upcoming Coaches Show Schedule
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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