SIU starts a 2 game Valley road stretch on Saturday in Normal against Illinois State.
Meet the Redbirds:
Illinois State is an extremely veteran team. Out of their 13 players that have gotten some sort of minutes this year, just 2 of them aren't Seniors (Johnny Kinziger and Ty Pence, both Freshmen). With all those Seniors, the Redbirds are 63rd in the country in D-1 experience (2.44 years). Illinois State is 330rd in the country in average height (76.1") but 7-1 Illinois transfer Brandon Lieb and 6-11 Ryan Schmitt get some minutes.
Illinois State's best win this year by KenPom came against #136 Long Beach State in their MTE in Estero, Florida. Their worst loss came against #213 Norfolk State in their Horton Fieldhouse game in Normal.
The Redbirds have struggled on the offensive end this season, they're 282nd in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency (99.3). They're 332nd in the country in 3 point % (28.2%) and 275th in effective field goal % (47.0%). Illinois State has been good at offensive rebounding and getting to the free throw line. They're 129th in the country in offensive rebounding % (30.9%) and 63rd in the country in free throw attempts per field goal attempts (37.9%). 22.1% of Illinois State's points come from the free throw line which is 48th in the country.
On the defensive end, Illinois State is 136th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency. Like on the offensive end, Illinois State has been a good rebounding team. They're 76th in the country in offensive rebounding % against (26.5%).
The leading scorer for the Redbirds is 6-0 Senior Darius Burford averaging 13.7 points per game. Burford was a 2 star recruit out of Bolingbrook High School in Illinois and spent his first 2 years at Elon before transferring to Illinois State. Burford is Illinois State's leader in possessions and shots, he's 153rd in the country in % of shots taken while on the floor (28.8%) and 434th in the country in % of possessions while on the floor (24.3%). Burford is 354th in the country in turnover rate (11.3%) and 268th in the country in free throw % (33-40, 82.5%).
A very familiar name on the Redbirds is 6-2 Senior Dalton Banks who leads Illinois State is assists with 3.7 APG. Banks has seen a huge minutes increase at Illinois State going from 14.2 minutes per game last season with SIU to 31.5 minutes per game this season. Banks is 254th in the country in assist rate (23.5%) and 372nd in the country in free throw rate (39.8%).
Illinois State's leader in rebounds is 6-7 Senior Myles Foster averaging 7 rebounds per game. Foster spent 3 years at Monmouth before transferring to Illinois State before last season. This season, Foster is 164th in the country in offensive rebounding % (11.3%), 106th in the country in defensive rebounding % (22.9%) and 144th in the country in fouls drawn per 40 minutes (5.5).
5-11 Freshman Johnny Kinziger is making an impact for Illinois State this season. Kinziger was 2023 co-Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin with Iowa State's Milan Momcilovic. Kinziger has been Illinois State's best deep threat this season, he's 88th in the country in 3 point % (17-38, 44.7%). He's also 297th in the country in steal % (3.0%).
Links:
SIU Game Notes
Illinois State Game Notes
No surprise with him, but classy thoughts on the reunion game from Banks.
I hope Banks has a great year except when he's playing the Salukis.
Agree. He can go off on everybody else, but not when he plays SIU. Nice interview. Speaks to the “culture” of the program the staff is trying to develop.
this is personal. the bobber will not be putting up with any garbage from these people.
I'm thinking about driving to this game. Is anybody else going?
SIU had one of their two bad losses last year at Illinois State. it's always been a house of horrors for SIU. ISU is coming off a bad loss at Drake. Hate to say it but I'd be betting ISU. Hoping for a win though of course.
I'm thinking about driving to this game. Is anybody else going?
bobber, section 102, cheering on trent. 🙂
Go Dawgs!!
Hope we go up there and shoot lights out...and no early fouls on Rupert or Ebube or XJ. Seems like the Redturds usually play above their talent when we show up.
Only been there once many moons ago to watch Amaya and Timmons and company roll to a comfortable win!
SIU is just 2 point favorites, Over/Under 133.5
Nobody I'd rather beat!
