SIU faces the only MVC opponent they haven't seen yet this year.
Illinois State started conference play with a bang with a win over Missouri State at home in OT. Since then, they've struggled and have lost 5 of their last 6 Valley games.
Meet the Redbirds:
The Redbirds have fallen hard since their 28-7 (17-1) season in 2017 and have taken steps back nearly every year since. They've had problems with coaching and problems with player retention. This offseason was no different as they lost DJ Horne to Arizona State and Dusan Mahorcic to Utah. The Redbirds are in the top half of college basketball in average height with an average of 77.7", 71st in the country. Illinois State recently lost 6'8 Junior Sy Chatman for the season due to a torn ACL.
Illinois State plays at a pretty fast tempo and get shots off early in the shot clock. The Redbirds are 97th in the country in average tempo (68.9). Illinois State is 34rd in the country in fastest average possession length averaging 16.0 seconds per possession. On the defensive end, Illinois State grinds out possessions. The Redbirds are 346th in fastest average possession length on the defensive side averaging 18.6 seconds per possession.
The Redbirds have been an impressive offensive team this season. Illinois State is 81st in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency (107.9), 70th in the country in effective field goal % (52.7%), 30th in the country in 3 point shooting % (37.1%), and 127th in the country in 2 point shooting % (50.9%). Illinois State is also good at getting to the free throw line as they're 70th in the country in free throw attempts per field goal attempts (34.2%) and when they get to the free throw line, they're making their free throws as they're 93rd in the country in free throw % (74.1%). 19.4% of the Redbirds' total points come from the free throw line, 86th in the country. The Redbirds don't get blocked much on the offensive end as they're 46th in the country in block % on offense (7.1%). If there's one thing Illinois State doesn't do on the offensive side, it's turning the ball over too much. They're 212th in the country in turnover % on offense (19.3%) and 239th in the country in steal % on offense (10.0%).
The defensive side has been a struggle for Illinois State. The Redbirds are 289th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency (108.0), 228th in the country in effective field goal % against (51.2%), and 280th in the country in 3 point shooting % against (35.6%). The Redbirds are 330th in the country in offensive rebounding % against (32.9%) so they haven't been great about grabbing defensive rebounds. One thing the Redbirds do well on defense is they're 48th in the country in block % on defense (12.4%).
The Redbirds' leading scorer is 6'6 Junior Antonio Reeves averaging 20.1 points per game. Reeves was an SIU target out of Simeon, IL and has turned into an impressive player for the Redbirds. In his Freshman season, Reeves averaged 7.2 points per game and was named to the All-MVC Bench team. Last season, Reeves upped his scoring to 12.4 points per game and ended up testing the NBA waters before deciding to return to Illinois State. This season, Reeves is getting a ton of minutes and shots and is doing the most with them. He's 99th in college basketball in % of minutes played (85.2%) and 64th in college basketball in % of shots taken while on the floor (31.0%). Reeves has been taking and making a lot of 3's as he's 328th in the country in 3 point % (51-132, 38.6%) and he's also 380th in the country in effective field goal % (53.7%) and 354th in the country in true shooting % (57.3%). If the game comes down to free throws, Reeves is 275th in the country in free throw shooting % (74-92, 80.4%).
With Sy Chatman out, 6'4 Senior Josiah Strong is the Redbirds' next leading scorer with 12.0 points per game. Strong started his collegiate career at JUCO Iowa Western where he was named an NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American before transferring to Navy. At Navy, Strong played 31 games off the bench and averaged 3.1 points per game and transferred to Illinois State after one season there. In his first year at Illinois State, Strong started 18 games and averaged 11.5 points per game. This season, Strong has started 16 of 23 games and has been the Redbirds' best shooter this season. Strong is 72nd in the country in 3 point shooting % (60-135, 44.4%), 115th in the country in effective field goal % (59.2%), and 170th in the country in true shooting % (60.3%).
6'8 Junior Kendall Lewis has also been an offensive shooting weapon for the Redbirds this year. Lewis was a 3 star recruit out of Snellville, GA and committed to Appalachian State over offers from Kent State, St. Bonaventure, and TCU. Lewis started 24 of 42 games at Appalachian State before transferring to Illinois State after 2 seasons there. This season, Lewis is 454th in the country in 3 point shooting % (16-43, 37.2%), 199th in the country in effective shooting % (57.0%), 134th in the country in true shooting % (61.4%), and 304th in the country in 2 point shooting % (53-92, 57.6%). Lewis has also been Illinois State's best rebounder with Chatman out. He's averaging 5.3 rebounds per game and is 426th in the country in offensive rebounding % (7.9%). Lewis is also 254th in the country in block % (4.1%). Lewis also gets to the free throw line a bunch as he's 243rd in the country in free throw rate (40.7%) and when he gets to the line, he's been making them as he's 298th in the country in free throw % (44-55, 80.0%).
The Redbirds' assist leader is 5'11 Junior Mark Freeman. Freeman was a 3 star recruit out of Memphis, Tennessee and chose Tennessee State after originally committing to LIU over offers from Bradley, Murray State, and UT Martin. Freeman started 36 of 52 games in his 2 years at Tennessee State and was named to the All-Ohio Valley Conference 2nd team last year after averaging 17.1 points per game. This season, Freeman has taken a step back in points per game averaging 9.2 points per game. Freeman is 139th in the country in assist rate (26.8%) and has been one of the best free throw shooters in the country and he's 35th in the country in free throw % (43-48, 89.6%).
Links:
Illinois State Game Notes
Not optimistic. ISU is better than their resume suggests.
Not optimistic. ISU is better than their resume suggests.
They're also really good at home and we're not so great on the road. Lose this one and they're likely 4-9 after going to Frostbite Falls. Losing Sy Chatman hurts because he was their 2nd best player behind Reeves.
It’s a winnable game. Think both these teams are better than their record suggests and the 2 seed who faces one of them as the likely 7 seed in STL will not be thrilled. Got my money on us tomorrow. Dawgs by 5.
Rodney Watson interview with Connor Wheeler:
https://siusalukis.com/watch/?Archive=6104&type=Archive
@mdogs1 Life’s too short man. What fun are sports without delusional belief? Also, Vegas agrees that SIU is a better team, favoring them on the road. Doesn’t matter what we think though, go Dawgs!
@mdogs1 Life’s too short man. What fun are sports without delusional belief? Also, Vegas agrees that SIU is a better team, favoring them on the road. Doesn’t matter what we think though, go Dawgs!
Without Sy Chatman, think SIU is comfortably ahead of Illinois State. But the Redbirds are tough at RBA and pretty sure we've only won their once since Mullins played.
@mdogs1 Life’s too short man. What fun are sports without delusional belief? Also, Vegas agrees that SIU is a better team, favoring them on the road. Doesn’t matter what we think though, go Dawgs!
Without Sy Chatman, think SIU is comfortably ahead of Illinois State. But the Redbirds are tough at RBA and pretty sure we've only won their once since Mullins played.
Wow. I don’t remember ISU being that great.
Whatever the case, I could see SIU winning this by 10 or losing it by 10. Very hard to tell these days
McChesney, their 6'10" Utah St transfer is a good one - will be a real problem for us. I've seen them several times - almost beat Wisconsin there. They are long and lanky and will have a real size advantage. They're just as talented as we are IMO.
Reeves will score. If we shoot like we've been shooting lately, it'll be a whupping. No team I'd rather beat than the Turds of Red. I think Vegas is nuts though.
Seen two games there - Doug Collins and crew blowing out NIU, and took my son when he was little to watch Timmons, Amaya and friends whip them! Amaya sucked up every rebound! Wish we had a Timmons and Amaya.
McChesney, their 6'10" Utah St transfer is a good one - will be a real problem for us. I've seen them several times - almost beat Wisconsin there. They are long and lanky and will have a real size advantage. They're just as talented as we are IMO.
Reeves will score. If we shoot like we've been shooting lately, it'll be a whupping. No team I'd rather beat than the Turds of Red. I think Vegas is nuts though.
Seen two games there - Doug Collins and crew blowing out NIU, and took my son when he was little to watch Timmons, Amaya and friends whip them! Amaya sucked up every rebound! Wish we had a Timmons and Amaya.
They shoot a lot of 3’s, we defend the 3 well… I really like McChesney but I think Chatman was a much worse match up as he’s a better defender and scorer around the rim. Mulia and Kyler should be able to handle him. We should get better looks tonight, and we have been getting good ones… they need to fall, I think they will. Law of averages.
@saluki-4-life Believe me I want SIU to be good. Just don’t see it getting better anytime soon. We’re worried about whether we will have to play Thursday night Tired of being an after thought in the Valley. I will be surprised IF SIU wins today hope I am wrong and I doubt if the 2 seed in the Valley tournament will be worried about either SIU or ISU. I know you may think I am pessimistic but I just don’t see many positives in SIU’s program right now. I would love to be wrong but eventually we have to beat someone that matters.
First and last team to 50 wins.
@saluki-4-life Believe me I want SIU to be good. Just don’t see it getting better anytime soon. We’re worried about whether we will have to play Thursday night Tired of being an after thought in the Valley. I will be surprised IF SIU wins today hope I am wrong and I doubt if the 2 seed in the Valley tournament will be worried about either SIU or ISU. I know you may think I am pessimistic but I just don’t see many positives in SIU’s program right now. I would love to be wrong but eventually we have to beat someone that matters.
They play hard!
