McLean County Times

The Illinois State Redbirds are set to open their 2024-25 basketball season at home against the UT Martin Skyhawks. The game will take place on Monday, November 4, with a tip-off scheduled for 7 PM at CEFCU Arena in Normal, Illinois. Fans can follow the game on ESPN+ or listen via the Illinois State Radio Network.

Historically, Illinois State has an impressive record of 82-44 in season-openers. Sophomore Johnny Kinziger stands out as one of two freshmen in NCAA Division I basketball last season with notable shooting percentages across field goals, three-pointers, and free throws while scoring over 250 points. Kinziger's achievements also earned him a spot on the Bracketeer.org All-America Watch List.

The Redbirds' roster includes Brandon Lieb, who is recognized as the tallest player in program history at 7 feet without shoes. Meanwhile, the team anticipates their first-ever game in North Dakota when they face North Dakota State on November 7.

In other news, Doug Collins was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on October 13. Collins has been associated with basketball at various levels and is celebrated for his contributions to the sport.

UT Martin enters this season with a largely new roster and coaching staff under Jeremy Shulman. Only David Kamwanga returns from last year’s squad. Newcomers Vladimir Salaridze and Josue Grullon have been highlighted as "Players to Watch" in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Looking ahead, Illinois State's men's basketball team was predicted to finish fourth in their conference preseason poll. Johnny Kinziger made it onto the First Team while Malachi Poindexter was selected for the Second Team.

Additionally, five players from Wisconsin are part of this year's Redbirds lineup, tying them for third place among Division I schools for having players from that state.