Mounier Golf Training Center | Illinois State University Athletics
Mounier Golf Training Center | Illinois State University Athletics
The Illinois State Redbirds are set to play their first game on the newly-installed Doug Collins Court at CEFCU Arena against the Belmont Bruins. The game is scheduled for Wednesday evening, with an 8 p.m. tip-off. The match will be broadcasted on Gray TV Network and ESPN+, with radio coverage available on the Illinois State Radio Network.
Illinois State has made significant improvements over the past seasons, now ranking 10th in three-point field goal percentage nationally. "Over the past 10 seasons in the NCAA, few schools have made a jump from one season to the next better than ISU," notes a team representative.
Sophomore forward Chase Walker stands out for his high rate of drawing fouls, ranking eighth in the NCAA for fouls drawn per 40 minutes. Freshman Jack Daugherty has also impressed by making 38 three-point field goals this season, placing him ninth in program history for a freshman.
Belmont enters Wednesday's game after winning six of their last seven games. In their recent victory against Murray State, Drew Scharnowski scored a game-high 20 points off the bench.
Chase Walker's ability to draw fouls is notable as he averages "7.8 fouls per 40 minutes played," while Jack Daugherty has achieved significant success with his three-point shooting early in his college career.
The Redbirds' depth is evident this season, with different players leading scoring efforts across various games. Illinois State ranks within the top-20 nationally for both three-point field goals per game and percentage.
In terms of recruiting, Illinois State’s class for 2025 was ranked 60th nationally by 247sports.com. New additions include Nick Allen, Isaac Ericksen, Tyreek Coleman, and Mason Klabo.
KenPom's adjusted offensive metrics highlight Illinois State's strong performance this season. Their adjusted offensive total of 111.6 is a historical high for ISU since KenPom ratings began.
Finally, Johnny Kinziger was named to Bracketeer.org's All-American watch list and selected as First Team in preseason polls alongside Malachi Poindexter on Second Team.
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