McLean County Times

The Illinois State men's basketball team will begin its exhibition season on Sunday, October 19, with a game against Illinois at the State Farm Center in Champaign. The matchup marks the first of two preseason exhibitions for the Redbirds against Big Ten opponents. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on B1G+ and covered by the Illinois State Radio Network.

Last season, Illinois State set a new program record with 341 three-point field goals, surpassing the previous mark of 301 from the 2017-18 season. The Redbirds ended their year as champions of the Purple College Basketball Invitational in Daytona Beach, Florida, and currently hold a three-game win streak—the fifth-longest active streak in NCAA Division I men’s basketball entering the new season.

Returning production is high for Illinois State, with players responsible for 1,786 points last year—65.49 percent of total team scoring—returning to the roster. This returning point total ranks fifth nationally, while their returning scoring percentage is tenth among all NCAA teams.

Juniors Johnny Kinziger and Chase Walker combined for 1,042 points last season, making them the highest-scoring sophomore duo in program history and second-highest nationwide among such pairs last year. Both players surpassed 500 points each during that campaign.

Illinois State made significant statistical improvements last year, jumping 313 spots in national rankings for three-point percentage and finishing 22nd overall. The Redbirds also recorded an effective field goal percentage of .563—13th-best nationally—and had six games with five or fewer turnovers.

Individual achievements include Chase Walker ranking seventh in fouls drawn per 40 minutes nationally (7.4) and accumulating 90 offensive rebounds—the second-most ever by an ISU sophomore. Jack Daugherty contributed as a freshman with 59 made three-pointers at a .476 clip.

Expectations are elevated for this year's squad following recognition from several media outlets and preseason polls that project Illinois State as a top contender in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). Forward Chase Walker has been named Preseason Player of the Year by multiple publications, while Johnny Kinziger has earned spots on preseason all-conference teams.

"Mid-Major Madness, Lindy's Basketball Magazine, Blue Ribbon Basketball Mazagine, and the MVC media poll have the Redbirds picked to win the MVC in 2025-26," according to team officials. "Mid-Major Madness, Lindy's Basketball Magazine, and Blue Ribbon all have returning forward Chase Walker named as the Preseason Player of the Year, while Johnny Kinziger was named to the Preseason First Team by Blue Ribbon Basketball Magazine and Lindy's Basketball Magazine."

KenPom's advanced metrics showed Illinois State achieving its highest adjusted offensive efficiency rating since those statistics began being tracked for ISU during the late '90s.

Illinois State’s opener against Illinois provides an early test ahead of conference play later this fall.