McLean County Times

Illinois State University's men's basketball team will finish its 2025-26 preseason with an exhibition game against the Northwestern Wildcats in Evanston, Illinois. The matchup is scheduled for Wednesday, October 29 at Welsh-Ryan Arena, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on B1G+ and available on the Illinois State Radio Network.

This contest marks the Redbirds' second exhibition against a Big Ten opponent this preseason. It also features a notable family connection: Chris Collins, son of former Redbird basketball standout Doug Collins, serves as Northwestern's head coach.

The Redbirds are coming off a successful postseason run, having won the Purple College Basketball Invitational in Daytona Beach, Florida. As a result, they enter the new season on a three-game winning streak—the fifth-longest active streak in NCAA Division I basketball heading into opening weekend. Only four other schools—Florida (12), Chattanooga (five), Nebraska (four), and Eastern Illinois (four)—have longer current win streaks.

Illinois State returns players who combined for 1,786 points last season, which accounts for over 65 percent of last year's scoring and ranks as the fifth-highest returning total nationally. The team's returning scoring percentage is also among the top ten in the country.

Juniors Johnny Kinziger and Chase Walker were especially productive last season, combining for 1,042 points as sophomores—the highest such total by any pair in program history and second-highest among NCAA duos that year. Both players exceeded 500 points individually during the season.

The Redbirds set a new school record by making 341 three-point field goals last year, surpassing their previous best from the 2017-18 season. They also improved significantly in national rankings for three-point shooting percentage, jumping more than 300 spots to finish ranked 22nd nationally.

Chase Walker was recognized for his ability to draw fouls at one of the highest rates in college basketball and had one of the top offensive rebounding seasons by a sophomore in school history. Kinziger stood out among players under six feet tall nationwide with his efficient shooting and rebounding numbers.

Expectations are high for Illinois State entering this season. Multiple publications—including Mid-Major Madness, Lindy's Basketball Magazine, Blue Ribbon Basketball Magazine, and Missouri Valley Conference media—predict that ISU will win its conference title this year. Several outlets have named Walker as Preseason Player of the Year; Kinziger has been included on various preseason first teams.

Statistically, Illinois State finished last season with strong performances across several categories: ninth-best field goal percentage and seventh-best free throw percentage in program history; sixth-most games nationally with five or fewer turnovers; tied for most games nationally meeting benchmarks in field goal accuracy from all ranges; and one of only sixteen programs to end last year with a victory.

Sophomore Jack Daugherty contributed significantly from long range as well—his freshman total of made three-pointers was second-most ever at ISU—and he ranked fourth nationally among freshmen with at least fifty makes from distance.

KenPom analytics showed that ISU achieved its highest-ever adjusted offensive efficiency rating since those statistics began being tracked nearly thirty years ago. Stathead’s Offensive Rating metric likewise recorded ISU’s best mark since at least 1996-97.

As Illinois State prepares to face Northwestern to conclude its exhibition slate, it does so following what program officials describe as historic improvements and significant momentum carried over from last season’s successes.