ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS MEN'S BASKETBALL
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Ryan Pedon's Illinois State squad has navigated a split season marked by dominance at CEFCU Arena and inconsistency on the road through the Missouri Valley Conference. The Redbirds' 17-10 overall record masks a stark home-road disparity: they've posted a 13-2 mark in Normal while managing just 4-8 away from campus, suggesting defensive vulnerabilities that emerge outside their comfortable confines. At 8-4 in conference play, Illinois State ranks solidly within the Valley despite their travel struggles, scoring 76.4 points per game while holding opponents to 68.1.
Located in Normal, Illinois, the university's program represents one of the nation's oldest institutions, founded in 1857 and now serving 21,994 students on campus. Pedon commands a 14-player roster that has shown the offensive consistency to exceed 76 points per game for the season, though their 4-8 road record suggests this team's ceiling may depend heavily on whether the coach can stabilize perimeter defense and execution in hostile environments. The Redbirds' next phase will test whether their home-court advantage can translate into sustainable Valley competitiveness through March.
KEY FACTS
| School | Illinois State University |
| Sport | Men's Basketball |
| Conference | Missouri Valley Conference |
| Division | D1-FCS |
| Location | Normal, Illinois |
| Venue | CEFCU Arena |
| Head Coach | Ryan Pedon |
ROSTER (2025-26)
| # | Name | Pos |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Nick Allen | F |
| 23 | Cameron Barnes | F |
| 13 | Ty Blake | G |
| 10 | Ty'Reek Coleman | G |
| 0 | Jack Daugherty | F |
| 2 | Isaac Ericksen | F |
| 11 | Johnny Kinziger | G |
| 3 | Mason Klabo | G |
| 12 | Brandon Lieb | F |
| 1 | Landon Moore | G |
| 22 | Ty Pence | G |
| 14 | Boden Skunberg | G |
| 35 | Chase Walker | F |
| 4 | Landon Wolf | G |
SEASON RECORD
20-12
Overall
15-3
Home
5-9
Away
11-6
Conference
75.1 PPG / 68.4 Opp PPG
SCHEDULE (2025-26)
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 7 | Ohio Bobcats | L 68-72 |
| Nov 9 | Cornell Big Red | W 76-65 |
| Nov 15 | USC Trojans | L 67-87 |
| Nov 17 | Long Beach State Beach | W 82-80 |
| Nov 21 | Rockford Regents | W 93-48 |
| Nov 23 | Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | W 94-42 |
| Nov 27 | Charlotte 49ers | W 79-69 |
| Nov 28 | Furman Paladins | W 72-65 |
| Dec 4 | Eastern Kentucky Colonels | W 89-78 |
| Dec 7 | Chicago State Cougars | W 95-53 |
| Dec 13 | Utah State Aggies | L 78-83 |
| Dec 19 | Southern Illinois Salukis | W 75-68 |
| Dec 21 | Indiana State Sycamores | W 85-65 |
| Dec 30 | Drake Bulldogs | W 73-56 |
| Jan 1 | Evansville Purple Aces | W 73-47 |
| Jan 8 | Valparaiso Beacons | L 71-77 |
| Jan 10 | UIC Flames | L 59-63 |
| Jan 15 | Indiana State Sycamores | L 89-94 |
| Jan 17 | Bradley Braves | W 88-62 |
| Jan 22 | Northern Iowa Panthers | W 59-54 |
| Jan 24 | Belmont Bruins | L 69-80 |
| Jan 29 | Murray State Racers | W 70-65 |
| Feb 4 | Southern Illinois Salukis | L 50-54 |
| Feb 7 | Drake Bulldogs | W 86-76 |
| Feb 10 | Evansville Purple Aces | L 80-88 |
| Feb 13 | Valparaiso Beacons | W 86-64 |
| Feb 15 | UIC Flames | L 56-83 |
| Feb 19 | Murray State Racers | W 78-61 |
| Feb 22 | Bradley Braves | L 60-74 |
| Feb 26 | Northern Iowa Panthers | W 71-69 |
| Mar 1 | Belmont Bruins | W 81-74 |
| Mar 7 | Northern Iowa Panthers | L 52-74 |
ANALYTICS
+6.7
Pt Diff
L1
Streak
51.2%
SOS
#159
T-Rank
Barthag: 0.4898
105.6
Adj O
106.0
Adj D
OTHER SPORTS AT ILLINOIS STATE
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL PROGRAMS
MORE MEN'S BASKETBALL IN ILLINOIS
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Illinois Men's Basketball ProgramsFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What conference does Illinois State Men's Basketball compete in?
- Illinois State Redbirds Men's Basketball competes in the Missouri Valley Conference conference at the NCAA D1-FCS level.
- Where does Illinois State play men's basketball home games?
- Illinois State Men's Basketball plays home games at CEFCU Arena in Normal, IL.
- Who is the head coach of Illinois State Men's Basketball?
- The head coach of Illinois State Redbirds Men's Basketball is Ryan Pedon.
- When was Illinois State Men's Basketball program established?
- The establishment date for Illinois State Men's Basketball is not currently available.