One on One with Ryan Pedon
(St. Louis, MO) – Illinois State’s needle is pointed up. The Redbirds (15-10, 7-7) have won three of their last four games and five of their last seven. Illinois State has seemingly been in tightly contested games all season, and lately they’ve been winning those ‘coin-flip’ games.
Wednesday they host first place Drake in a rematch of a game the Bulldogs won (66-62) in Des Moines. Game time on local Gray Media television stations and Matrix Midwest in St. Louis is set for 8 pm. It is the second game of the MVC TV Network double header.
The 6 pm contest, on those same stations features Southern Illinois’ visit to Bradley.
Eleven of the Redbirds’ 14 conference games have finished as ‘two-possession’ games. ILS is 5-6 in those decided by six or less points. Saturday they lost by three points at Northern Iowa. Head coach Ryan Pedon’s team has won four of their last six tight contests.
Drake (22-2,12-2) has won ten straight games and are receiving votes in the national polls. While their season has been wildly successful Coach Ben McCollum tells us he is still striving for continual improvement.
Pedon says his team’s growing maturity is a factor for greater success. Well deserved accolades have been thrown at super sophomores Johnny Kinziger and Chase Walker, but Pedon also notes the growing contributions of key role players. Jordan Davis and Ty Pence have seen their roles increase in recent weeks.
Pedon believes the Redbird needle is pointed up.
Needle is Pointe Up
Illinois State hasn’t won as many as 17 games since the 2018-19 season or 18 victories in the season before that. Pedon’s team has matched last year’s squad’s total (15) with at least seven games left in this campaign. The Redbird kenpom.com ratings over the past five years have ranged from 179 to 289. Pedon’s current group sits at 138.
While Illinois State trails fourth place Belmont by two games, the Redbirds’ needle is pointed up.
Do Good
Editor: Cover photo of Jordan Davis, courtesy of Dennis Banks and goredbirds.com.
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Flooding, lightning strikes, etc. have cost @RacersHoops two home games. Had to play 'neutral site' tonight instead of at home and Wednesday's goes from home to away. Tough break for the Racers, and the whole area has been hit with difficulties. #FatherHarry
Murray State's scheduled home game Wednesday vs. Southern Illinois being moved to Banterra Center in Carbondale. #ValleyHoops
Gigantic game for @BradleyUMBB today in Des Moines. If they have a chance to catch @DrakeBulldogsMB, they have to win today. The Bulldogs can basically win the title today. @BustingBrackets breaks it all down. #FatherHarry https://bit.ly/3EGiVgi
Not rooting for any particular @ValleyHoops, but chaos is always fun. If things break certain ways, after today there could be a six-way tie for fifth place.
Fun to listen to @MLBLarry on the @SIU_Basketball/@BelmontMBB game tonight. Good job brother. #FatherHarry
