2021–22 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team
American college basketball season
The 2021–22 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represented Illinois State University during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season . The Redbirds played their home games at Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena in Normal, Illinois as members of the Missouri Valley Conference . The team finished the season 13–20, 5–13 in MVC play to finish in eighth place. They defeated Indiana State in the first round of the MVC tournament before losing to Northern Iowa in the quarterfinals.
Head coach Dan Muller was fired by the school after the first 26 games of the season after 10 years as head coach, but the school stated he would finish out the season[ 1] A day later, Muller announced he would step down immediately and associate head coach Brian Jones was named interim coach for the remainder of the season.[ 2] On March 7, 2022, the school named Ohio State assistant coach Ryan Pedon as the team's new head coach.
Previous season
In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic , the Redbirds finished the 2020–21 season 7–18, 4–14 in MVC play to finish in 10th place. In the MVC tournament , they lost to Northern Iowa in the first round.[ 3]
Offseason
Departures
2021 recruiting class
Incoming transfers
Roster
2021–22 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Name
Height
Weight
Year
Previous school
Hometown
G
0
Mark Freeman
5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)
165 lb (75 kg)
Jr
Southwind HS Tennessee State
Memphis, TN
F
1
Sy Chatman
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
RS Jr
Cretin-Derham HS Massachusetts
Minneapolis, MN
G
2
Josiah Strong
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
Sr
Champlin Park HS Navy Iowa Western Community College
Brooklyn Park, MN
G
3
Howard Fleming Jr.
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
So
Male HS
Louisville, KY
F
4
Abdou Ndiaye
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
RS Jr
The Nation Christian Academy
Louga , Senegal
G
5
Julian Samuels (W)
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
160 lb (73 kg)
Fr
Annawan HS Central Pointe Christian Academy
Annawan, IL
G
10
Emon Washington
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
So
South Cobb HS
Atlanta, GA
F
11
Alston Andrews
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
So
Ocoee HS
Detroit, MI
G
12
Antonio Reeves
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
Jr
Simeon Career Academy
Chicago, IL
F
13
Liam McChesney
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
RS So
Charles Hays Secondary School Utah State
Prince Rupert, BC
G
14
Nik Stadelman (W)
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
So
Guilford HS
Rockford, IL
F
22
Kendall Lewis
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
Jr
Shiloh HS Appalachian State
Snellville, GA
F
23
Harouna Sissoko
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
RS So
Grand View Christian School
Kayes , Mali
G
24
Jayden Johnson (W)
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
So
Batavia HS
Batavia, IL
F
25
Alex Kotov
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
Jr
Montverde Academy Palm Beach State College Daytona State College
Moscow , Russia
G
34
Malcolm Miller (W)
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
RS So
Shelbyville HS
Shelbyville, IL
G
45
Elijah Williams (W)
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
Fr
Providence Christian Academy
Lawrenceville, GA
F
50
Ryan Schmitt
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
Jr
Van Meter HS Des Moines Area CC
Van Meter, IA
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
(W) Walk-on
Roster Last update: November 18, 2021
Schedule and results
Date time, TV
Rank#
Opponent#
Result
Record
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Site (attendance) city, state
Exhibition
November 4, 2021 *7:00 pm
Davenport
W 85–59
34 – Reeves
8 – Lewis
10 – Freeman
Redbird Arena Normal, IL
Regular season
November 9, 2021 *7:00 pm, ESPN3
UNC Wilmington
W 68–63
1–0
29 – Reeves
10 – Chatman
3 – Tied
Redbird Arena (2,642)Normal, IL
November 12, 2021 *5:00 pm, ESPN3
at Eastern Michigan
L 98–103 2OT
1–1
32 – Reeves
13 – Chatman
2 – Tied
George Gervin GameAbove Center (1,905)Ypsilanti, MI
November 16, 2021 *7:00 pm, ESPN3
Murray State
L 65–77
1–2
19 – Reeves
7 – Lewis
4 – Freeman
Redbird Arena (2,904)Normal, IL
November 20, 2021 *6:00 pm, ESPN+
Bucknell Cancún Challenge campus game
W 105–100 OT
2–2
34 – Freeman
11 – Chatman
7 – Freeman
Redbird Arena (2,576)Normal, IL
November 23, 2021 *7:30 pm, CBSSN
vs. Saint Louis Cancún Challenge (Riviera Division) Semifinal
L 76–82
2–3
20 – Reeves
4 – Reeves
6 – Fleming Jr.
Riviera Maya (103)Cancún, Mexico
November 24, 2021 *5:00 pm, CBSSN
vs. Buffalo Cancún Challenge (Riviera Division) Consolation
L 90–106
2–4
22 – Lewis
5 – Tied
4 – Strong
Riviera Maya (144)Cancún, Mexico
November 27, 2021 *8:00 pm, Marquee
Purdue Northwest
W 81–71
3–4
20 – Reeves
12 – Chatman
7 – Freeman
Redbird Arena (1,024)Normal, IL
December 1, 2021 7:00 pm, ESPN+
Missouri State
W 79–74 OT
4–4 (1–0)
22 – Reeves
6 – 3 Tied
5 – Fleming Jr.
Redbird Arena (2,902)Normal, IL
December 4, 2021 *3:00 pm, ESPN3
Jackson State
L 55–61
4–5
14 – Reeves
6 – Lewis
4 – Freeman
Redbird Arena (3,089)Normal, IL
December 11, 2021 *2:00 pm, ESPN+
at Chicago State
W 81–71
5–5
28 – Reeves
6 – Lewis
4 – Freeman
Jones Convocation Center (267)Chicago, IL
December 14, 2021 *7:00 pm, ESPN+
Quincy
W 81–63
6–5
19 – Reeves
7 – Chatman
4 – Freeman
Redbird Arena (2,039)Normal, IL
December 18, 2021 *3:00 pm, Marquee
Ball State
W 85–64
7–5
23 – Strong
9 – Lewis
6 – Freeman
Redbird Arena (2,704)Normal, IL
December 21, 2021 *2:00 pm, ESPN+
UTSA
W 81–64
8–5
21 – Reeves
10 – Reeves
8 – Freeman
Redbird Arena (2.345)Normal, IL
December 29, 2021 *7:00 pm, BTN
at No. 24 Wisconsin
L 85–89
8–6
23 – Reeves
7 – Chatman
3 – Tied
Kohl Center (15,718)Madison, WI
January 2, 2022 1:00 pm, ESPN+
at Valparaiso
L 76–81 OT
8–7 (1–1)
24 – Reeves
7 – Tied
4 – Strong
Athletics–Recreation Center (1,267)Valparaiso, IN
January 12, 2022 7:00 pm, MVC TV
at Drake
L 75–86
8–8 (1–2)
20 – Lewis
5 – Tied
6 – Strong
The Knapp Center (2,702)Des Moines, IA
January 16, 2022 7:00 pm, Marquee
Bradley I–74 Rivalry
W 74–65
9–8 (2–2)
24 – Reeves
7 – Chatman
4 – Strong
Redbird Arena (4,072)Normal, IL
January 19, 2022 7:00 pm, ESPN+
at Missouri State
L 63–88
9–9 (2–3)
19 – Freeman
7 – Chatman
4 – Strong
JQH Arena (3,362)Springfield, MO
January 21, 2022 6:00 pm, ESPN+
Evansville
W 94–56
10–9 (3–3)
16 – Reeves
5 – Fleming Jr.
4 – Fleming Jr.
Redbird Arena Normal, IL
January 23, 2022 1:00 pm, MVC TV
at Evansville Rescheduled from January 9
L 53–56
10–10 (3–4)
23 – Reeves
5 – Strong
3 – Freeman
Ford Center (3,354)Evansville, IN
January 26, 2022 7:00 pm, ESPN+
Drake
L 88–89 OT
10–11 (3–5)
25 – Reeves
11 – Lewis
10 – Freeman
Redbird Arena (3,515)Normal, IL
January 29, 2022 1:00 pm, ESPN+
at Northern Iowa
L 64–79
10–12 (3–6)
19 – McChesney
8 – McChesney
4 – Strong
McLeod Center (0)Cedar Falls, IA
February 2, 2022 7:00 pm, ESPN+
at Loyola
L 64–78
10–13 (3–7)
20 – Reeves
5 – Fleming Jr.
3 – Freeman
Gentile Arena (3,097)Chicago, IL
February 5, 2022 7:00 pm, Marquee
Southern Illinois
L 69–75
10–14 (3–8)
18 – Strong
8 – McChesney
5 – Reeves
Redbird Arena (4,276)Normal, IL
February 9, 2022 7:00 pm, Marquee
Valparaiso
W 78–75 OT
11–14 (4–8)
34 – Reeves
10 – McChesney
3 – Freeman
Redbird Arena (2,443)Normal, IL
February 12, 2022 1:00 pm, ESPN+
at Indiana State
L 57–60
11–15 (4–9)
13 – McChesney
10 – Lewis
4 – Fleming Jr.
Hulman Center (2,766)Terre Haute, IN
February 15, 2022 7:00 pm, ESPN+
Northern Iowa
L 70–72
11–16 (4–10)
27 – Reeves
14 – Lewis
4 – Lewis
Redbird Arena (3,039)Normal, IL
February 19, 2022 1:00 pm, MVC TV
at Bradley I–74 Rivalry
L 64–72
11–17 (4–11)
20 – Reeves
6 – Freeman
2 – Tied
Carver Arena (6,902)Peoria, IL
February 21, 2022 7:00 pm, ESPN+
Loyola Rescheduled from January 5
L 50–59
11–18 (4–12)
15 – Reeves
7 – Fleming Jr.
2 – Tied
Redbird Arena (3,354)Normal, IL
February 23, 2022 7:00 pm, ESPN+
at Southern Illinois
L 69–90
11–19 (4–13)
18 – Reeves
6 – Lewis
5 – Freeman
Banterra Center (4,390)Carbondale, IL
February 26, 2022 3:00 pm, ESPN+
Indiana State
W 86–66
12–19 (5–13)
28 – Reeves
6 – Reeves
6 – Freeman
Redbird Arena (3,665)Normal, IL
MVC Tournament
March 3, 2022 6:00 pm, MVC TV
(8)
vs. (9) Indiana State Opening Round
W 58–53
13–19
15 – Reeves
8 – Lewis
4 – Fleming Jr.
Enterprise Center (0)St. Louis, MO
March 4, 2022 12:00 pm, MVC TV
(8)
vs. (1) Northern Iowa Quarterfinals
L 65–78
13–20
20 – Fleming Jr.
6 – Strong
4 – Reeves
Enterprise Center St. Louis, MO
*Non-conference game.
# Rankings from
AP Poll . (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in
Central Time .
Source[ 5] [ 6] [ 7]
References
^ "ISU to fire men's basketball coach Dan Muller at end of the season" . WGLT . February 13, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022 .
^ "Muller Steps Down; Brian Jones To Take Over As Interim Coach" . WZND Fuzed Radio . February 15, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022 .
^ "Illinois State vs. Northern Iowa - Game Recap - March 4, 2021 - ESPN" . ESPN.com . Retrieved December 14, 2021 .
^ "Illinois State Big Man Dusan Mahorcic Transfers To Utah Basketball" . KSL Sports . June 4, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021 .
^ "2021–22 Men's Basketball Schedule" . goredbirds.com . Illinois State University Athletics. Retrieved November 18, 2021 .
^ "2021-22 Illinois State Redbirds Schedule and Results" . College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com . Retrieved December 14, 2021 .
^ "2021-22 Illinois State Redbirds Schedule" . ESPN . Retrieved December 14, 2021 .
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