Illinois State Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Redbirds

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 4: Head coach Dan Muller of the Illinois State Redbirds directs his team against the Loyola Ramblers during the Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Tournament Championship at the Scottrade Center on March 4, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

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ISU’s Josiah Strong Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /

Projected starting lineup

When Muller’s teams have been good in the past, they have been long, tall, and athletic, with a true floor general playing the point. This team will be more guard-oriented than those teams of the past, but they finally have a point guard to run the offense.

While the Redbirds have sufficient size, they will look more like a three and four-guard attack most often.

Antonio Reeves – Shooting Guard

Reeves enjoyed a summer of full work-outs after declaring for the NBA draft. He ultimately returned to ISU and as their top returning player, a sigh of relief could be heard throughout Normal, Illinois. The 6’4 junior averaged 12.4 points and 30 minutes per game. As a freshman, he was part of the Valley’s all-bench team.

Reeves hasn’t shot the ball as well as expected, but he is a bucket getter. He made 33 three-pointers last season and is hard to defend. He loves to drive and is difficult to stop.

Mark Freeman – Point Guard

Muller calls Freeman, who transferred from Tennessee State, the best true point guard he’s had since former league MVP Paris Lee (2017). Freeman was a second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference performer last season.

During his two-year career at TSU he scored over 500 points and handed out over 200 assists. Last year he averaged 17.1 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.1 rebounds for the Tigers. He is an outstanding free-throw shooter and averaged two steals per game. While his three-point shooting hasn’t been great, Muller isn’t leaning on Freeman to be a bomber, he wants him to direct traffic and distribute the basketball.

Josiah Strong – Wing

Strong averaged 11.5 points per game and connected on 37% of his shots from long distance. At 6’3, 194 he is strongly built. This is his first season in four he’s played that he’s been with the same team for a second year in a row. Strong should blossom with that consistency.

Among the returners, Strong’s 18 starts were second only to Reeves’ 24.

Emon Washington – Small Forward

Washington is a leaper, plays solid defense, and became a reliable player as his freshman season wore on. His ten starts came at the end of the campaign and the 6’6 Washington finished the season with respectable numbers.

He averaged 5.3 points and four rebounds while making 49% of his shots. About once per game Washington will make some kind of jaw-dropping athletic play. He’s a difference-maker.

Ryan Schmitt – Center

Muller describes Schmitt as a ‘true, low post center’. The 6’11 Schmitt spent last season and Des Moines Community College where he won the NJCAA Division II national title. He was second nationally with 69 blocked shots in just 26 games. He was among the national leaders in rebounds and averaged 11.8 points per game.