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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Reggie Redbird, Illinois State Basketball mascot 190316 Drake Ill St 021 Jpg /

2021-22 outlook for Illinois State basketball

This is a rebuilding season for Illinois State. While they have just four newcomers, and no freshmen they have very little experience together. Reeves is beginning his third season and leads the team in career Illinois State in minutes played in a Redbird uniform.

They have some very complimentary pieces and have the look of a team that could surprise some people. Reeves, Freeman, and Strong should be able to score. Schmitt and N’Diaye should clog the middle, but can they stop opposing offenses from scoring?

With Freeman running the offense, they should be more efficient on the offensive end which should help the defense. Illinois State was ninth in the Valley in turnover margin, which led to easy baskets on the defensive end.

Good players did leave the ISU program. The team’s leading rebounder Dusan Mahorcic (Utah) and three-point shooter D.J. Horne (Arizona State) each left for higher-level programs. Those transfers hurt the rebuilding progress.

There are four elite teams at the top of the Missouri Valley pack. Northern Iowa, Loyola Chicago, Missouri State, and Drake should battle it out for the top spot. Southern Illinois could round out the top five.

The next five teams are very unknown. Indiana State has a new coach. Valparaiso has added four former Big Ten players. Evansville has everyone back from a nine-win team and Bradley is rebuilding.

Next. Preseason MVC power rankings for 2021-22. dark

How Illinois State fairs in that second group will come down to efficient offense and radically better defense. If Dan Muller can get his team to do those two things, they could finish in the upper five or six in the Missouri Valley Conference.