Busting Brackets
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MVC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2022-23 season

By Harry Schroeder

Mar 6, 2022; St. Louis, MO, USA; Drake Bulldogs head coach Darian DeVries reacts to a call against the Loyola Ramblers during the first half in the finals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2022; St. Louis, MO, USA; Drake Bulldogs head coach Darian DeVries reacts to a call against the Loyola Ramblers during the first half in the finals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Former Ohio State Buckeyes assistant coach Ryan Pedon Michigan State Spartans At Ohio State Buckeyes
Former Ohio State Buckeyes assistant coach Ryan Pedon Michigan State Spartans At Ohio State Buckeyes /

9. Illinois State Redbirds – Head Coach Ryan Pedon
 
2021-22 record: 13-20 overall; 5-13 in the MVC

Pedon’s arrival at Illinois State is an important one. His time serving at Chris Holtman’s side at Butler and Ohio State earned him a high reputation as an outstanding recruiter, a builder of relationships and successful systems.

His recruiting chops were needed in Normal, Illinois and he landed a boatload of Division 1 transfers that could become instant impact players in the Missouri Valley Conference. Outside of returners Kendall Lewis, Liam McChesney, and Ryan Schmitt, the Redbird roster was thin and needed help.

Lewis, a noted defensive stopper averaged 9.3 points and 5.7 rebounds while making 51% of his shots. The 6’7 forward was a staple on last year’s team. McChesney (4.5 ppg) and Schmitt (3.1 ppg) have great size as both top 6’10, but are not typical interior scorers. While McChesney blocked 30 shots at 200 pounds he can be pushed around.

Newcomers bring real hope. Grad transfer Colton Sandage was Pedon’s first signee after averaging over 13 points per game for Western Illinois. The 6’2 guard collected 39 steals in  31 games and made 65 triples. Fellow guards Darius Burford, Seneca Knight, Malachi Poindexter, and Luke Kasubke all have extensive experience.

Burford was a third-team Colonial league honoree at Elon and moved closer to home to play for ILS. He averaged 13.4 points and picked up 47 steals last year. Poindexter participated in 22 games in two seasons at Virginia and Knight is joining his fourth program, but has accumulated 960 career points.

Kasubke and 6’10 forward Joe Petrakis both spent time at Kansas State.

Pedon has completely rebuilt the Redbird roster and his team will be one of the Valley’s oldest teams. That experience could help them climb the Valley standings.