2020–21 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team

The 2020–21 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represented Illinois State University during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Redbirds, led by ninth-year head coach Dan Muller, played their home games at Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena in Normal, Illinois as members of the Missouri Valley Conference. In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they finished the 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.

2020–21 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball
ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference
2020–21 record7–18 (4–14 MVC)
Head coach
Associate head coachBrian Jones
Assistant coaches
Home arenaDoug Collins Court
at Redbird Arena
2020–21 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 17 Loyola Chicago162 .889265  .839
Drake153 .833265  .839
Missouri State126 .667177  .708
Indiana State117 .6111510  .600
Evansville711 .389916  .360
Valparaiso711 .3891018  .357
Northern Iowa711 .3891015  .400
Bradley612 .3331216  .429
Southern Illinois513 .2781214  .462
Illinois State414 .222718  .280
2021 MVC Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

The Redbirds finished the 2019–20 season 10–21, 5–13 in MVC play to finish in ninth place. In the MVC Tournament, they lost to Drake in the first round.

Offseason

Departures

Name#Pos.HeightWeightYearHometownComment
Jaycee Hillsman25G6'6"230RS SeniorChampaign, ILGraduation
Zach Copeland2G6'4"195SeniorOakland, CAGraduation
Ricky Torres3G6'2"180SeniorPinellas Park, FLGraduation
Matt Chastain22G6'6"210RS JuniorLeRoy, ILRetired due to injury
Lijah Donnelly15G6'2"170RS JuniorBloomington, ILLincoln College
Keith Fisher III5F6'8"220RS JuniorLos Angeles, CAOpted out due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Taylor Bruninga32F6'8"210RS SophomoreMapleton, ILRetired due to injury
Rey Idowu13F6'9"240SophomoreMelbourne, FLTulsa

2020 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Alston Andrews
F
Detroit, MI Ocoee High School 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Nov 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Howard Fleming Jr.
G
Louisville, KY Male High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Nov 20, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Emon Washington
G
Atlanta, GA South Cobb High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Nov 13, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

    Incoming transfers

    NamePos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrior school
    Sy ChatmanF6'8"220JuniorMinneapolis, MNUMass
    Dusan MahorcicF6'10"240JuniorBelgrade, SerbiaMoberly Area Community College
    Josiah StrongG6'3"195JuniorBrooklyn Park, MNIowa Western Community College
    Alex KotovF6'10"220SophomoreMoscow, RussiaDaytona State College

    Roster

    2020–21 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G 0 DJ Horne 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)175 lb (79 kg) SoTrinity Academy Raleigh, NC
    G 1 Dedric Boyd 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)195 lb (88 kg) RS JrHaywood High School
    Eastern Kentucky
    Brownsville, TN
    G 2 Josiah Strong 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)195 lb (88 kg) JrChamplin Park High School
    Navy
    Iowa Western Community College
    Brooklyn Park, MN
    G 3 Howard Fleming Jr. 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)195 lb (88 kg) FrMale High School Louisville, KY
    F 4 Abdou Ndiaye 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)195 lb (88 kg) RS SoThe Nation Christian Academy Louga, Senegal
    G 10 Emon Washington 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)190 lb (86 kg) FrSouth Cobb High School Atlanta, GA
    F 11 Alston Andrews 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)230 lb (104 kg) FrOcoee High School Detroit, MI
    G 12 Antonio Reeves 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)185 lb (84 kg) SoSimeon Career Academy Chicago, IL
    G 14 Nik Stadelman (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)180 lb (82 kg) FrGuilford High School Rockford, IL
    F 21 Dusan Mahorcic 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)240 lb (109 kg) JrNotre Dame College Prep
    Lewis
    Moberly Area Community College
    Belgrade, Serbia
    F 23 Harouna Sissoko 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg) RS FrGrand View Christian School Kayes, Mali
    G 24 Jayden Johnson (W) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)205 lb (93 kg) FrBatavia High School Batavia, IL
    F 25 Alex Kotov 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)220 lb (100 kg) SoMontverde Academy
    Palm Beach State College
    Daytona State College
    Moscow, Russia
    F 30 Sy Chatman (L) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)220 lb (100 kg) JrCretin-Derham High School
    Massachusetts
    Minneapolis, MN
    G 34 Malcolm Miller  (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)210 lb (95 kg) RS FrShelbyville High School Shelbyville, IL
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)

    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster
    Last update: March 24, 2021

    NOTE: (L) indicates left team in-season

    Schedule and results

    Date
    time, TV
    Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Non-Conference Regular Season
    November 25, 2020*
    1:00 pm, ESPN
    at No. 23 Ohio State
    Columbus Multi-Team Event
    L 67–94  0–1
     17  Reeves  7  Reeves  7  Fleming Jr.  Value City Arena (0)
    Columbus, OH
    November 28, 2020*
    12:00 pm
    vs. UMass Lowell
    Columbus Multi-Team Event
    W 82–72  1–1
     21  Strong  10  Sissoko  2  3 tied  Covelli Center (0)
    Columbus, OH
    December 2, 2020*
    5:00 pm, ESPN3
    Greenville W 177–108  2–1
     30  Washington  7  3 tied  11  Strong  Redbird Arena (0)
    Normal, IL
    December 5, 2020*
    5:00 pm, ESPN+
    at Murray State L 65–76  2–2
     16  Reeves  9  Mahorcic  5  Strong  CFSB Center (1,290)
    Murray, KY
    December 12, 2020*
    6:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Ball State L 66–82  2–3
     15  Boyd  13  Mahorcic  4  Strong  John E. Worthen Arena (107)
    Muncie, IN
    December 15, 2020*
    2:00 pm, ESPN3
    Chicago State W 91–62  3–3
     22  Horne  9  Fleming Jr.  6  Strong  Redbird Arena (0)
    Normal, IL
    Missouri Valley Conference Regular Season
    December 27, 2020
    3:00 pm, (FSIN/FSKC/FSMW/NBCSCH)
    at Loyola-Chicago L 60–90  3–4
    (0–1)
     18  Horne  8  Mahorcic  2  3 tied  Joseph J. Gentile Arena (0)
    Chicago, IL
    December 28, 2020
    6:00 pm, CBSSN
    at Loyola-Chicago L 55-86  3–5
    (0–2)
     21  Strong  6  Horne  3  4 tied  Joseph J. Gentile Arena (0)
    Chicago, IL
    January 2, 2021
    4:30 pm
    Valparaiso postponed due to COVID-19 issues at Valparaiso;[1] rescheduled for January 23, 2021[2] Redbird Arena 
    Normal, IL
    January 3, 2021
    4:30 pm
    Valparaiso postponed due to COVID-19 issues at Valparaiso; rescheduled for January 24, 2021 Redbird Arena 
    Normal, IL
    January 9, 2021
    1:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Evansville L 48-57  3–6
    (0–3)
     11  Reeves  11  Mahorcic  2  tied  Ford Center (0)
    Evansville, IN
    January 10, 2021
    1:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Evansville W 73–68  4–6
    (1–3)
     21  Reeves  9  Sissoko  2  tied  Ford Center (0)
    Evansville, IN
    January 16, 2021
    3:00 pm, MVC-TV
    Indiana State L 65–73  4–7
    (1–4)
     16  Horne  9  Mahorcic  5  Horne  Redbird Arena (0)
    Normal, IL
    January 17, 2021
    3:00 pm, Marquee
    Indiana State L 68–74  4–8
    (1–5)
     19  Boyd  11  Mahorcic  4  Strong  Redbird Arena (0)
    Normal, IL
    January 20, 2021
    8:00 pm, Marquee
    Bradley
    I–74 Rivalry
    (site swap with
    February 17, 2021 game)
    W 71–56  5–8
    (2–5)
     23  Horne  9  Mahorcic  4  Fleming Jr.  Redbird Arena (0)
    Normal, IL
    January 23, 2021
    5:00 pm, Marquee
    Valparaiso L 60–69  5–9
    (2–6)
     19  Horne  10  Fleming Jr.  4  Fleming Jr.  Redbird Arena (0)
    Normal, IL
    January 24, 2021
    5:00 pm, Marquee
    Valparaiso L 66–70  5–10
    (2–7)
     20  Horne  6  tied  3  tied  Redbird Arena (0)
    Normal, IL
    January 31, 2021
    2:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Drake L 76–78 OT 5–11
    (2–8)
     27  Reeves  7  Horne  4  tied  The Knapp Center (947)
    Des Moines, IA
    February 1, 2021
    6:00 pm, ESPN3
    at No. 25 Drake L 60–95  5–12
    (2–9)
     20  Reeves  7  Ndiaye  3  Fleming Jr.  The Knapp Center (737)
    Des Moines, IA
    February 6, 2021
    2:00 pm, ESPN3
    Missouri State L 67–74  5–13
    (2–10)
     23  Horne  8  Mahorcic  3  Horne  Redbird Arena (0)
    Normal, IL
    February 7, 2021
    2:00 pm, Marquee
    Missouri State L 62–72  5–14
    (2–11)
     18  Horne  15  Mahorcic  3  Fleming Jr.  Redbird Arena (0)
    Normal, IL
    February 13, 2021
    3:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Southern Illinois W 80–55  6–14
    (3–11)
     17  Horne  10  Washington  6  Fleming Jr.  Banterra Center (0)
    Carbondale, IL
    February 14, 2021
    3:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Southern Illinois L 49–59  6–15
    (3–12)
     14  Strong  8  Fleming Jr.  3  Horne  Banterra Center (0)
    Carbondale, IL
    February 17, 2021
    7:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Bradley rescheduled for February 18, 2021 due to scheduling issues[3][4] Carver Arena 
    Peoria, IL
    February 18, 2021
    6:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Bradley
    I-74 Rivalry
    W 88–71  7–15
    (4–12)
     20  Washington  8  Washington  5  Fleming Jr.  Carver Arena (0)
    Peoria, IL
    February 26, 2021
    8:00 pm, ESPNU
    Northern Iowa L 56–70  7–16
    (4–13)
     18  Mahorcic  8  Mahorcic  4  Fleming Jr.  Redbird Arena (0)
    Normal, IL
    February 27, 2021
    5:00 pm, CBSSN
    Northern Iowa L 87–94 2OT 7–17
    (4–14)
     34  Horne  9  Mahorcic  5  Horne  Redbird Arena (0)
    Normal, IL
    State Farm
    Missouri Valley Conference {MVC} Tournament
    March 4, 2021*
    8:08 pm, MVC-TV
    (10) vs. (7) Northern Iowa
    Opening Round
    L 60–65  7–18
     15  Mahorcic  7  3 tied  4  Horne  Enterprise Center (663)
    St. Louis, MO
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Central Time.

    Source[5]

    NOTE: limited capacity or no spectators allowed per the corresponding local COVID-19 health guidelines.

    References

    1. "Valpo Men's Basketball Pauses Team Activities". www.valpoathletics.com. Valparaiso Athletics. December 22, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
    2. "MVC ANNOUNCES BASKETBALL RESCHEDULING / SCHEDULE SHIFTS". www.mvc-sports.com. Missouri Valley Conference. January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
    3. "BRADLEY-ILLINOIS STATE CONTEST MOVED TO THURSDAY (FEB. 18)". www.mvc-sports.com. Missouri Valley Conference. February 13, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
    4. Dave Eminian (February 13, 2021). "Bradley basketball rematch with Illinois State moved, player families allowed at final 3 games". www.pjstar.com. Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
    5. "2020-21 Men's Basketball Schedule". www.goredbirds.com. Illinois State University Athletics. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
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