What Happened to Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball?
The Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball program has a long history in the Missouri Valley Conference, marked by periods of success including multiple NCAA Tournament appearances in the 1980s and 1990s. After a period of rebuilding, the team under Coach Ryan Pedon has shown significant improvement, winning the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) in 2025 and making a deep run in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in 2026, reaching the quarterfinals.
Quick Answer
The Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team has experienced a resurgence under head coach Ryan Pedon. After winning the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) in 2025, the Redbirds continued their upward trajectory in the 2025-26 season, finishing with a 22-12 record and a third-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference. As of March 25, 2026, they are competing in the NIT Quarterfinals against the Dayton Flyers, having already secured two wins in the tournament.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
First NCAA Division I Tournament Appearance
The Redbirds made their inaugural appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.
Last NCAA Division I Tournament Appearance
Illinois State last appeared in the NCAA Tournament after winning the MVC Tournament, marking the beginning of a long drought.
MVC Regular Season Co-Championship
The Redbirds shared the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title, finishing with a 17-1 conference record.
Ryan Pedon Hired as Head Coach
Former Ohio State assistant Ryan Pedon was named the 20th head coach, tasked with rebuilding the program after Dan Muller's departure.
Program Record for Free Throw Percentage
In Coach Pedon's first season, the team finished 11-21 but set a new program record for free throw percentage (.793).
Wins College Basketball Invitational (CBI) Title
The Redbirds concluded their 2024-25 season by winning the CBI, achieving their most wins (22) since the 2016-17 season.
Coach Ryan Pedon Receives Contract Extension
Following the CBI championship and significant improvement, Coach Pedon's contract was extended through the 2029-30 season.
2025-26 Coaches Show Season Begins
The Illinois State athletic department announced the start of the revamped basketball coaches show for the 2025-26 season.
Secures No. 3 Seed in MVC Tournament
Illinois State defeated Belmont 81-74 in their regular season finale, securing the third seed for the upcoming Arch Madness.
Falls in Arch Madness Opener
The Redbirds lost their opening game in the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament (Arch Madness) in St. Louis.
Receives NIT Invitation
Illinois State was selected to participate in the National Invitation Tournament, hosting Kent State in the first round.
Defeats Kent State in NIT First Round
The Redbirds secured their first NIT win since 2016-17, topping the Kent State Golden Flashes 79-58 at CEFCU Arena.
Upsets Wake Forest in NIT Second Round
Illinois State rallied to beat top-seeded Wake Forest 78-75, marking their first time winning twice in an NIT appearance since 1996.
Academic All-District Honors for Trio
Johnny Kinziger, Ty Pence, and Landon Wolf were named to the CSC Academic All-District squad for their combined performance on court and in classroom.
NIT Quarterfinal vs. Dayton
The Redbirds are scheduled to play the Dayton Flyers in the Quarterfinal round of the 2026 National Invitation Tournament.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball program, established in 1897, boasts a rich history within NCAA Division I, primarily as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). The Redbirds have made six NCAA Division I Tournament appearances, with their most recent bid in 1998 after sharing the MVC regular-season title. Notable periods of success include three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 1983-1985 under Coach Bob Donewald Sr., and back-to-back appearances in 1997 and 1998 under Coach Kevin Stallings.
Following the late 1990s, the program entered a rebuilding phase, experiencing a prolonged absence from the NCAA Tournament, which currently stands as the longest drought among MVC members at 27 seasons. Despite consistent NIT appearances, the Redbirds struggled to reclaim their former conference dominance. A key turning point came with the hiring of Ryan Pedon as head coach on March 7, 2022. Pedon, a former Ohio State assistant, was tasked with revitalizing the program and instilling a new culture.
Under Pedon's leadership, the Redbirds have shown steady improvement. His first season (2022-23) saw an 11-21 record, but the team set a program record for free throw percentage. The 2024-25 season marked a significant leap, with the team achieving a 22-14 record, their winningest season in eight years, and capturing the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) title. This success led to Pedon signing a contract extension through the 2029-30 season in May 2025.
The momentum continued into the 2025-26 season. The Redbirds were picked as the preseason MVC favorites and finished the regular season with a 20-12 overall record (12-8 MVC), securing the No. 3 seed in the MVC Tournament (Arch Madness). Although they fell in their Arch Madness opener on March 6, 2026, the team earned a berth in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). As of March 25, 2026, the Redbirds have advanced to the NIT Quarterfinals, defeating Kent State 79-58 in the first round and then upsetting top-seeded Wake Forest 78-75 in the second round, marking their first time winning twice in an NIT appearance since 1996. They are set to play Dayton in the Quarterfinals on March 25, 2026. Key players like Chase Walker (First Team All-MVC) and Johnny Kinziger (Second Team All-MVC) have been instrumental in this recent success, with Kinziger, Ty Pence, and Landon Wolf also earning Academic All-District honors in March 2026.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball made different choices?