Experienced Illinois State Redbirds Set to Challenge Struggling Purdue
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With a roster of veterans and a coaching staff familiar with Matt Painter's system, Illinois State arrives in West Lafayette looking to capitalize on a winless Purdue start.
Purdue is searching for its first victory of the season on Monday night as they host Illinois State at Mackey Arena. As Sports Illustrated first reported, the Boilermakers enter the matchup with an 0-2 record following losses to Gonzaga and a double-overtime 83-80 defeat to Valparaiso on Friday.
Illinois State arrives as a dangerous opponent coming off a successful 23-13 campaign last season, during which they finished third in the MVC and reached the NIT semifinals before losing 88-66 to Auburn. Under head coach Ryan Pedon, who took over in 2022, the Redbirds have increased their win total every year, including a 22-14 record and a CBI championship during the 2024-25 season.
Sports Illustrated reports that Illinois State possesses a significant scouting advantage due to its coaching staff. Assistant coach Ethan Morton, who played for the Boilermakers from 2020-24, was a member of the squad during the program's first Final Four appearance in more than four decades. Additionally, Ryan Pedon has extensive Big Ten experience, having served as an assistant coach at Illinois from 2013 to 2015 and at Ohio State from 2017 to 2022.
Experience is a primary theme for the Redbirds, who feature eight players with at least three years of college basketball experience. Sports Illustrated notes this contrasts with Purdue's roster, where several third-year players are still adapting to new roles after spending much of their careers as bench players.
Offensively, Illinois State has shown high-level scoring in its first two games. After an overtime loss to St. Mary's (90-85) and a 100-55 victory over Central State, the Redbirds are shooting 55% from the field and 50.9% from three-point range. Three players are currently averaging double-digit scoring: Johnny Kinziger (23.0 ppg), Malik Messina-Moore (17.0 ppg), and Nick Allen (10.0 ppg).
The Redbirds also boast proven talent in Chase Walker and Johnny Kinziger, both of whom have earned All-MVC honors. Walker was a first-team selection after the 2025-26 season, averaging 13.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Kinziger earned second-team all-conference honors at the end of the 2024-25 season, averaging 14.6 points and 3.9 rebounds.