(St. Louis, MO) – Illinois State won 28 games two years ago, but coach Dan Muller says this year’s Redbird team could be his best ever. With four returning seniors and three highly rated transfers, the Redbirds are loaded with talent.
All-conference forward Milik Yarbrough and second-team forward Phil Fayne are veterans up front, while Keyshawn Evans and William Tinsley anchor the backcourt. Transfers Zach Copeland, Josh Jefferson and Matt Chastain are elite level newcomers. There is great optimism in Normal, Illinois.
But it is all about effort, consistency and attitude.
Teamwork is Key
With all the talent available to Muller, teamwork and hard work will be paramount. Evans, often the emotional leader of last year’s team, is an explosive offensive player. He was third in scoring (15.2 points per game) and second in assists (3.6) and highly effective shooting the three (.419).
Evans says the current team is close knit and has put in its best ever offseason work. Evans knows he plays an important leadership role.
Fayne led ILS in rebounding (7.4 per game) and was second in scoring (15.6). The 6’9 left-hander says his teammates went to work very quickly after the end of last season. Like Evans, Fayne says the Redbirds are a brotherhood.
Best Ever?
Muller (122-80) has won at least 18 games in each of his six seasons. ILS shared the Valley championship with Wichita State in 2017. The former Redbird player says this year’s team could be his best ever. It comes down to his seniors playing like seniors.
(See our story – ‘Might Be Scary Good‘ for more on the ILS talent level.)
Yarbrough is a unique MVC talent. The 6’6 senior led the team in scoring (16.6 points per game) and assists (4.8 per game) and second in rebounding (6.6). He is the classic ‘point forward’. However, he’s had struggles off the court. At least three times he’s had legal issues, often involving driving in the wee hours of the morning.
His latest infraction has the two-time all-Valley player in a precarious position. He was suspended indefinitely, but then allowed to practice with the team. His status, however, is uncertain. Muller says he still needs to know all the facts surrounding Yarbrough’s latest run-in with the law.
The Peoria-Journal Star provides the details on Yarbrough’s latest struggles.
The Newcomers
Copeland, Jefferson and Chastain become active this season and come with great resumes. Muller is bullish about all three, but notes that Chastain has to stay healthy (knee issues) and Copeland hasn’t played meaningful basketball in over a year.
Fayne is bullish on his teammates and his coach. He brags about Evans’ leadership abilities, Copeland’s competitiveness, Yarbrough’s talents and his coach’s passion.
This could be Muller’s best ever team, but there are ‘ifs’ involved. Yarbrough must stay eligible. Chastain’s knee must stay sound and the Redbirds must avoid inconsistent play that plagued them last season.
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Hey @Jevin_13 great interview with @evansvilleAD! Very informative and transparent. @UEAthletics are in good hands.
I feel bad for the newspaper business. So much on-line competition so ad rates go down. So they charge me to read their content. So I don't. So the ad rates go down. So they fire workers. So their product suffers. So people don't read their content. It's a terrible cycle.
42 assists in the game between @IndStBasketball & Utah. High level offense. 32 wins for the Sycamores. Larry's 8 assists give him 400 for his career. Avila with a double-double (26/10), Conwell with 27 points; Larry & Swope with 15 points. @ValleyHoops proud.
but first; Avila with a double-double 19 & 10. Now I'm leaving.
