Illinois State 2026-27 Season Preview
Up Next: Illinois State Redbirds
2025-26 Recap
Illinois State entered last season carrying the weight of expectations. The Redbirds returned much of their core, opened the year as the Missouri Valley Conference favorite, and were viewed by some as one of the top mid-major programs in the country. While they ultimately fell short of those lofty expectations, the season was far from a disappointment.
Illinois State finished 23-13 overall and 12-8 in MVC play, good for a third-place finish in a tightly packed league race where the gap between second and sixth was razor thin. The Redbirds improved their KenPom ranking from a preseason mark of 121 to a final ranking of 97, giving them a Top-100 finish nationally and validating their status as one of the stronger mid-major programs in the country.
The season ended on a sour note in St. Louis as Illinois State was bounced from Arch Madness in its opening game by eventual champion Northern Iowa. However, the Redbirds rebounded with a deep NIT run that carried them all the way to the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Auburn. Individually, Chase Walker earned First Team All-MVC honors as one of the conference's premier big men.
Statistically, Illinois State was a solid but somewhat flawed team. The defense routinely carried the weight while the offense struggled at times with turnovers and a lack of free-throw generation. Experience helped the Redbirds survive close games, but they rarely felt dominant and often played below the ceiling many expected entering the year.
Offseason Turnover
At first glance, Illinois State appears to have undergone significant roster turnover. In reality, the Redbirds retained the two most important pieces on the roster while replacing much of the supporting cast through the transfer portal.
Departures
- Jack Daugherty (Northern Illinois)
- Ty'Reek Coleman (Iowa)
- Ty Pence (Akron)
- Cameron Barnes (Cal State Bakersfield)
- Landon Moore (Graduation)
- Landon Wolf (Graduation)
- Brandon Lieb (Graduation)
- Boden Skunberg (Graduation)
The losses of Skunberg, Moore, Lieb, and Wolf represent a significant hit to last season's production, but the right pieces are returning to Illinois State.
Returning Core
Chase Walker
Walker returns as one of the MVC's best post players and arguably the most important player on Illinois State's roster. His ability to score on the block, rebound, and anchor the interior gives the Redbirds a foundation most MVC teams would gladly trade for.
Johnny Kinziger
Kinziger is no longer a breakout candidate—he's an established MVC staple who was all Valley two seasons ago.
Other Returners
- Mason Klabo
- Isaac Ericksen
- Nick Allen
- Ty Blake
Returning Minutes by Position
|
Position |
Returning Minutes |
|
PG |
52% |
|
SG |
78% |
|
SF |
0% |
|
PF |
0% |
|
C |
55% |
The takeaway is clear: Illinois State returns the bulk of its backcourt but must completely rebuild both forward positions.
Key Additions
Illinois State attacked the portal with a clear purpose. Rather than simply accumulating talent, Ryan Pedon targeted players that fit specific needs.
Demarion Burch – Bradley
At Illinois State, Burch won’t be asked to be “the guy”—but he doesn’t need to be. His path to impact is clear: defend, run, and attack the rim. If his jumper comes around, he has a real chance to evolve from a rotation piece into one of Illinois State’s most important two-way players this season.
Noah Cleveland - Illinois Wesleyan
Noah Cleveland isn’t a high-variance, boom-or-bust prospect—he’s a steady, fundamentally sound player whose value comes from doing multiple things well. The swing factor is how his skill set holds up athletically. If it translates, he’s a useful, system-friendly forward who can contribute in a variety of ways. If not, he becomes more of a depth option.
Zaxton King – Missouri State
Illinois State will rely on him to generate offense when structure breaks down, and he should have the freedom to do it. If he proves efficient and buys in defensively, he has a real path to becoming one of the more impactful scoring guards in the MVC this season.
Deng Garang - Le Moyne
If his defense translates and he provides even average shooting, he has a real chance to become a high-minute, two-way contributor who helps Illinois State win games in the margins—rebounding, defending, and cleaning up possessions around higher-usage scorers.
Louie Semona – Western Kentucky
If healthy, I’d project him as a high-minute rotation forward with starter upside. His best role is as a stretch 4 who spaces the floor, moves the ball, and provides efficient secondary scoring. For a Redbird team adding athletic guards and wings, Semona could be the piece that helps the offense breathe.
Incoming Freshmen
- Leyton Wolf
- Matthew Szafoni
- Jordan Williams
As is often the case in the MVC, expecting major freshman contributions can be dangerous. Any production from this group should be viewed as a bonus.
Key Questions
Can Illinois State solidify the forward spots?
Can Chase Walker stay healthy?
Is Johnny Kinziger going to return to an all-Valley team?
Can the transfers mesh quickly?
Does Mason Klabo become a bigger contributor?
Outlook
Illinois State enters 2026-27 with something many MVC teams are searching for: proven star power.
While much of the supporting cast has changed, the Redbirds avoided the complete roster reset that impacted many conference rivals by retaining both Chase Walker and Johnny Kinziger. Those two provide one of the MVC's best inside-out combinations and give Illinois State a foundation capable of competing near the top of the standings.
The transfer portal additions also appear to complement existing strengths rather than overlap them. King adds shot creation. Burch and Garang bring athleticism and defensive versatility. Semona provides shooting and spacing. Collectively, they address many of the weaknesses that surfaced during last season.
The biggest strength of this roster is balance:
- Proven star power
- Improved wing athleticism
- Additional shot creation
- Better lineup flexibility
- Increased positional versatility
The biggest concern is cohesion. Illinois State has upgraded talent in several areas, but integrating multiple transfers into meaningful roles is rarely seamless.
If the pieces fit, this roster has the potential to contend for a top-four finish and make another postseason run.
Projection
MVC Finish: 1st–4th
Expect Illinois State to be one of the more dangerous teams in the league this year.
Final Thought
Walker and Kinziger give Illinois State one of the conference's best star combinations, while the newcomers appear to fit naturally around them. The Redbirds are not rebuilding—they are retooling.
Illinois State looks like a legitimate Top-5 MVC team entering 2026-27, with a realistic path to finishing in the conference's top tier if the transfer additions perform as expected.