Utah State is playing their second game in three days after traveling 1188 and coming off an emotional win, erasing a 47-29 deficit. Last season, the Redbirds finished 18-16 overall and 9-9 in the rugged Missouri Valley Conference.

Illinois State returns four starters from that team, including senior guard Daishon Knight, who was their leading scorer (13.2 ppg). Another top player is sophomore center Reggie Lynch, who averaged 8.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocked shots last season.

Utah State is one of the least experienced teams in the nation with only four returning players from 2013-14 on the roster. The rest of the squad is made up of two returning redshirts from the 2011-12 season and a mixture of 11 junior transfers and freshmen. Already in a brutal spot, we have to fade them.