Missouri State has been very fortunate going 8-3 in games decided by single digits, with five wins by three or less. ISU has played a tougher schedule.

The Redbirds have a very young team and a great upside. With just 2.5 years of previous NCAA Division I basketball experience divided amongst returners Kaza Keane, Nick Zeisloft and Matt Stacho, Illinois State is believed to have less returning experience than any other Division I team.

ISU junior guard Daishon Knight is the MVC Newcomer of the Week, after averaging a team-high 20.5 points per game last week, including a career-high 26 points with five three-pointers in ISUs win over Bradley Saturday.

Redshirt sophomore guard Nick Zeisloft netted a career-high 18-points at Evansville last Wednesday (Feb. 12).

Redbird freshman center Reggie Lynch continues to lead the Missouri Valley Conference and ranks 37th nationally in blocks per game (2.5). He also ranks second in the league with a 59.8 percent field goal mark.

As usual for such virgin teams, rebuilt Illinois State is better at home than on the road.

Mizzou State, very experienced, peaked early. The Bears return five starters from a team which finished 11-22 last season and tied for seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference (7-11).

Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena has proven to be a challenging place for opponents to win this season, with ISU earning a 10-3 home-court record in 2013-14, including a 6-1 mark against Missouri Valley Conference foes. ISU has won 10-out-of-its-last-11 games at home.