Pizza Payaa to Host Basketball Coaches Show Tonight

NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State Basketball Coaches Show, presented by The O’Brien Auto Team, featuring Illinois State head men’s basketball coach Ryan Pedon and women’s basketball head coach Kristen Gillespie will air tonight live from Pizza Payaa in Uptown Normal.

Fans are invited to watch Monday’s show live at Pizza Payaa, located at 107 E. Beaufort St. Suite C in Normal; however, for those unable to attend the show in person, it will be broadcast live on WJBC 1230 AM, the Varsity Network, and on the Illinois State Athletics Facebook page.

Head women’s basketball coach Kristen Gillespie‘s segment of the show, hosted by Greg Halbleib, starts at 6 p.m. and Gillespie, whose team is 13-9 this season and 7-4 in the MVC, will be joined by ISU freshman forward Madison Austin. Illinois State women’s basketball heads into the show following a pair of big wins at home last week, with a 59-55 win over UNI on Thursday followed by a 58-54 overtime win over I-74 rival Bradley on Sunday. The Redbirds are now 11-0 at CEFCU Arena this season and will host Drake on Saturday at 4 p.m. for their National Girls and Women In Sports Day Celebration.

Austin has played 20 games for the Redbirds as a true freshman, coming off the bench in each. The Sterling, Illinois, native has averaged just under nine minutes played per game, while scoring 3.6 points and grabbing 2.4 rebounds per contest for the Redbirds. She scored a career-high 14 points in a win against Indiana State on December 29 and grabbed a season-best six rebounds in a win over Valparaiso on January 15. 

Head men’s basketball coach Ryan Pedon‘s portion of the show follows at 6:45 p.m., hosted by John Fitzgerald and Mike Matthews. The Redbirds come into the show with a 15-7 record, and a 7-4 mark in MVC play. The Redbirds are coming off a big road game in their lone contest last week, topping Murray State on the road last Wednesday by a final score of 70-65 at the CFSB Center. This week the Redbirds have a pair of home games, with a Tuesday contest against Southern Illinois at 6 p.m. and a Friday matchup with Drake at 7 p.m. at CEFCU Arena.

Pedon will be joined this week by junior forward Chase Walker. The Columbus, Ohio, native leads the Redbirds in points (14.0 per game) and rebounds (5.8 per game) in 21 games started this season and has twice been named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week. He has scored in double digits in 15 games this season, with five 20-plus point efforts including a season-high 22 points against Evansville. He also posted a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds in a rivalry win over Bradley at home on January 17. 

Upcoming Coaches Show Schedule

Feb. 2 at Pizza Payaa (107 E. Beaufort Suite C, Normal)

Feb. 9 (No Show)

Feb. 16 at Jesse’s Grille (inside the Marriott, 201 Broadway, Normal)

Feb. 23 at Rob Dob’s (801 N. Hershey Rd. Bloomington)

March 2 at Pizza Payaa (107 E. Beaufort Suite C, Normal

March 9 at Jesse’s Grille (inside the Marriott, 201 Broadway, Normal)

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