Game Day Essentials:
Eastern Illinois (1-1) vs. No. 17 Indiana (1-0)
- Tip Time: 12:00 p.m. Eastern
- Location: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222)
- Television: BTN+ (Austin Platt, Alex Hynes, Kara Adams)
- Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)
- Stream: Big Ten Plus
- Point Spread: Indiana is a 26.5 point favorite
- KenPom Projected Score: Indiana 87 Eastern Illinois 62
- History: Indiana leads the series, 2-0.
- Last Meeting: IU 88, Eastern Illinois 49 on Nov. 13, 2015 in Bloomington
Eastern Illinois’s Marty Simmons
Marty Simmons was named the head coach of the Eastern Illinois men’s basketball program in March 2021 and is in his fourth year as a head coach. As a head coach, Simmons has a career record of 311-315.
Once again, the Hoosiers will host a head coach with IU connections. Simmons played for Bob Knight between 1983 and 1985 and played a key part in Indiana’s run to the Elite Eight in the 1984 NCAA Tournament. After the 1985 season, Simmons transferred to Evansville and finished his playing career there.
Simmons began as an assistant coach for Evansville in 1990 and would stay up until 1996. Simmons had one season as a head coach for Division 3 Wartburg, before returning to Evansville as an assistant for another five years.
Simmons became head coach of SIU Edwardsville in 2002 and stayed there for five seasons. Once again, Simmons came back to Evansville in 2007, this time serving as the head coach. He would lead them until 2018 before moving to Clemson for an assistant job. After three years with the Tigers, Simmons was then named head coach for Eastern Illinois.
Eastern Illinois’s results and roster:
| DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/4/2024 | #24 Illinois | Champaign, Ill | L 67-112 |
| 11/6/2024 | Earlham College | Charleston, Ill | W 97-61 |
The Panthers retain their second-leading scorer from a season ago with Nakyel Shelton, who now leads the team this year. Shelton has the highest individual field goal percentage on the team with 48 percent. Shelton was named to the OVC preseason watchlist prior to the season.
Artese Stapleton was the leading scorer for the Panthers in their win against Earlham College. Stapleton went 6-10 from the field with 17 points and 8 assists.
Kooper Jacobi and Rodolfo Bolis are also key returning starters for the program. Jacobi was also named to the OVC preseason watchlist.
Game Notes (per Indiana Athletics):
• Sophomore forward Mackenzie Mgbako turned in a career performance for Indiana in an 80-61 season opening victory over SIUE on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. His 31-point outburst served as the highest point total for a Hoosier season debut since Eric Gordon scored 33 points to open his collegiate career in 2007.
• Fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway dished out nine assists in just 17 minutes of playing time off the bench against SIUE. His passing production ranked as the most assists off the bench in 17 minutes or less since 2014 for a power conference player.
SERIES HISTORY
• The Hoosiers are 2-0 against the Panthers and 26-0 against teams currently playing in the Ohio Valley Conference after opening the season with a win over OVC foe SIUE.
• Indiana advanced to the second round of the 1992 NCAA Tournament with a 94-55 victory over Eastern Illinois on March 19, 1992, in Boise. All-Americans Alan Henderson (19 points, 11 rebounds), Damon Bailey (18 points), and Calbert Cheaney (11 points) paved the way for the Hoosier win. Indiana would advance to the Final Four that season.
• IU most recently beat EIU by a score of 88-49 on Nov. 13, 2015, in Bloomington. James Blackmon Jr. scored a game high 17 points as one of six Hoosiers in double figures in the scoring column.
OG’s Pick:
Once again, I’ll keep track of my scoring predictions throughout Indiana’s season for fun.
I don’t see the Panthers giving the Hoosiers any trouble with this one. Once again, Indiana may come out a bit slower but should win comfortably by a large margin.
PICK: Indiana 86 – Eastern Illinois 61
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