Ahead of the 2026-27 Illinois State basketball seasons, men’shead coach Ryan Pedon and women’s head coach Kristen Gillespie discuss their basketball backgrounds, their coaching philosophies, and what fans can expect from their respective teams this year.
The men’s team, led by Pedon in his fifth season, was selected No. 2 in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) preseason poll after advancing to the NIT semifinals for the first time in program history last season.
The women’s team, led by Gillespie in her 10th season, was also selected No. 2 in the MVC preseason poll after advancing to the WNIT championship game for the first time ever last season.
Redbird Buzz is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Transcripts of each episode are available at UniversityMarketing.IllinoisState.edu/Podcast.