Keyshawn Evans knows leaning on Illinois State's veteran players isn't a bad idea. That is especially true when the season opener comes on the road.
The 6-foot sophomore guard is confident Paris Lee, Tony Wills, Deontae Hawkins and MiKyle McIntosh will show the way when the Redbirds take on Murray State at 7 p.m. Friday at the CFSB Center.
"I just follow the lead of the four older guys," said Evans. "When I see them play hard, I play hard. I want to make sure I'm solid when I'm in the game and not make that many mistakes."
The status of Hawkins and Wills won't be known until game time, but both could play.
The 6-8 Hawkins, who averaged 11.4 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds last season, has been indefinitely suspended for violation of team rules. He was charged Oct. 24 in McLean County Court with driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal transportation of alcohol and driving with a suspended license.
Hawkins has continued to practice with the Redbirds. He didn't play in a closed scrimmage at Iowa or during last Sunday's 84-62 exhibition victory over Quincy. Hawkins was on the bus when ISU left Normal on Thursday afternoon.
"As long as things happen a certain way, there's a chance he'll tip it up," said ISU coach Dan Muller.
Meanwhile, Wills underwent sports hernia surgery in late September. The 6-4 senior guard has resumed practicing on a limited basis. Muller is "hopeful" Wills will be on the court in some capacity.
"If he can play, he'll play," said Muller.
ISU's four veterans were at the CFSB Center two years ago, although Hawkins was out with a foot injury, when the Racers took an 89-77 victory. Muller expects a rowdy atmosphere at the 8,600-seat building.
"Getting our new players to understand what wins road games and what hostile crowds are going to be like is difficult because players generally don't believe you until they experience it," said Muller. "I do think it will help us they (the veterans) have been there."
Evans isn't a newcomer, but played in only 12 games last season as he battled ankle and knee injuries. Along with junior college transfers Phil Fayne and DJ Clayton, Evans and freshman guard Madison Williams figure to be heavily involved in Muller's rotation to start the season.
Muller has liked the way Evans has been shooting in practice. Evans showed that when he sank his first two 3-point attempts against Quincy.
"I knew it was an exhibition game, but it was the first 3 I hit in a game here," said the Plantation, Fla., native. "I wasn't crazy or ecstatic because I hit two 3s but more like, oh gosh, the season is here."
This is the third straight year the Redbirds and Murray State have played, with ISU claiming a 63-61 win a year ago at Redbird Arena.
The Racers, coming off a 17-14 season, are led by Bryce Jones. The 6-foot senior point guard is a preseason all-Ohio Valley Conference first-team selection after averaging 12.7 points last season.
Murray State has added another point guard, 6-foot junior Jonathan Starks, a transfer from Tulane who sat out last season. The Racers will try to regain an uptempo attack that has become their trademark.
"We became more of a halfcourt grind-it-out team last year because of a lack of depth," said Murray State second-year coach Matt McMahon. "We hope to have more depth and play at the pace we prefer."
McMahon said the Racers have been preparing "for all possibilities" from ISU. But he said Murray State's focus during the preseason has been more on integrating key newcomers into the lineup, much like the Redbirds.
"I like our two point-guard attack and like our size in the front court and athleticism on the wings," said McMahon.
The 6-foot sophomore guard is confident Paris Lee, Tony Wills, Deontae Hawkins and MiKyle McIntosh will show the way when the Redbirds take on Murray State at 7 p.m. Friday at the CFSB Center.
"I just follow the lead of the four older guys," said Evans. "When I see them play hard, I play hard. I want to make sure I'm solid when I'm in the game and not make that many mistakes."
The status of Hawkins and Wills won't be known until game time, but both could play.
The 6-8 Hawkins, who averaged 11.4 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds last season, has been indefinitely suspended for violation of team rules. He was charged Oct. 24 in McLean County Court with driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal transportation of alcohol and driving with a suspended license.
Hawkins has continued to practice with the Redbirds. He didn't play in a closed scrimmage at Iowa or during last Sunday's 84-62 exhibition victory over Quincy. Hawkins was on the bus when ISU left Normal on Thursday afternoon.
"As long as things happen a certain way, there's a chance he'll tip it up," said ISU coach Dan Muller.
Meanwhile, Wills underwent sports hernia surgery in late September. The 6-4 senior guard has resumed practicing on a limited basis. Muller is "hopeful" Wills will be on the court in some capacity.
"If he can play, he'll play," said Muller.
ISU's four veterans were at the CFSB Center two years ago, although Hawkins was out with a foot injury, when the Racers took an 89-77 victory. Muller expects a rowdy atmosphere at the 8,600-seat building.
"Getting our new players to understand what wins road games and what hostile crowds are going to be like is difficult because players generally don't believe you until they experience it," said Muller. "I do think it will help us they (the veterans) have been there."
Evans isn't a newcomer, but played in only 12 games last season as he battled ankle and knee injuries. Along with junior college transfers Phil Fayne and DJ Clayton, Evans and freshman guard Madison Williams figure to be heavily involved in Muller's rotation to start the season.
Muller has liked the way Evans has been shooting in practice. Evans showed that when he sank his first two 3-point attempts against Quincy.
"I knew it was an exhibition game, but it was the first 3 I hit in a game here," said the Plantation, Fla., native. "I wasn't crazy or ecstatic because I hit two 3s but more like, oh gosh, the season is here."
This is the third straight year the Redbirds and Murray State have played, with ISU claiming a 63-61 win a year ago at Redbird Arena.
The Racers, coming off a 17-14 season, are led by Bryce Jones. The 6-foot senior point guard is a preseason all-Ohio Valley Conference first-team selection after averaging 12.7 points last season.
Murray State has added another point guard, 6-foot junior Jonathan Starks, a transfer from Tulane who sat out last season. The Racers will try to regain an uptempo attack that has become their trademark.
"We became more of a halfcourt grind-it-out team last year because of a lack of depth," said Murray State second-year coach Matt McMahon. "We hope to have more depth and play at the pace we prefer."
McMahon said the Racers have been preparing "for all possibilities" from ISU. But he said Murray State's focus during the preseason has been more on integrating key newcomers into the lineup, much like the Redbirds.
"I like our two point-guard attack and like our size in the front court and athleticism on the wings," said McMahon.
