The record for the 2019-20 University of Illinois Springfield men's basketball team was the same as the previous two years, but Prairie Star fans recognized a big improvement in the program under first year head coach Matt Brock. The goal for the 2020-21 Prairie Stars is to continue that momentum into this season.
 
"Last year, we were trying to build a foundation and a new culture that can sustain success, and we were successful in that," said Brock. "We improved in a lot of areas that will lead to long-term progress."
 
UIS was led by one of the highest scoring offenses in program history. The Prairie Stars averaged 78.4 points a game, and ranked fifth in NCAA Division II in three-pointers per game. That offense led to the biggest wins in program history, as UIS had three victories over nationally-ranked teams, one more than its previous 10 seasons combined at the NCAA level.
 
UIS hopes to continue putting up big offensive numbers, while improving on the defensive side of the ball.
 
"We are putting a huge emphasis on the defensive end," said Brock. "We want to lower our defensive efficiency numbers and rebound the ball at a higher rate. Keeping the ball in front of us and staying in rotation will help with both of those things."
 
UIS returns eight players off of last year's roster, including four that scored in double figures. Chase Robinson was named to the GLVC All-Freshman team, and was the highest scoring freshman in the league with 15.3 points a game. Brock hopes Robinson jumps to that next level, and be a more rounded player this year as a playmaker and defensive player.
 
Keymonta Johnson led the team in assists and rebounds last season, and averaged over 13 points a contest. UIS is looking for Johnson to take a leadership role in his senior season, and will be relied on as the team's defensive stopper.
 
Jesus Castillo was one of the top three-point shooters in the country with 93 three-pointers in 2019-20. He is a key to the team's offense as defenses are drawn to him, which helps the team's spacing and opening up driving lanes.
 
Matt Wendling had a great offseason and is expected to have a big senior year. He averaged 10.1 points a game last season, and shot a team-high 51.5 percent from the field.
 
Those four players combined for 241 three-pointers, and accounted for 62.1 percent of the team's points on the season.
 
The other returners who saw action last season are Collin Stallworth, Casey Tuttle, and Yamani Shareef, and Will Rucker is looking for his first playing time after redshirting last season.
 
The Prairie Stars have one transfer player in Trey Marble from Western Wyoming Community College. He is a prototypical point guard who looks for teammates first.
 
Also new to the team are six freshmen in Alex Wood (Bloomington, Ill.), Jack Weber (El Paso, Ill.), Jason Bergstrom (Mount Prospect, Ill.), AJ Jones (Chicago, Ill.), Isaiah Esker (St. Louis, Mo.), and Kyle Ingram (Springfield, Ill.).
"I am really excited about our future with this freshmen class," said Brock. "We are looking at their long-term growth and what they can be a few years from now. They are working hard and learning a lot. They are all fitting well into our program."
 
Rounding out the program for Brock is his two assistant coaches who played a big role in getting the team prepared for the year. Pat Sodemann is in his second season at UIS, and also worked two years with Brock at Missouri Baptist. Javis Flynn is in his first year at UIS, and also worked with Brock at Missouri Baptist.