Illinois State guard Johnny Kinziger is one of the most electric players in college basketball. The 5-foot-11 sophomore was the primary catalyst for the Redbirds’ win over its 121-year-old rival on Wednesday.
He played through a vicious battle wound after casually boxing out a seven-footer!
Kinziger, a former Mr. Basketball in the state of Wisconsin, was named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman team last year. Individual honors aside, Illinois State lost both games to Bradley during the 2023/24 college basketball season and six-straight games dating back even further so this latest I-74 rivalry matchup meant a little more than usual.
The Redbirds desperately wanted to get back in the win column and they did. Kinziger scored 19 points with nine rebounds and three assists during an 11-point win over the Braves.
However, it was not his stat line that stood out. It was his hustle and effort!
Kinziger took a nasty shot to the head during a gritty defensive play early in the second half. He forced the turnover but was left bloodied by a sizable cut above his left eye.
The full play between Johnny Kinziger and Zek Montgomery where Kinziger comes out bleeding profusely. pic.twitter.com/KdU2Yf9gbs
— Patrick Cunningham (@pmc3_83) February 20, 2025
That did not stop him from keeping that same energy. Not long after taking an elbow to the face, Kinziger sized up Bradley center Ahmet Jonovic on a rebound. The former is 5-foot-11. The latter is 7-foot-1.
Guess who came up with the ball?! Not the guy who is 14 inches taller. And if that wasn’t cool enough, Kinziger immediately drained a triple on the other end.
Take a look at the 5'11" guard, Johnny Kinziger, who boxes out a 7-footer and nails a three 😮@Redbird_MBB pic.twitter.com/TTUcX0jVGT
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) February 20, 2025
Needless to say, Johnny Kinziger is an absolute dawg!
Johnny Kinziger during the Illinois State men’s basketball press conference. Update; still has aura. pic.twitter.com/xFKun9Dlhr
— Joey LeMaster (@tmlemaster) February 20, 2025
He was going to do whatever it took to break Illinois State’s college basketball losing streak against its biggest and oldest in-state rival. And he did.
Illinois State 82 Bradley 71.
— Jim Mattson (@hoijim) February 20, 2025
A bloodied ISU star Johnny Kinziger explains what winning the I-74 rivalry means after 6 straight losses to Bradley. pic.twitter.com/qs8HGRzXiY
The Redbirds have enough juice to make a little run in the MVC Tournament next month. They will go as far as Johnny Kinziger takes them!