NORMAL - Terry Johnson sounded like, well, a freshman.

"At first coming in I had butterflies," said the Chicago product as Illinois State's basketball team went through a public scrimmage Wednesday night at Redbird Arena.

That was exactly why Coach Tim Jankovich decided to let his team perform in front of a crowd for the first time since practice began on Oct. 16.

"After I got playing I got more suited to the game and more comfortable," said Johnson, a 6-foot point guard who was among seven Redbird newcomers participating.

Jankovich mixed up the Red and Black squads throughout three eight-minute quarters and a final four-minute period. The three seniors led the way in scoring with Lloyd Phillips getting 16 points, followed by Dinma Odiakosa (15) and Osiris Eldridge (14).

Johnson (13 points) and two junior college transfers - guard Austin Hill (12 points) and forward Tony Lewis (10 points, eight rebounds) - also looked impressive. Freshman guard Justin Clark has his left foot in a walking boot because of tendinitis in his ankle and didn't play.

This was the first public scrimmage in Jankovich's three years as coach.

"At the last minute we felt it was important because we have so many guys who are so young and haven't played at this level," he said. "We thought it was important to get some of the jitters (out) and maybe start to feel more comfortable."

Jankovich let assistants Rob Judson and Anthony Beane direct the teams while he sat on the scorer's table taking notes.

Make that a lot of notes.

"We looked exactly like a team that has practiced two weeks to me. We have an awful long way to go," said Jankovich. "But I did see some good things, and I wasn't displeased. It probably was what I thought it would be, and it will motivate us all to understand we have a great deal of work to do and we have to be on the attack because the games are going to come on us."

ISU will entertain Loyola in a closed public scrimmage on Saturday. The only exhibition game for the Redbirds will be at 7:05 p.m. next Wednesday against Division II Quincy at Redbird Arena before the Nov. 15 season opener at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

The 6-7, 240-pound Lewis showed an ability to get inside and move opponents around in the scrimmage.

"We have to come together more and have more toughness," said Lewis. "Everyone knows what's at stake. We know what Coach wants from us. Expectations are kind of high. We want to build on that and come together as a team and get tough."

Jankovich likes what Lewis brings.

"Tony is nothing if he's not tough. That's what he is. Tough goes pretty far in college basketball," said Jankovich. "He also has some good instincts and a great nose for the ball and all those kind of things."

Johnson has been making significant improvement since practice began, said Jankovich.

"I really didn't know most of the plays and what Coach wanted from us (on Oct. 16)," said Johnson. "Now I know what type of coach he is and what he expects from us."

Clark, a 6-4 wing player with deep shooting range, figures to get a lot of playing time early if his ankle is healed. He hasn't practiced since last weekend.

"We feel like we know what it is and it should heal," said Jankovich. "You don't know how fast anyone should heal. Hopefully it won't drag out too much longer, but it's been a nagging injury for quite a while."