McLean County Times

A trip to Tarble Arena marks the Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team's return to College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play this Saturday, Jan. 7. Tipoff between the Titans and Firebirds is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. and will follow IWU women's basketball's game against Carthage.
    The Titans make the trip to Kenosha, Wis. with hopes of improving on their 6-5 overall record and 3-1 CCIW standing. IWU most recently lost a heartbreaker to Washington University in St. Louis Tuesday night, Jan. 3, inside the Shirk Center. Carthage, which received votes in the latest D3hoops.com Top-25 poll, holds a 10-2 record on the year. The Firebirds are 3-1 in league play, most recently suffering their first conference defeat of the season, 72-66, at Carroll University, Jan. 4.
    Fans can tune into the game via live stats, live stream, or radio broadcast. Links on how to follow along can be found on the men's basketball schedule page of IWUsports.com.

LOG JAM AT THE TOP: With one quarter of the CCIW schedule left, Illinois Wesleyan is one of three teams tied atop the league standings at 3-1. The Titans are tied with Wheaton and this Saturday's opponent, Carthage. North Park and North Central are just outside the top at 3-2.

NO EASY NIGHT IN THE CCIW: If this week's midweek action was any indication, #d3hoops fans are in for a wild ride in the CCIW. Carthage was upset by last-place Carroll, ensuring the for the 50th consecutive season the CCIW will not have an undefeated regular season champion.

CLASHES WITH CARTHAGE: Illinois Wesleyan and Carthage share a rivalry that dates back to the 1946-47 season. IWU owns a 107-27 lead in the 134-game history between the two conference foes, and has won the past eight meetings.
Illinois Wesleyan swept a pair of meetings last season. The Titans took down the Firebirds, 89-72, in Kenosha, Wis., Jan. 24, as five players scored in double figures. Matthew Leritz led the way with 28 points, while Cody Mitchell pulled in a team-high seven rebounds and added 12 points. The Green and White squeaked out a 66-57 triumph in Bloomington, Feb. 5. Mitchell dropped a game-high 14 points, Leritz notched a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double, and Nick Roper added 10 points off the bench to hold off a Carthage comeback.

NO TROUBLE IN TARBLE: Tarble Arena, the home of the Firebirds, has been one of the road arenas the Titans have fared well in historically. In fact, IWU is 21-5 in Kenosha, Wis. since 1989, and is currently riding a seven-game win streak at Tarble Arena.
    IWU's last loss at Carthage came Jan. 25, 2014, where CC defeated Illinois Wesleyan, 80-73. Four players scored in double figures in that game, led by Andrew Ziemnik's 15, but IWU could not overcome a seven-point halftime deficit and Carthage's hot three-point shooting (11-for-21).  Victor Davis added a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double, and Dylan Overstreet and Pat Sodemann tallied 11 and 10 points, respectively.

BALANCED BOX SCORE: Illinois Wesleyan has been at its best when the scoring has been balanced this season. In fact, IWU is 6-3 when three-or-more players score 10+ points, while the Titans are 0-2 when fewer than three players hit double figures.

NO NEED FOR WINDEX: Illinois Wesleyan has been dominant on the glass this season, out-rebounding its opponents 411 to 318. The strong effort on the glass has IWU holding a +9.2 rebounding margin on the season, the 21st-best in all of Division III. Senior Cody Mitchell leads the Green and White with 8.9 boards per contest. Hakim Williams' 4.9 rebounds per game are good for second-best on the team, followed by Ryan Sroka with 4.5. Harrison Wilmsen pulls in 4.4,. Nick Roper averaged 4.0 per game before injury, and Marko Anderson adds 3.8 caroms per contest. Evan Schneider tallies 3.6 rebounds per outing, with Lucas Heflen adding 3.1 per game.

MR. 300: With Illinois Wesleyan's overtime win at Chicago, Dec. 20, Ron Rose earned his 300th career victory. In his 17-year career, Rose has accumulated a 300-140 record including five conference championships. Currently, Rose's 300 career wins are second-most in Illinois Wesleyan history, trailing only school record holder Dennie Bridges (667-319, 1965-2001).
    Furthermore, Rose's 300-140 record at the helm of his alma mater gives him the 26th-best win percentage among active NCAA Division III bench bosses, as well as the top in the CCIW.

ON THE HORIZON: The Titans return to the friendly confines of the Shirk Center Wednesday, Jan. 11, for a 7 p.m. tipoff against Millikin University. 

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