BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – A three-game roadtrip begins at the University of Chicago Tuesday, Nov. 19 for the Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team. IWU and UC, who will meet for the 20th straight season, are scheduled for a 7 p.m. inside the Ratner Athletics Center.
Illinois Wesleyan wrapped up its first week of play with a 2-1 overall record following a 95-76 win over Alma College, Nov. 16. After opening the season with an 85-75 win at Millikin University, Nov. 10, Chicago dropped a 102-89 clash against Lake Forest, Nov. 13, and enters the matchup with IWU at 1-1 on the season.
Fans can tune into the games via live stats or live stream, while Eric Stock and Joel Swanson will also have the call on 98.3 FM WEXG. Links on how to follow along can be found on the men's basketball schedule page of IWUsports.com.
SCHUMACHER SNAGS CCIW HONORS: Keondre Schumacher was named the CCIW's Player of the Week Nov. 18. Schumacher reeled in his first league accolade following a week in which he led the Titans to a 2-1 start to the season. The Bloomington, Ill. native averaged a team-best 21.7 points per game over the three-game stretch, while shooting 69.7 percent from the floor and an astounding 76.9 percent from distance.
STEPPING IN AND STEPPING UP: The biggest question surrounding Illinois Wesleyan entering the season was its ability to replace the production of Brady Rose, Collin Bonnett, and Jason Gregoire. Rose, Bonnett, and Gregoire combined to average around 43 points per game while shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 44.9 percent beyond the three-point line.
Through three games this season, the guard trio of Keondre Schumacher, Grant Wolfe, and Peter Lambesis have proved more than capable. Together, the trio has combined for 52 points per contest and have converted 55.7 of its shots from the floor and 54.3 percent of its three-point attempts.
TITAN COACHES SHOW IS BACK!: Fans can catch Illinois Wesleyan Head Basketball Coaches Ron Rose and Mia Smith on the weekly Titan Coaches Show every Thursday night at 7 p.m. hosted by Legends Sports Bar and Grill located at 712 S. Eldorado Rd. in Bloomington. Those unable to attend the weekly talk can listen in on 98.3 FM WEXG.
BAIR'S BOARDS: Junior Charlie Bair has owned the glass this season, pulling down 10.5 rebounds per game. Bair ranks second in the conference and 72nd nationally in rebounding average, while his 6.0 offensive boards per contest are seventh-most nationally and lead the CCIW. Additionally, Bair is one of three players in the conference with a double-double this season.
BUCKETS OFF THE BENCH: The Titans have benefited from steady production from their bench through their first three games of the season. IWU has averaged 17 bench points per game so far this season, roughly 20 percent of the teams scoring this season.
Cory Noe has scored 4.8 points per contest, while Luke Yoder has added 4.5 points per game.
SCOUTING REPORT - LAKE FOREST: Lake Forest plays host to Illinois Wesleyan with its eyes on its fourth straight win as the Foresters have opened up the season with a 3-0 record. LFC most recently knocked off Wheaton, Nov. 19, while its other wins came against North Park and Chicago.
Three players averaged 13+ points for Lake Forest led by freshman phenom Aidyn Albright at a team-best 19.0 points per game. Sean Espinosa adds 17 ppg and Tashon Brown is good for 13.3 points per contest.
The Foresters are one of the most potent offenses in the country so far this season, averaging 90.3 points a game while shooting better than 50 percent from the field. Lake Forest's opponents have scored 75.3 points per contest and hold a +1.3 edge in the rebounding battle.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE: Saturday's meeting on the hardwood will be the 40th all-time game between Illinois Wesleyan and Lake Forest, with IWU holding a 29-10 lead in the series. In fact, Saturday's contest will be the first between IWU and LFC since the 1962-63 season. The Titans and Foresters met twice that go-around with Illinois Wesleyan sweeping Lake Forest with 80-51 and 80-65 victories.
IWU has won three straight meetings versus LFC, as the Foresters last win over the Titans came via a 73-63 outcome in the 1961-62 season.
NOBODY HAS MORE: The Titans success on the court has been matched by their efforts in the classroom. IWU has seen 24 student-athletes named Academic All-Americans, the most of any school across all NCAA divisions.
YEAR 111: Illinois Wesleyan has compiled a 1667-910 record in its 110-year history, good for a .647 winning percentage. Additionally, the Titans 1667 wins are the fourth-most all-time in NCAA Division III. Meanwhile, IWU's 740 CCIW wins are by-far-and-above the most in the league. In fact, the Titans have 118 more conference wins than any other school in the CCIW.
BY THE NUMBERS: IWU has seen plenty of success on the hardwood in its storied history, highlighted by the Titans' NCAA National Championship in 1997. Overall, IWU has won 30 CCIW championships, made 25 tournament appearances, advanced to 17 "Sweet Sixteens", appeared in 11 "Elite Eights", and gone to six final fours.
ROAD RECORD: Illinois Wesleyan owns a 76-48 away from the Shirk Center over the past 10 seasons, good for a .613 win percentage on the road over that span.
ON THE HORIZON: IWU continues their road trip to Indiana to take on Anderson College, Tuesday, Nov. 23. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m ET.
