BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin portion of the Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team's schedule gets underway Wednesday night, Nov. 30, at R.A. Faganel Hall on the campus of Elmhurst University. Tipoff between the two league powerhouses is set for 7 p.m.
    Illinois Wesleyan looks to get back on track, as the Titans enter the CCIW opener sporting a 2-3 record. IWU, which has lost back-to-back games for the first  time since Jan. 26-29, 2021, has dropped its last two games to 13th-ranked University of St. Joseph (Conn.) and No. 3 University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Elmhurst has seen early season success, as the Bluejays boast a 5-0 record on the season. EU's most recent win came against Manchester Universty prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.
    Fans can tune into the game via live stats or audio broadcast. Links on how to follow along can be found on the men's basketball schedule page of IWUsports.com.

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY: Wednesday's matchup marks IWU's earliest start to CCIW play in at least 34 years as the Titans will open conference action in the month of November. The Green and White had previously began league play as early as Dec. 1 in the 2018-19 season. That year, IWU downed Carthage, 75-67, in overtime at the Shirk Center.

ENTERING THE GAUNTLET: With five non-conference games under their belt, the Titans have been tested by some of the nation's top teams ahead of Wednesday night's league opener. According to the Massey ratings, IWU has played the 11th-hardest schedule to date. North Central holds the second-highest ranking at 39th, with Augustana at 43rd.
    Additionally, IWU has played Massey's second-ranked and 19th-ranked defenses in Division III.

TWICE THE TROUBLE: Illinois Wesleyan has seen uncharacteristic turnover numbers through the team's first five games, as the Green and White are averaging 17.0 miscues per contest. With IWU holding a -6.0 turnover margin this season, opponents have made the most of the Titans' miscues. In fact, in Illinois Wesleyan's three setbacks, opponents have combined to outscore IWU 61-27 in points off turnovers. Meanwhile, in their wins the Titans have held a 37-22 edge in the category.

CCIW OPENERS: Illinois Wesleyan holds a 10-6 record in CCIW openers under the tutelage of Ron Rose. During Rose's tenure as IWU's bench boss, the Titans have amassed a 4-4 record when beginning CCIW play away from the Shirk Center.

STARTING LEAGUE PLAY AT ELMHURST: The Titans will begin CCIW play against Elmhurst for the first time since the 2015-16 season. That season, IWU fell at EU, 78-64, Jan. 2, 2016. Bryce Dolan paced the Titans with 17 points, while Trevor Seibring added 13 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.

BATTLES WITH THE BLUEJAYS: Illinois Wesleyan holds a 115-26 advantage in the 141 all-time meetings between the Titans and Bluejays, and have won 10 of the past 13 contests between the two.
    Most recently, IWU saw a halftime deficit prove too much to overcome in a 74-66 setback at R.A. Faganel Hall Jan. 26, 2022. Four Titans scored in double figures in the loss, including Lucas Heflen, who finished with 12.

FAMILIAR FACE: When the Titans take on the Bluejays Wednesday night, IWU fans may recognize a familiar face in Elmhurst bench boss John Baines. A 1998 Illinois Wesleyan graduate, he was a part of teams that compiled a 103-14 record, played in the NCAA Tournament four times, reached the Final Four twice, and won a Division III National Championship in 1997.

HOW'S THE WEATHER UP THERE?: The Titans will have one of the taller teams in the CCIW and possibly across Division III this season. Senior point guard Lucas Heflen, who stands at six-foot-two, will be the shortest player in the Titans rotation. Six-foot-five guard Ryan Sroka and six-seven guard Nick Roper will serve as two of the taller wings in the league. In the post, the Titans will likely rotate five guys over six-foot-six including Cody Mitchell, Harrison Wilmsen, Evan Schneider, Marko Anderson, and six-foot-10 freshman Nathan Boldt.

TARGET ON THEIR BACK: For the second year in a row, the Titans were pegged as the preseason favorite to win the Conference College of Illinois and Wisconsin title. Garnering six first place votes and 61 points, the Titans topped a list including two other nationally ranked teams and one receiving votes (Elmhurst, Wheaton, and North Central). Last season, the Titans proved that preseason polls can come true, as IWU was favored to win the CCIW crown and came out on top with a 14-2 regular season conference record.

NO NEED FOR WINDEX: Illinois Wesleyan has been dominant on the glass this season, out-rebounding its opponents 201 to 152. The strong effort on the glass has IWU holding a +9.8 rebounding margin on the season, the 23rd-best in all of Division III. Senior Cody Mitchell leads the Green and White with 8.6 boards per contest, while Lucas Heflen and Nick Roper are good for 4.8 and 4.4 rebounds a game, respectively. Harrison Wilmsen, who has been limited in minutes, and Ryan Sroka have added 4.2 rebounds a game.

GETTING TO 300: Ron Rose is looking to reach an impressive milestone this season - 300 career wins. In his 16-year career, Rose has accumulated a 296-138 record including five conference championships. Currently, Rose's 296 career wins is second most in Illinois Wesleyan history, trailing only school record holder Dennie Bridges (667-319, 1965-2001).
Furthermore, Rose's 296-138 record at the helm of his alma mater gives him the 31st-best win percentage among active NCAA Division III bench bosses, as well as the top in the CCIW.

ON THE HORIZON: Illinois Wesleyan wraps up its nearly month-long roadtrip with a CCIW clash against Carroll University, Dec. 3. Tipoff is set for 4:15 p.m. and will serve as the second leg of a doubleheader with the IWU women's basketball team.