BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team makes the lengthy trip north for a non-conference game against University of Wisconsin-Stout Saturday, Nov. 16. Tipoff is scheduled for 11 a.m.
    The 16th-ranked Titans carry a 2-0 record into the weekend following a pair of wins at the Sikma Hall of Fame Invitational, Nov. 8-9. IWU downed No. 24 California Lutheran, 93-81, before toppling second-ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville, 86-66. UW-Stout welcomes the Green and White to Johnson Fieldhouse with eyes on its first win of the season. The Blue Devils are 0-3 on the year, falling to Hamline University, 90-70, Nov. 13.
    A live stream as well a live stats of the game will be provided by UW-Stout. Links on how to follow along can be found on the men's basketball schedule page of IWUsports.com.

STACKING UP AGAINST STOUT: Illinois Wesleyan holdsa 1-0 record against UW-Stout ahead of Saturday. The Titans topped the Blue Devils in the initial meeting, 89-75, as IWU scored a win in Honolulu, Hawaii. Chris Silagi dropped 24 points off the bench and John Camardella posted an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double.

WE LOVE LID LIFTERS: With a 93-81 triumph over 24th-ranked Cal Lutheran, Illinois Wesleyan won its season opener for the ninth straight season. Hakim WIlliams led the Titans with 17 points, while five others hit double-digits in points. Harrison Wilmsen added a near double-double with 10 points and nine boards.

TREY FOR TREY: A 3-for-3 performance from beyond the arc by Trey Bazzell fueled the Titans to an 8-of-14 shooting effort from distance in their win over Cal Lutheran, Nov. 8. Hakim Williams went 2-for-2 and Jackson Niego finished 2-for-4, while Mason Funk hit 1-of-2 attempts in the win.
    Illinois Wesleyan posted its highest three-point percentage (57.1) in a game since Feb. 22, 2020, when IWU went 11-for-18 at Carthage. Additionally, the eight three-pointers were the most since knocking down eight against North Central Feb. 17, 2024.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL: Illinois Wesleyan's Hakim Williams reeled in the first CCIW weekly honor the season Monday, Nov. 11, as he was named the league's player of the week. Williams averaged 14.0 points per game over the two-game span, shooting 76.9 percent from the floor. Williams went 10-of-13 overall from the field and 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, while finishing 5-for-6 at the free throw line. He added 3.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds per contest. Williams was tabbed the Sikma Hall of Fame Invitational Most Valuable Player and was joined on the all-tournament team by Harrison Wilmsen.

PUTTING UP POINTS: With 93 points in its season opener, Illinois Wesleyan posted its highest point total since the 2019-20 season. That year, IWU crossed over the 90-point threshold five times. Furthermore, IWU's 93 points were the most by the Titans since putting up 94 at North Park in overtime Feb. 19. 2020. Matthew Leritz dropped 28 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, while Keondre Schumacher tallied 18 points off the bench. Peter Lambesis and Doug Wallen added 12 and 10 points, respectively.

PRESEASON PRAISE: Illinois Wesleyan senior Nick Roper was named to D3hoops.com's Preseason All-American Third Team, Oct. 30. He is the only College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin student-athlete on any of the five teams.
Roper, a First Team All-CCIW honoree a season ago, led the Titans in scoring with 12.4 points per game. He was also IWU's top rebounder with 5.9 rebounds a contest. Starting all 27 games for the Green and White, Roper shot 51.2 percent from the floor and 34.5 percent from distance. He finished the year with 21 steals, 13 blocks, and 46 assists. The St. Louis, Mo. native was named to the D3hoops.com and National Basketball Coaches Association All-Region squads as a junior.

ALL-LEAGUE TRIO RETURNS: Illinois Wesleyan returns a significant portion of last season's conference championship squad, including the All-CCIW trio of Nick Roper, Harrison Wilmsen, and Hakim Williams. Roper, an all-region selection by both D3hoops.com and the NABC, was a First Team All-CCIW honoree. Wilmsen and Williams garnered Second Team All-CCIW status.

GOING TO MAKE YOU WORK: The Titans success a season ago was in large part a result of relentless defense. IWU held opponents to 38.8 percent shooting for the season, the 21st-best mark across all of Division III. Illinois Wesleyan limited opponents to 64.3 points per game, the 22nd ranked mark nationally.

BENCH BOSS: In his 18th season leading his alma mater, Ron Rose has compiled a 325-158 overall record. His career mark includes 171 CCIW wins, the most of any active head coach in the conference.
The Titans won the 2013, 2014, 2022, and 2024 CCIW titles outright and shared the 2018 regular season championship with Augustana. Illinois Wesleyan claimed the 2021 CCIW Championship in a COVID-shortened season as well as the regular season title last season.

POLLING STATION:  Illinois Wesleyan is one of 28 programs that have appeared in at least 100 D3hoops.com Top-25 rankings. In fact, the Titans 190 appearances in the weekly poll are eighth-most all-time as well as the most in the CCIW. The Titans are currently ranked No. 16 in the poll.

CCIW PRESEASON POLL: IWU was predicted to win the CCIW Friday, Oct. 25, as the league office unveiled its annual preseason poll. The Green and White garnered five of nine first-place votes to earn the top spot in the poll with 61 points. IWU just slightly edged out Carthage, which ranked second with four first-place nods and 60 points. Elmhurst rounded out the top-three with 46 points.
Augustana (40), North Central (32), and Carroll (31) were slotted fourth through sixth, respectively, while Millikin and North Park tied for seventh with 19 points apiece. Wheaton ranked ninth with 16 points.

ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS: Matthew Leritz became the program's 26th Academic All-America honoree at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season. His selection increased IWU's national lead on UCLA, Indiana, Kansas, and Duke who have 20 all-time men's basketball awardees each.
Furthermore, IWU's all-time Academic All-American list currently sits at 160, which ranks in the top-25 across NCAA Division I, II, and III, as well as inside the top-10 in Division III.

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 32 CCIW championships, made 26 tournament appearances, advanced to 18 "Sweet Sixteens," appeared in 12 "Elite Eights," and gone to six final fours.

ON THE HORIZON: Illinois Wesleyan will enjoy a week off before hitting the road for the first time this season as the Titans make the lengthy trip to Menomonie, Wis. for a battle at University of Wisconsin-Stout Saturday, Nov. 16. Tipoff is set for 11 a.m.