Elmhurst 76 IWU 57

In athletics, one of the most difficult things to do is admit when a competitor is better than you. I think it can be the same for fans, who hate to acknowledge that a conference rival is at a higher level. Last night, I saw an Elmhurst squad that is just simply a better basketball team than Illinois Wesleyan, just as IWU was better on paper than everyone in the CCIW the last 3 years. Elmhurst has amazing size for Division III with 6-9/250 Brent Ruch and 6-10/235 Nick Michael in the starting lineup and 6-8/210 Jared Hintzsche off the bench. Senior point-guard Brian Lee has become a great player and sophomore Ryan Burks provides a nice perimeter threat. Elmhurst has great balance and a lot of talent -- just like the Dauksas/Amelianovich/Freeman Titans.

As IWU fans, we are spoiled because we're used to getting off the bus with the best players. This year there are many games we have not. I give a lot of credit to this current cast of Illinois Wesleyan players, however, because they play very hard and they don't quit. Guys like Kevin Bryant, who's asked to play point-guard in the best D3 conference in Division III, when he's never played point-guard before in his life...or Jason Bloom, who at 6-5 and a high school small forward, asked to guard 6-9 post players...and especially Zach Freeman, one of the best players in the country, who is taking a pounding in the paint every night, yet still finishes with 20 points and 10 rebounds almost every time out. I also give a lot of credit to the coaching staff, which is working hard in playing the hand they've been dealt.

I believe Elmhurst is the best team in the CCIW this year by a big margin. I think we'll find that IWU is competitive with every other team in the league, home and away. And keep in mind, we won't face that kind of ridiculous size again until February 3, when the Bluejays visit the Shirk Center.

All that happened last night was the Titans losing @ the best team in the league...that happens every year in the CCIW, even to Final Four-caliber teams. Wednesday at Wheaton the Titans can steal that home loss to Millikin back. Wheaton is good, but beatable.