IWU 61 Wheaton 59 (2/16/08)

Wow, what a win. I couldn't be any more proud of this group than I am, and I suspect most of you feel the same. There may be more talented teams around, but the Titans just play so hard and so well together as a team. They're very easy to pull for.

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A real unsung hero for the Titans this year has been starting center Brett Chamernik, who had a big game at Wheaton (17 points, 10 rebounds, 7-9 FG). Chamernik, who stands about 6-4, was primarily guarded last night by 6-8/230 Andy Wiele.

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Brett worked as hard in the off-season to get stronger and better as any IWU player I can remember. He brings that same work ethic to each game, where he just battles as hard as he can. He's such a good example for IWU's young post players like Doug Sexauer, Edmond O'Callaghan, and Duncan Lawson, who, quite frankly, are a lot more talented that Chamernik. He is a testament to what hard work can get you. He also exemplifies everything I love about Division III athletics - Chamernik is a pre-med major at IWU who is finding a way to balance academics and athletics very successfully.

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Some around IWU's program suggested that Chamernik would never be able to get on the floor this year in front of the freshmen. I'm glad Brett never believed that.

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The job Sean Dwyer has done defensively on Kent Raymond is a big reason Illinois Wesleyan is tied for first with two games to play. Here is Raymond's line at the Shirk Center last year (Dwyer did not play last season due to injury):

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2/9/07 @ IWU: 9-13 FG, 6-9 3-pt, 20-20 FT, 44 pts

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Here is what he has done in two games vs IWU in 2008:

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1/23/08: 6-13 FG, 1-4 3-pt, 4-4 FT, 17 pts

2/16/08: 7-18 FG, 1-8 3-pt, 2-2 FT, 17 pts

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Raymond is one of the elite players in Division III, which is why holding him to an average of "only" 17 points is a big deal. He is averaging 22.5 points vs the rest of the league (10 games...all but the two vs IWU). With primarily Sean Dwyer on him, Raymond is 2-12 from 3-point range this year.

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Sean makes him work so incredibly hard for everything he gets that I think it starts to wear him out and frustrate him a little towards the end of the game. In Bloomington, Raymond picked up the silly frustration technical foul late in the game. Last night, he shot an air ball from dead at the top of the key with about 5:00 to play, and his next attempt from the right wing missed by about a foot to the right. I do think a lot of that has to do with how much energy he has to expend when guarded by Dwyer. Raymond only made 2 field goals in the 2nd half last night and the final was at the 7:40 mark. He scored just 6 2nd half points.

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So let's go win the CCIW title Wednesday in Rock Island. Hope to see Titan Nation out in full force!