NAPERVILLE — Illinois Wesleyan’s appearance at No. 18 in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25 and Wheaton’s weekly recognition for junior guard Soren Richardson frame an early College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) landscape defined by both national visibility and narrow in-league margins. 
 
The Titans opened conference play with an overtime win at Carthage before a road setback at North Central, while multiple programs sit within a game of one another in the standings following the first full week of league action.
 
Across the conference, early trends point to contrasting but effective formulas. Wheaton and Carroll have produced some of the league’s most efficient offensive numbers, while Illinois Wesleyan, Millikin and North Central have leaned on scoring defense, rim protection and rebounding margins to shape results. 
 
North Park and Augustana have generated turnover-based opportunities, and several individuals – including Richardson, Millikin’s Lane Thomann and Carroll’s Michael McNabb – have established themselves among the nation’s and league’s most productive scorers as the schedule moves into a full Saturday slate.
 
Illinois Wesleyan Ranked 18th in New D3hoops.com Top 25
The 18th-ranked team in the new national poll from D3hoops.com is Illinois Wesleyan, according to the rankings released on Monday.
 
The Titans opened the CCIW slate with back-to-back road contests – an 85-81 overtime win at preseason favorite Carthage last Wednesday and a 68-57 defeat at North Central on Saturday. IWU is 6-2 overall.
 
The nation’s top four teams were unchanged, including top-ranked Trinity (Conn.) with 24 of 25 first-place votes. Randolph-Macon, Wisconsin-La Crosse, WashU and Mary Washington rounded out the top five.
 
Richardson Leads Wheaton Effort, Earns CCIW Weekly Recognition
Wheaton’s Soren Richardson has been selected as the CCIW Men’s Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week on Monday after averaging 25.5 points in his first two league games last week.
 
Richardson shot 60 percent (18-for-30) from the field over the contests against Augustana and Elmhurst. In 76 minutes of action, he totaled 51 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and four blocks.
 
The junior from Northfield, Minn. began the week with a 29-point performance in an 84-81 loss at Augustana last Wednesday, shooting 11-of-17 from the field and 3-of-7 from three-point range. Richardson also recorded four steals and four blocks. He followed with 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists in an 82-81 win over Elmhurst on Saturday, shooting 53.8 percent from the field.
 
Narrow Margins Defining the Bluejays’ Early Road
Elmhurst enters the weekend at 5-2 overall and 0-1 in CCIW play after an 82-81 loss at Wheaton last Saturday, a game in which the Bluejays led at halftime behind 53 percent first-half shooting. Despite 11 made threes, Elmhurst saw its advantage slip in the final minutes.
 
The Bluejays sit sixth in scoring margin (+3.14) and continue to rely heavily on perimeter production. Elmhurst ranks second in the conference in made threes per game (9.57) and is third in three-point percentage (.370). Their overall efficiency remained solid at Wheaton with a .458 field-goal percentage, though the late-game surge from the Thunder created the decisive swing.
 
Dominic Trelenberg, now fifth in the CCIW in scoring, led Elmhurst with 27 points, including 6-of-10 from deep. His .419 three-point percentage remains the conference’s top mark among qualified shooters. Aidyn Boone contributes consistently on the glass, averaging 5.7 rebounds, while Sebastian Blachut provides additional steadiness with 3.0 assists per game.
 
Elmhurst hosts Illinois Wesleyan Saturday at 4:15 p.m. at R.A. Faganel Hall.
 
North Park Leaning on Pace, Pressure and Perimeter Punch
North Park improved to 5-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play after securing a 78–65 win over Millikin last Saturday in Chicago. The result helped the Vikings rebound from a Dec. 3 league loss and extend their stretch of strong offensive output.
 
The Vikings lead the CCIW in made threes (9.86 per game) and rank second in scoring offense (84.1 ppg). Their +1.43 scoring margin reflects the league’s highest opponent scoring average (82.7 ppg allowed), but the team compensated against Millikin by forcing 18 turnovers and posting 10 steals.
 
Senior guard Kolden Vanlandingham remains at the center of that approach, ranking third in assists (6.4 apg) and seventh in scoring (16.4 ppg). His 19-point, 11-rebound, six-assist line against Millikin also marked his 1,000th career point. Forward Julian Campbell delivered a career-high four blocks in the win and sits third in the conference in that category.
 
North Park closes the week at home against North Central on Saturday at 4:15 p.m.
 
Big Blue Staying Grounded in Defense and the Glass
Millikin brings a 7-2 overall record and 1-1 conference mark into the weekend after falling at North Park last Saturday, 78-65.
 
Millikin ranks second in the CCIW in scoring defense (64.0 ppg allowed) and owns the league’s largest rebounding margin at +8.22. They also sit second in scoring margin (+6.78). Against North Park last weekend, Millikin won the battle on the boards (44-39) and converted those rebounds into 20 second-chance points.
 
Lane Thomann continued his strong start with an 18-point, 13-rebound double-double, maintaining his top-five standings in the league in both scoring (19.2 ppg) and rebounding (8.0 rpg). Guard Ian Winkler followed with 16 points and three assists, reinforcing his place in the conference’s top five in assists and top four in free-throw percentage. Tionne Spates Jr. and Chris Ketchum also remain among the league leaders in offensive boards and steals, respectively.
 
Millikin next hosts Augustana on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. inside the Griswold Center.
 
IWU’s Defensive Foundation Tested in Road Split
Illinois Wesleyan stands at 6-2 overall and 1-1 in the CCIW after a road split that included am 85-81 overtime win at Carthage on Dec. 3 and a 68-57 setback at North Central last Saturday. 
 
Despite the loss, the Titans continue to hold several of the league’s top defensive metrics. IWU leads the conference in scoring margin (+10.5), blocks (8.25 per game) and field-goal percentage defense (.349).
 
Forward Noah Cleveland produced 18 points and 10 rebounds last Saturday, marking his sixth double-double of the season. Cleveland also went 8-for-8 at the free-throw line and remains the league leader in both rebounding (11.7 rpg) and blocks (2.63 bpg). Junior guard Jackson Niego added seven assists and continues to maintain the CCIW’s top assist-to-turnover ratio at 5.60.
 
Illinois Wesleyan visits Elmhurst on Saturday at 4:15 p.m.
 
Thunder Offense Steering a Late-Game Surge
Wheaton improved to 6-3 overall and 1-1 in the CCIW after an 82-81 win over Elmhurst last Saturday.
 
Wheaton leads the CCIW in scoring offense (85.6 ppg), field-goal percentage (.509) and three-point percentage (.424). Their +4.89 scoring margin is supported by one of the league’s best rebounding defenses (30.8 opponent rebounds per game). Against Elmhurst last Saturday, Wheaton’s 23 made free throws were decisive in a game separated by one point.
 
Soren Richardson led with 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists, maintaining his position as the league’s second-leading scorer (20.4 ppg). Forward Carson Grier supplied a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double while going 5-for-5 from the field. Grier continues to pace the league in overall field-goal percentage (.671). Kyan VanderWoude added 16 points, supported by nine free-throw makes.
 
Wheaton will visit Carthage on Saturday at 4:15 p.m.
 
Augie Turning Turnovers Into Opportunity
Augustana sits at 4-3 overall and 1-0 in league play after an 84–81 home win over Wheaton on Dec. 3.
 
The Vikings rank fourth in the league in scoring offense (79.4 ppg) and hold the conference’s third-best free-throw percentage (.734). Their defensive identity is statistically clear: Augustana leads the CCIW in steals (10.7 per game) and is fourth in turnover margin (+4.14). Against Wheaton, they shot .667 from three (4-of-6) and attempted 33 free throws.
 
Guard Dom Rhoden paced Augustana with 25 points, finishing 9-for-9 at the line, and is tied for second in the CCIW in steals (2.14 per game). Marieon Anderson contributed a perfect 7-for-7 shooting performance, now ranking third in field-goal percentage (.625). Jake Willems leads the league in steals (2.57 per game), while Ray Maurchie added 11 rebounds in the win.
 
Augustana travels to Millikin on Saturday at 4:15 p.m.
 
Pioneers Relying on Pace and Precision in Competitive Starts
Carroll enters the weekend at 4-4 overall and 1-1 in the CCIW after falling 81-76 at Carthage last Saturday.
 
The Pioneers remain among the conference’s most efficient offensive teams. Carroll ranks third in scoring offense (80.3 ppg), second in overall field-goal percentage (.476), and second in three-point percentage (.379).
 
Michael McNabb continues to lead the CCIW in scoring (23.6 ppg) and added 23 more at Carthage. Peyton McKenna followed with 18 points and six made threes, maintaining his top-two rankings in both three-point makes and percentage. Lamar Smith and Jacob Naber added complementary production, with Naber’s free-throw percentage (.840) remaining among the league’s best.
 
Carroll breaks from league play Saturday, visiting Wisconsin-Whitewater for a non-conference matchup at 7 p.m.
 
Firebirds Finding Edges Through Efficiency and Control
Carthage sits at 4-4 overall and 1-1 in the CCIW following an 81-76 home win over Carroll last Saturday and a narrow 62-59 loss to Wisconsin-Platteville on Tuesday.
 
Carthage is fifth in the conference in scoring offense (75.6 ppg) and fourth in scoring margin (+5.63). They lead the conference in fewest turnovers per game (10.5), contributing to a positive turnover margin. In the win over Carroll, Carthage shot 50.9 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from the perimeter.
 
Forward Ryan Johnson recorded back-to-back double-doubles, totaling 10 points and 14 rebounds against Carroll and 13 points and 14 rebounds in the loss to UWP. He ranks second in the CCIW in rebounding at 11.4 per game. Riley Brooks matched the offensive pace with a 28-point performance against Carroll, hitting six threes. Off the bench, Antuan Nesbitt scored 24 points against Platteville and remains second in the league in field-goal percentage (.627).
 
Carthage hosts Wheaton on Saturday at 4:15 p.m.
 
Cardinals Leaning on Defense to Steady Early Results
North Central enters the weekend at 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the conference after a signature 68–57 win over 10th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan last Saturday.
 
North Central leads the CCIW in scoring defense (61.5 ppg allowed) and free-throw percentage (.761). Against IWU, the Cardinals shot just 29.5 percent but compensated by going 22-for-28 at the line and hitting 10 threes.
 
Sophomore guard Tre Davis delivered a career-best performance with 17 points in the IWU win, going 4-for-4 from three, marking the league’s lone perfect four-make outing. Alejandro Diaz added his first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds while contributing five assists and three steals. Diaz also ranks third in assists (5.0 apg) and ninth in rebounding (6.7 rpg).
 
North Central visits North Park on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. before Sunday’s 1 p.m. exhibition at Division I Bradley.