The '90s

IWU BASKETBALL IN THE 1990s

The completion of the 1998-99 basketball season marked the end of a phenomenal decade of basketball at Illinois Wesleyan University. In the 1990s the Titans were 217-64 (.772) overall and an amazing 124-22 (.849) in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, good for 6 CCIW championships and 4 second place finishes. 12 different Titans made the 1st team all CCIW in the decade - Jeff Kuehl, David Caldwell, Dave Kunka, Steve Kuehl, Steve Czirjak, John Lipic, Chris Simich, Bryan Crabtree, Brent Niebrugge, and Korey Coon. In the 1990s Titan fans said hello to a beautiful new home for Titan basketball, and goodbye to a building with many memories.

The highlight of the decade of course was the 1996 & 1997 Final Four teams. In '96 the Titans made their first ever Division III Final Four appearance behind a very big and very talented group of players. IWU's starting lineup that season consisted of: Brady Knight (6-1 senior guard), T.J. Posey (6-3 senior guard), Bryan Crabtree (6-7 junior forward), Jon Litwiller (6-6 senior forward), and Chris Simich (6-6 senior center). The Titans sixth man was 6-6 senior Scott Peterson, a transfer from Division 1 Northern Illinois. In the national semifinal game the Titans ran into one of the best Division III teams ever assembled - Rowan (Glassboro, N.J.). With 4 Division 1 transfers, the Professors were big, strong, and athletic. The Titans played a great game and led 77-76 with :18 seconds to play before Demetrius Poles made an improbable tip-in on a missed shot. Rowan went on to win 79-77.

On the plane ride home from Salem, Virginia Titan junior Bryan Crabtree told the team of his intention to make it back to Salem the following season. He explained how as a freshmen they made it to the Sweet 16, as a sophomore the Elite Eight, the Final Four his junior year...there was just one logical step to take. Coach Dennie Bridges later admitted he didn't taken Crabtree all that seriously - afterall, the Titans were graduating 4 starters and their best player off the bench! The following season, with 4 starters who had never played a minute of varsity ball at IWU and Crabtree, the Titans rolled through the CCIW with a 13-1 record and made it back to the Final Four. The 1997 Titan starters were: Korey Coon (6-0 freshman guard), Nathan Hubbard (6-4 sophomore guard), Andy Boyden (6-9 sophomore center), Brent Niebrugge (6-4 junior forward), and Bryan Crabtree (6-7 senior forward). Matt Hoder (6-4 junior) John Baines (6-7 junior) and Tony Pacetti (5-8 guard) were key reserves. IWU came back from 8 down in the national seminal game to defeat Alvernia (Pa.) 85-82, and then hung on to defeat Nebraska Wesleyan 89-86 for the school's first ever national championship. All American Bryan Crabtree was named "Division III Player of the Year" and Dennie Bridges "Coach of the Year."

The following is some miscellaneous information about the incredible run of IWU basketball in the 1990s.....

Season Overall Record CCIW Record (Finish) NCAA Playoff Finish

1989-90 22-9 14-2 (2nd) Elite Eight (Lost to DePauw 68-65)

1990-91 18-9 15-1 (1st) Lost in 1st round to Ripon 65-63

1991-92 22-6 14-2 (1st) Sweet 16 (Lost to Maryville 73-71)

1992-93 16-9 9-5 (2nd) Did not make playoffs

1993-94 19-8 11-3 (1st) Sweet 16 (Lost to Wash & Jeff 97-82)

1994-95 24-4 13-1 (1st) Elite Eight (Lost to Manchester 89-82)

1995-96 28-3 12-2 (2nd) Final Four, 3rd Place (Lost to Rowan 79-77, defeated Franklin & Marshall 89-57)

1996-97 29-2 13-1 (1st) National Champions (Defeated Nebraska Wesleyan 89-86)

1997-98 22-5 13-1 (1st) Sweet 16 (Lost to Gustavus Adolphus 67-61)

1998-99 17-9 10-4 (2nd) Lost in 1st round to Ripon 63-58

TOTALS 217-64 (.772) 124-22 (.849) 6 CCIW Titles Playoff Record: 20-8 (.714)

NCAA Division III Playoffs Games

1999

Ripon 63, IWU 58 (at Ripon)

1998

(first round bye)

IWU 95, Franklin 92, OT (at Shirk Center)

Gustavus Adolphus 67, IWU 61 (at Wisconsin-Platteville)

Sweet 16

1997

IWU 105, Maryville (Mo.) 66 (at Shirk Center)

IWU 54, Rose-Hulman 53 (at Shirk Center)

IWU 87, Bridgewater (Va.) 60 (at Shirk Center)

IWU 95, Methodist (N.C.) 63 (at Shirk Center)

IWU 85, Alvernia (Pa.) 82 (Salem Va.)

IWU 89, Nebraka Wesleyan 86 (Salem, Va.)

1997 National Champions

1996

IWU 77, Ripon 66 (at Shirk Center)

IWU 73, Hanover 67 (at Shirk Center)

IWU 116, Roanoke (Va.) 88 (at Roanoke College)

IWU 73, Washington U. 61 (at Roanoke College)

Rowan 79, IWU 77 (Salem, Va.)

IWU 89, Franklin & Marshall 57 (Salem, Va.)

3rd Place

1995

IWU 115, Westminster (Mo.) 74 (Shirk Center)

IWU 90, Washington U. 65 (Shirk Center)

IWU 67, Baldwin-Wallace 51 (Shirk Center)

Manchester 89, IWU 82 (Shirk Center)

Elite Eight

1994

IWU 79, Manchester 77 (Manchester College)

Washington & Jefferson 97, IWU 82 (Whittenberg College)

Sweet 16

1992

IWU 95, Elmhurst 70 (Fred Young Fieldhouse)

Maryville (Tenn.) 73, IWU 71

Sweet 16

1991

Ripon 65, IWU 63 (Ripon College)

1990

IWU 83, North Park 68 (Fred Young Fieldhouse)

IWU 71, North Central 63 (North Central)

IWU 85, Nebraska Wesleyan 63 (Minneapolis, Minn.)

DePauw 68, IWU 65 (Minneapolis, Minn.)

Elite Eight

CCIW Fred Young Most Outstanding Players

David Caldwell (1991)

John Lipic (1994)

Chris Simich (1995)

Bryan Crabtree (1997)

Brent Niebrugge (1998)

Korey Coon (1999)

Other CCIW 1st members:

Jeff Kuehl (1990...Kuehl won the M.O.P. in 1989)

Dave Kunka (1991)

Steve Kuehl (1992, 1993)

Steve Czirjak (1992)

1996-97 National Championship Season

Nov.22 DePauw(Wash.Tip-Off Tourny) 82-62 1-0

Nov.23 Wittenberg 91-69 2-0

Dec.4 Rockford 89-64 3-0

Dec.7 Carthage* 88-61 4-0, 1-0

Dec.10 Olivet Nazarene 81-75 5-0

Dec.14 at Aurora 98-90 6-0

Dec.15 IU-South Bend 78-67 7-0

Dec.22 Rose-Hulman 88-63 8-0

Dec.31 at Concordia(calif) 82-77 9-0

Jan3 Tom Byron Classic vs Montana St-Northern 83-69 10-0

Jan.4 Westmont (Ca.) 88-60 11-0

Jan.8 Milikin* 80-76 12-0 2-0

Jan.11 North Park* 95-70 13-0 3-0

Jan.15 Augustana* 71-54 14-0 4-0

Jan.18 at Wheaton* 94-90 OT 15-0 5-0

Jan.22 at North Central* 72-81 15-1 5-1

Jan.25 at Elmhurst* 80-71 16-1 6-1

Feb.1 at Carthage* 98-64 17-1 7-1

Feb.5 at Augustana* 81-68 18-1 8-1

Feb.8 Elmhurst* 82-60 19-1 9-1

Feb.12 Wheaton* 75-63 20-1 10-1

Feb.15 at North Park* 96-62 21-1 11-1

Feb.19 North Central* 84-66 22-1 12-1

Feb.22 at Milikin* 100-81 23-1 13-1

Mar.1 at Illinois Benedictine 65-77 23-2

Mar.6 NCAA vs Maryville* 105-66 24-2

Mar.8 NCAA vs Rose-Hulman* 54-53 25-2

Mar.14 NCAA vs Bridgewater* 87-60 26-2

Mar.15 NCAA vs Methodist* 95-63 27-2

Mar.21 NCAA vs Alvernia 85-82 28-2

Mar.22 NCAA vs Nebraska Wesleyan 89-86 29-2

Games Against Division 1 Teams (0-6 Overall)

1989-90:

Northwestern 81, IWU 72

Northern Illinois 73, IWU 70

1990-91

Northwestern 84, IWU 62

1991-92

Northwestern 80, IWU 59

1992-93

Northern Illinois 86, IWU 66

1993-94

Bradley 81, IWU 63

FRED YOUNG FIELDHOUSE KNOCKED DOWN

*** Photos Taken Monday, 12/14/98

*** "Wrecking Ball" Photos, 12/15/98

Season	Overall Record	CCIW Record (Finish)	NCAA Playoff Finish
1989-90	22-9	14-2 (2nd)	Elite Eight (Lost to DePauw 68-65)
1990-91	18-9	15-1 (1st)	Lost in 1st round to Ripon 65-63
1991-92	22-6	14-2 (1st)	Sweet 16 (Lost to Maryville 73-71)
1992-93	16-9	9-5 (2nd)	Did not make playoffs
1993-94	19-8	11-3 (1st)	Sweet 16 (Lost to Wash & Jeff 97-82)
1994-95	24-4	13-1 (1st)	Elite Eight (Lost to Manchester 89-82)
1995-96	28-3	12-2 (2nd)	Final Four, 3rd Place (Lost to Rowan 79-77, defeated Franklin & Marshall 89-57)
1996-97	29-2	13-1 (1st)	National Champions (Defeated Nebraska Wesleyan 89-86)
1997-98	22-5	13-1 (1st)	Sweet 16 (Lost to Gustavus Adolphus 67-61)
1998-99	17-9	10-4 (2nd)	Lost in 1st round to Ripon 63-58
TOTALS	217-64 (.772)	124-22 (.849) 6 CCIW Titles	Playoff Record: 20-8 (.714)