Chicago, Il., -- The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin 2025-26 regular season has come to an end and the stage is set for the six playoff teams to battle it out for the CCIW Championship. Nationally ranked Illinois Wesleyan locked up the 1st seed and will host the semi-final and final rounds of the playoff. IWU and #2 Carthage will have first round byes as #4 North Park hosts #5 Wheaton College and #3 Elmhurst host #6 Carroll on Tuesday night.
North Park earned the 4th seed by ending their regular season 5-2 over their last seven games, with three of those wins being against Augustana, Elmhurst, and Wheaton; teams with similar conference records fighting for playoff positioning. The Vikings finished the season with a 15-10 overall record, an 8-8 CCIW record, and are now set to play Wheaton for the second time in ten days. The Vikings prepare to host their second straight CCIW first round playoff game; last season, in Edwind McGhee's first season as head coach, the Vikings fell 94-92 to North Central after the game-winning half court shot came just inches short from going through. This year, North Park looks to finish the job against a team they split their regular season games 1-1 with.
Wheaton won the first matchup against North Park 94-85. Mike Vuckovic and Marquis Vance both scored 20+ but it wasn't enough against the Thunder's efficient offense that shot near 55% from the field and 40% from behind the arc. Soren Richardson (26) and Kyan VanerWoude (24) led the charge for Wheaton, however the Vikings held most of the statistical advantages throughout the game -- outscoring the Thunder in the paint, in fastbreak points, and bench points. The difference lied in Wheaton's ability to knock down perimeter shots, as the Vikings shot 20% from 3PT territory, and their higher volume of free throw attempts and makes.
When North Park hosted Wheaton on senior night (February 14), the entirety of the matchup was a back and forth affair that saw a number of lead changes and ties. The Vikings would walk away with the win after senior guard Kolden Vanlandingham hit the game-winning jumper from the right block, despite Thunder players Soren Richardson (29) and Kyan VanderWoude (23) combining for 52 points. Vanlandingham's performance against the Thunder secured him his third CCIW Player of the Week this season, however Mike Vuckovic (24), William Bates (16), Marquis Vance (9) and the defensive energy of the entire team helped push the Vikings to victory.
Fans attending the game are encouraged to wear white, as the fan theme for the game is "white-out". Tip off for the first round of the CCIW Quarterfinal is set for Tuesday, February 24th at 7pm in the Carlson Gymnasium.
