Game Date: Oct 29th, 2042

Elmhurst

Team: Elmhurst Bluejays [ID #817]

Location: Elmhurst, IL (Central)

Conference: V.12 [Division 2]

President: bhardin22
          [since December 24th 2023 | last seen December 21st 2024]

Coach: Jonathon Bowen

Arena: R.A. Faganel Hall

Rating: 94.30 - Overall Position: #372

Fan Mood: 114.38

Alumni Mood: 109.45

Prestige: 54

Team Notes:

• Oct 29 2042: 3-star prospect Allen Duffy committed.
• Oct 25 2042: 3-star prospect Sheldon Fletcher committed.
• Mar 31 2042: John Wolfe was hired as the new assistant coach.
• Mar 31 2042: Assistant coach Carey Neri was let go.
• Mar 09 2042: Made the division 2 tournament field.
• Jan 11 2042: 3-star prospect Gene Applegate committed.
• Dec 28 2041: 3-star prospect Daniel Rodriguez committed.
• Oct 03 2041: Max Riggins was hired as the new assistant coach.
• Oct 03 2041: Assistant coach Tim Ernst was let go.
• Aug 29 2041: Tim Ernst was hired as the new assistant coach.

Record:

Wins: 3 Losses: 0 Pct: 1.000     Conf Wins: 0 Conf Losses: 0 Conf Pct: .000 Conf Rank: 1     Last10: 3-0 Streak: W3

Pts Ave: 97.3 - 73.0     Pts Diff: +24.3     Team Power Index: 137.9

Press Releases:

Mar 06 2042: New Coach, Same Choke - by bhardin22 on December 3rd, 2024

Despite a rather successful regular season for the rookie bench boss, Jon Bowen, the Elmhurst Bluejays find themselves in a similar situation. Once again, the Boll Weevils of Arkansas-Monticello play spoiler for the Bluejays. With a 65-61 upset over Elmhurst, Arkansas-Monticello was able to utilize their bigs to gain the victory over the Boys in Blue for a second time this season. Elmhurst hopes to advance to the D2 National Tournament and potentially make some noise while there. Coach Bowen looks to reverse Elmhurst's fortunes from recent years of early bounces and postseason couch surfing.


Nov 09 2039: The Deep Dish Comes to Elmhurst! - by bhardin22 on July 10th, 2024

In the Inaugural Chicagoland Shootout hosted by Dominican Illinois and Elmhurst, the Bluejays were able to go 3-0 and claim the first ever Deep Dish trophy.
In a dominant win in their first matchup, the Bluejays were able to beat the Blueboys of Illinois College by 23 points. Despite only shooting 64% from the charity stripe, Elmhurst was able to muscle their way to victory as IC was unable to contain the Bluejays' physicality around the rim resulting in 48 points in the paint and 46 rebounds (15 offensive).

The Bluejays' second game of the shooutout was against the Redbirds of Illinois State University. In a stark contrast from their first game, the Bluejays were able to overcome being out-rebounded, outscored in the paint and out-shot at the free throw line by letting it rain from deep. Thanks to five, 3-balls a piece from K-Mac and Burnett and a double-double from big man Duane Walker, Elmhurst was able to win 93-80 over the Redbirds.

It turned out to be a tale of two-halves (13 and 27 minutes) in what ultimately ended up being the championship game for the Chicagoland Shootout as the Bluejays secured The Deep Dish with a 19 point victory over their hometown rival- Dominican Illinois Stars. Dominican was in the bonus not even five minutes into the game and had managed to hold Elmhurst to 10 points over the first nine minutes of the game. Fortunes (or bribes?) changed soon thereafter as Elmhurst finished with 44 free throw attempts to the 18 of Dominican. In a turn of luck, Elmhurst shot 37/44 from the charity stripe and most notably Tiny McIntosh with 15/17 and freshman Clay Alexander draining 8/8 from the line. In a sloppy, foul fest of a game, the Bluejays were able to prevail 84-69.

Chicagoland Shootout MVP: Eli Burnett
Coming off the bench in 2 of the 3 games, Eli Burnett has proven to be one of Elmhurst's most productive players and efficient scorers. Over the course of the shootout, Burnett totaled 48 points while shooting 8/17 from deep.


Jan 13 2039: The Winning Combination? - by bhardin22 on June 2nd, 2024

For the first time this season, the Elmhurst Bluejays have won back to back games while scoring more than 90 points. The difference? The re-insertion of second year forward, Kwame McIntosh into the starting lineup. Since returning to the starting five, Kwame has added up 38 points (including a career high 25 points tonight) while shooting 14/33 and 5/8 from deep while compiling 17 rebounds.
Not only has this change to the starting lineup turned things around for the Bluejays and Coach McConnell, the increased usage of redshirt freshman Milt Bray. The combo guard who has been splitting reps between the 2 and 3 positions this season, has shot an impressive 23/52 from the field and is currently shooting at a 33% from beyond the arc since becoming a starter.
Looking to avoid the 2nd straight relegation in his 2nd year of holding the reins at Elmhurst, Coach McConnell has to be pleased with the current upturn in play from his Bluejays including the recent uptick in production from senior big man, Johnnie Travis, who is currently sitting at a 57.8% eFGP on the season thanks to his bully ball style of play. Can the Blue Birds keep this up and avoid relegation? We shall see.


Feb 25 2038: Manic McConnell - by bhardin22 on April 19th, 2024

In what could be most positively described as a "rebuilding year" for Elmhurst and most accurately described as "a learning experience," Coach Wade McConnell has had a front row view to observing what it will take to win at the Pinnacle of Collegiate Basketball. In what turned out to be the worst loss thus far in both Coach McConnell's tenure and the season for the Bluejays (and potentially the worst loss in program history) Elmhurst was absolutely shellacked in a 60 point mopping at Kalamazoo. McConnell was miffed when asked what had gone wrong in the Bluejays gameplan. Unable to formulate any real responses or coherent answers to the questions, Coach McConnell left the media room, flustered. What was once viewed as a promising hire for the future, is shrouded in mystery and doubt for now with some program donors already calling for the head of Wade McConnell. The Bluejays will host the Navy Midshipmen in their next game, in what will assuredly be another loss. All of Chicago's eyes will be on McConnell, hoping that he can prevent a drubbing on their home court.