A Familiar Test Awaits Macs as Illinois Wesleyan Returns to Yeshiva for Highly-Anticipated Rematch

We all remember the night, No. 1 Yeshiva was stunned at home. We were reminded that, eventually, everyone loses — and that it's always better for that to happen in December than in March.

Yet the truth is, all of those beginnings lead to the same place. If you were there — or if you've followed this program closely — you already know why Monday's clash between the Yeshiva University Maccabees and the Illinois Wesleyan Titans still carries weight.

December 30, 2021. A packed, buzzing Max Stern Athletic Center. Fifty straight wins. And then — snapped. Illinois Wesleyan walked into New York and beat Yeshiva 73–59, ending a streak that had started to feel permanent. 

What made it linger even more was how it happened. The Macs were outplayed early. Out-physicaled. Disrupted. Illinois Wesleyan didn't just win — they exposed a philosophical flaw. 

Afterward, Coach Elliot Steinmetz treated it like a mirror of who he wanted that squad to become. 

"The idea of this game, from the beginning, as much as it was hyped up, was for us to be in a position to be better for March," he said. "It exposed certain things."

That word — exposed — still matters. That night, Illinois Wesleyan showed exactly what elite, disciplined, physical Division III basketball looks like when you're even a step behind.

Four years later, the Titans (7-3) haven't

changed. They fight for every inch. They deny space defensively. They turn routine cuts into collisions. They force you to start your offense a second later than you want — and at this level, that second is the difference between winning and losing. Their identity has been stamped the same way for two decades under head coach Ron Rose: tough, connected, unapologetically aggressive. You always know what you're getting — and it's never comfortable. They're also excellent. The Titans have already received national votes this season, and if there were another poll tomorrow, there's a strong chance they'd be back in the Top 25.

Illinois Wesleyan knows exactly who they are. And historically, they've forced Yeshiva to ask themselves the same question.

A year after the streak ended, the Macs went to Illinois Wesleyan, who again came out like a team on a mission — crisper passing, cleaner shooting, and physicality that disrupted Yeshiva's rhythm. It felt like Deja vu as the Macs couldn't get comfortable in the fluid motion offense that has defined them. And that's when Zevi Samet announced himself, in just the second game of his career, pouring in 38 points and stepping directly into leadership. It was still a 76-71 loss. It was still heartbreaking. Yet that tilt showed this group didn't just belong on the floor with Illinois Wesleyan — they could challenge them. Fast forward to now, and the parallels are hard to ignore.

The Macs are 3–6, but anyone watching knows that record doesn't tell the whole story. They let a 21-point second-half lead slip away in an overtime loss to Tufts. They couldn't close at the free-throw line against Chapman. They missed a layup at the horn against No. 15 Mary Washington in a one-point double-overtime loss.

If they could close games the way they've opened them, the national conversation around this group would look very different.

That's why Illinois Wesleyan fits so perfectly into this moment of the season, just like in 2021 and 2022. They're a physical, disciplined opponent showing up not to flatter you — but to test you.

Zevi Samet and the Macs hope the third time is the the charm for the program as they face Illinois-Wesleyan on Monday. (Photo Credit: Yeshiva Athletics)

Survive the First Eight Minutes:

Illinois Wesleyan has historically owned the opening stretch of this matchup.

In 2021, the Titans set the tone early and never let the Macs settle in. A year later, in Bloomington, it happened again. For Yeshiva, this isn't about winning the first eight minutes. It's about not losing them.

They must get into their motion offense quickly. Absorb the contact. Take the first hit without flinching. If the Macs can keep this game level early, it prevents Illinois Wesleyan from turning pressure into momentum—and keeps the MSAC crowd alive.

Turn Physicality Into Fouls, Not Turnovers:

Illinois Wesleyan wants chaos. They want rushed entries, bumped cutters, delayed actions, and frustrated guards. The Macs can't let that turn into live-ball turnovers.

Instead, they have to lean into the contact. When Yeshiva has struggled this season, It’s been because possessions ended too quickly or too sloppily. Against a team like Illinois Wesleyan, every empty trip fuels their defense. 

Close One Segment — Any Segment:

This team doesn't need to be perfect for 40 minutes. They just need to close one stretch cleanly. Against Tufts, it was the final 10 minutes. Against Chapman, it was the stripe. Against Mary Washington, it was one layup.

Illinois Wesleyan games usually come down to a defining segment — a four-minute window where execution outweighs emotion. If the Macs can win one of those stretches — end a half strong, respond to a run, or finish a close game — that's how this matchup flips.

They've proven they can play with Illinois Wesleyan. Now they have to prove they can finish against them.

Where To Watch:

The game will take place in the Max Stern Athletic Center at Yeshiva University on Monday, December 29th at 7:30pm. Fans can come support the Macs in person or watch on the MacsLive stream which can be found at MacsLive.com.