Milestones make news at BenU

The Benedictine men's basketball team reached a pair of milestones last week. Coach Keith Bunkenburg won his 300th game, and six days later senior Tim McGinty scored his 1,000th point.

"You don't really think about that stuff, I guess, you don't really look back until the season is over," Bunkenburg said. "I just feel very blessed in doing what I'm doing."

Bunkenburg said he was barely aware the win was his 300th. It wasn't until after the game when he was congratulated that he realized.

McGinty echoed his coach's feelings. The senior said he is sure he will look back and enjoy this moment, but for now he is focused on the team.

Both player and coach have one thing in mind this year, to win the Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference. Bunkenburg said he believes that goal is possible for this team if it can find some consistency.

"I feel like we're on the verge, we've won some nice games," the coach said. "I don't think we've played as consistent as we've wanted yet."

That's been an issue for past Benedictine teams. McGinty said they have been working to improve in that area and it starts with the familiarity on the team.

"I feel like last year's group, we were really close and that helped follow through to this year," McGinty said.

The senior is averaging more than 12 points a game this year. He is also the team's leading rebounder, something his coach said is a huge key to the team's success.

As the Eagles look to find that steady level of play Bunkenburg believes in his team.

"We can be very good," Bunkenburg said. "There are a lot of good teams in our league, and I think we are as good as anybody.

Wheaton College:

The Thunder women's basketball team has looked like one of the best teams in the country this year, and Hannah Considine is a big reason why. Considine has started to receive national recognition for her play, as well.

After a pair of impressive games last week, Considine earned a pair of national awards. The junior center was named to the D3hoops.com Team of the Week and the United States Basketball Writers Association National Player of the Week.

Wheaton College played two games during the week Considine won the award. The Thunder beat both Illinois Wesleyan and previously undefeated North Central by double digits. The 6-foot star posted a double-double in both games with 12 points and 11 rebounds against Illinois Wesleyan and a personal-high 36 points and 21 rebounds against North Central.

Considine is the first Wheaton College player to be named to the D3hoops team since 2012. She is the first player from the program to ever win the USBWA honor in its first year of awarded.

Elmhurst:

For the first time in six seasons, the Bluejays men's basketball team is ranked in the D3hoops.com top 25 poll.

Despite suffering their second loss of the season and their first conference loss, the Bluejays were ranked No. 22 in this week's poll. Overall the team is 12-2 and tied for second in the CCIW. The last time the team was ranked was the 2008-09 season.

Until Wednesday's 70-68 home loss to Carthage, the Bluejays' lone conference loss came on the road against Augustana, ranked No. 1 in the country. The CCIW has a third team in the rankings with North Central at No. 9. The Cardinals fell to Augustana 75-64 on Wednesday in Naperville.

The Bluejays play the Cardinals on Saturday in Naperville.