After an absence of a year and a half and sooner than expected, the "big game" is returning to Shirk Center. An arena accustomed to key games stacked throughout January and February during Illinois Wesleyan's seemingly annual championship contention in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin has endured more losses and flagging excitement since coach Scott Trost and his eight pack of quality seniors departed campus in 2006, leaving a third place national trophy to remember them by.

Titan basketball - at least temporarily - has surrendered its "event" status.

That changes today as preseason CCIW favorite and archrival Augustana invades Shirk for a 7:30 p.m. showdown. Coach Ron Rose's Titans have made this game big with a surprising 4-2 conference start that includes two road victories.

Picked for seventh in the eight-team CCIW, Wesleyan seemed at least a year away with four freshmen and a raw sophomore in the eight-man rotation. The Titans, however, are growing impatient. They sit in second place and want to contend now. This week will go a long way toward telling us if they are playing above their youthful heads or if they have indeed arrived.

With Augustana (4-2) today and league leader Carthage (5-1) crossing the Cheese Curtain on its way to Shirk on Saturday, IWU would find itself in first place by Saturday night with two wins.

The Titans, who already have matched last year's CCIW win mark and at 10-7 are one win shy of 2006-07's overall total, are in this unexpected position after a pair of dramatic victories last week over Wheaton and North Park. Both outcomes were in doubt into the final seconds and can't help but be an injection of confidence to a group that may lack experience but does not lack talent.

"Our toughness is starting to show," said freshman guard Travis Rosenkranz after the North Park triumph. That quote, delivered matter of factly just a couple of minutes after nailing down a tough win, spoke volumes about a team maturing faster than anticipated.

Rosenkranz, fellow freshman Sean Johnson and finally healthy sophomore Sean Dwyer are forming a three-man guard combo that is improving by the minute.

All three can penetrate to the basket. Once Rosenkranz, currently a 33 percent shooter from the arc, gets comfortable with his perimeter shot, opponents will have an additional worry. Johnson (43 percent on 3s) is already establishing a reputation as a lethal weapon from 25 feet in and Dwyer has been both selective and effective from long range.

A strength earlier in the season, rebounding joins shaky free throw shooting as major concerns. With three guards no taller than 6-foot-1 and post players Darius Gant and Brett Chamernick at 6-4 and 6-5, respectively, the Titans have been outrebounded by an alarming 110-75 the past three games.

That's where the other three players in Rose's rotation will be crucial down the stretch. Six-three junior Jordan Morris and 6-4 freshman Matt Schick are available to help if the Titans encounter a small forward too big for Dwyer to handle. And 6-7 freshman Doug Sexauer is a developing star in the post.

Rose hardly could hide his enthusiasm after Sexauer showed the self-confidence to actively call for the ball in key second-half situations at North Park. And Sexauer delivered with key baskets once he got it.

This potential gem of a team still needs considerable polish. Yet the raw materials for success are evident. These freshmen aren't using youth, an unquestioned liability at times, as an excuse for failure.

The Titans have yet to top 2,000 in attendance - a starting point for crowds not that long ago - in any game this season, yet the product is increasingly deserving of more spectator attention.

The "big game" is back at IWU. The big crowds will follow.

What comes next is up to the kids. Are they really ready? Already?