WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Just Bill]

While it was a GREAT season, I'm too steamed to let it just go at that quite yet.  The killer came from the zebras with about 2 minutes left.  With the game very much  on the line, and perhaps one second away from a backcourt time violation, they called a phantom foul on the Titans.  A turnover turns instead into two points for Wash U.  And if what was done to Solari on the court tonight (usually with no call) had been done off the court, someone would be going to prison!

This is NOT intended to take anything away from Wash U - they earned the win.  But with better officiating, things might have turned out differently.

With the demise of my finalists (IWU over Hope) tonight, my women's pickem bracket turned from contender to garbage.

There are no backcourt 10-second violations in women's basketball. They can stay in the backcourt as long as they want.

[Mr. Ypsi]

While it was a GREAT season, I'm too steamed to let it just go at that quite yet.  The killer came from the zebras with about 2 minutes left.  With the game very much  on the line, and perhaps one second away from a backcourt time violation, they called a phantom foul on the Titans.  A turnover turns instead into two points for Wash U.  And if what was done to Solari on the court tonight (usually with no call) had been done off the court, someone would be going to prison!

This is NOT intended to take anything away from Wash U - they earned the win.  But with better officiating, things might have turned out differently.

With the demise of my finalists (IWU over Hope) tonight, my women's pickem bracket turned from contender to garbage.

There are no backcourt 10-second violations in women's basketball. They can stay in the backcourt as long as they want.

Thanks for the info - serves me right for neglecting the women's game until IWU suddenly became a power!

The shot clock was down to about 8 when they called the 'phantom' foul, so it still might have been a turnover.

[thundermike]

Congrats to IWU for a great season

[Hoosier Titan]

We were discussing the phantom foul in the car on the way home.  Although I may complain about individual calls during a game, I rarely think that the refs have influenced the outcome of a game.  But that one--the one I'm thinking of was on Claire Sheehan in the open court, when the Titans were about to get a five-second count on the ball handler (not any sort of over-and-back).  It did feel that that might have shifted the momentum.  The comments about "letting them play" under the basket are right on--both sides got away with a lot.  But little touch fouls elsewhere were whistled.

Anyway...the Titans simply spotted the Bears too many points early in the game.  IWU blew easy layups and couldn't buy, beg, or steal a rebound, while the Wash U 3 shooters shot the lights out.  The resurgence in the second half came as a result of Mia Smith laying into them during a timeout.  "Where is the intensity in our press?  You do it for one or two passes and then quit!"  They came out energized, and we, the crowd made Shirk as loud as I have ever heard it.  I really thought they would pull themselves back, but it was not to be.  Wash U was the better team tonight and deserve to move on.

It was a fabulous, magical season for the Titans.  As Mia said to the crowd afterward, at the beginning of the season there would be maybe 50 people at the games, and now there are 2000.  They were fun to watch and easy to support.  We enjoyed getting to know the team members and their families.  Many thanks, ladies--we'll see you next season!

Best of luck to the remaining competitors!

[Mr. Ypsi]

HT,

Since we will not now be meeting in Holland, a question:

The Titans lose a ton to graduation (oops - hope Mallory, Claire, etc., won't take that as a 'weight' joke ), but have some amazing players returning.  In your opinion, are we looking at a veritable dynasty in the CCIW, or is next year a step back?  (I wouldn't expect another 31-0, but are they still the 'big dogs' [another term that could get me in trouble ] in the conference?)

[Hoosier Titan]

HT,

Since we will not now be meeting in Holland, a question:

The Titans lose a ton to graduation (oops - hope Mallory, Claire, etc., won't take that as a 'weight' joke ), but have some amazing players returning.  In your opinion, are we looking at a veritable dynasty in the CCIW, or is next year a step back?  (I wouldn't expect another 31-0, but are they still the 'big dogs' [another term that could get me in trouble ] in the conference?)

Mr. Y,

First, you really should come back to Bloomington for a game! 

I think that IWU has a great basis on which to build.  First, Christina Solari is a junior this year.  She'll be here next season, and that counts for a ton (carrying on the weight theme...).  Many of the "second string" players here this year would have been starters at many schools, so my opinion is that IWU is well-stocked for the immediate future.  In large part, this is due to Mia Smith's tireless recruiting efforts...I have no doubts she is still quite active in that regard this season.

One can never promise 30-0 in repetition, but they are certainly stronger than when Mallory Heydorn, Claire Sheehan, and Colleen Caplice committed to IWU.

[iwumichigander]

HT,

Since we will not now be meeting in Holland, a question:

The Titans lose a ton to graduation (oops - hope Mallory, Claire, etc., won't take that as a 'weight' joke ), but have some amazing players returning.  In your opinion, are we looking at a veritable dynasty in the CCIW, or is next year a step back?  (I wouldn't expect another 31-0, but are they still the 'big dogs' [another term that could get me in trouble ] in the conference?)

Mr. Y,

First, you really should come back to Bloomington for a game! 

I think that IWU has a great basis on which to build.  First, Christina Solari is a junior this year.  She'll be here next season, and that counts for a ton (carrying on the weight theme...).  Many of the "second string" players here this year would have been starters at many schools, so my opinion is that IWU is well-stocked for the immediate future.  In large part, this is due to Mia Smith's tireless recruiting efforts...I have no doubts she is still quite active in that regard this season.

One can never promise 30-0 in repetition, but they are certainly stronger than when Mallory Heydorn, Claire Sheehan, and Colleen Caplice committed to IWU.

I agree.  Titans have the talent to be as good next season.  And, from a recruit's perspective, IWU represents a really attractive WBB program.

[iwumichigander]

Three things bothered me, with respect to WashU, coming into tonight's game: 1) Bears' ability to well execute a half-court offense; 2) Ability to get back on defense.  I had particularly noted how well WashU out hustled StBen in that aspect. Almost every time, WashU beat St Ben back down the court and often turning a St Ben 2 on 1 advantage into a 2 on 4 disadvantage. and 3) Could (and would) IWU penetrate the middle to break down the zone?

WashU came out with a good game plan and stayed with it.  I felt IWU's defense could handle #1 (and it did for the most part).  I thought IWU could handle #2 (and did also - the ball just did not drop through the hoop). 

I was disappointed in the Titan offensive approach on #3 above.  In the first half, with the three's not dropping, IWU did not take the ball to the hoop.  While the Titans did a better job in the 2nd half, for some reason, a little success with the three took them out of penetrating the middle.  I did not understand that - particularly when the Titans were able to cut the margin with the clock off - from the foul line by making free throws obtained from opportunities created by going to the hoop from the paint.

[Mr. Ypsi]

HT,

Since we will not now be meeting in Holland, a question:

The Titans lose a ton to graduation (oops - hope Mallory, Claire, etc., won't take that as a 'weight' joke ), but have some amazing players returning.  In your opinion, are we looking at a veritable dynasty in the CCIW, or is next year a step back?  (I wouldn't expect another 31-0, but are they still the 'big dogs' [another term that could get me in trouble ] in the conference?)

Mr. Y,

First, you really should come back to Bloomington for a game! 

I think that IWU has a great basis on which to build.  First, Christina Solari is a junior this year.  She'll be here next season, and that counts for a ton (carrying on the weight theme...).  Many of the "second string" players here this year would have been starters at many schools, so my opinion is that IWU is well-stocked for the immediate future.  In large part, this is due to Mia Smith's tireless recruiting efforts...I have no doubts she is still quite active in that regard this season.

One can never promise 30-0 in repetition, but they are certainly stronger than when Mallory Heydorn, Claire Sheehan, and Colleen Caplice committed to IWU.

I'd like that (and if IWU is IN the FF next year, I'll be there).  I took a Bloomington trip in December 2004, but no one in my family has any ties to d3, so it isn't easy.  #1 son is now a college junior (U of Michigan), so largely irrelevant to my travels (though we're still his laundromat and occasional ATM), but #2 son is a hand full.  Wife is very understanding, but I hate to leave her in the lurch.

[RogK]

Congratulations for an excellent season to the whole Titan team, to those who played the most and to those who were prepared to step in, whenever called upon. IWU represented our conference with style and determination.
Colleen Caplice, Claire Sheehan and Mallory Heydorn all had superb NCAA careers. Hopefully, the sadness from last night will fade away quickly.
It was my pleasure to talk to the Mallory Dad numerous times this season -- a nice guy, who should be highly proud of his daughter. He knows what the players throughout the CCIW have gone through to make it to the college level and has complimented many of them for their effort and play.
As for next year, the Titans will be very good, even if no one was added to the roster. We know that Coach Smith recruits as well as anyone, so we can anticipate more new good Titans.
It will take something extraordinary, not ordinary, to top them in the CCIW in '09-'10.

[Fawkes316]

We were discussing the phantom foul in the car on the way home.  Although I may complain about individual calls during a game, I rarely think that the refs have influenced the outcome of a game.  But that one--the one I'm thinking of was on Claire Sheehan in the open court, when the Titans were about to get a five-second count on the ball handler (not any sort of over-and-back).  It did feel that that might have shifted the momentum. 

There are no backcourt 10-second violations in women's basketball. They can stay in the backcourt as long as they want.

When you say "ball-handler" was the player dribbling?

There are no five-seconds calls when the ball is being dribbled. The only five second calls in women's basketball are when the ball is being held, or on the in-bounds.

I have actually seen teams stay in the backcourt and dribble the ball to run out the clock at the end of the game. Consequently, pressing at the end of a game is pretty pointless once the ball is inbounded. Teams have to foul right away.

[Hoosier Titan]

My recollection is that a ball-handler had picked up her dribble and was trapped by two other players; the foul was on someone else who looked to me to be just running in the open court.  The video of the game will probably be online on the iwusports.com website in a day or so if it's not already.  Personally, I have no desire to watch it again, but feel free! 

I don't want to leave this part of the discussion with the idea that I said that that call, or any call, changed the game completely.  As I said before, Wash U did an excellent job of executing their game plan, and the Titans did not in the first half.  This game was almost a reverse of the one in St. Louis (the first one I saw the Titans play this year), where the Titans had a 5-8 point lead throughout much of the second half and then the Bears went on a run at the end to leave the gap at 3.  We knew it would be close going in, and it was, with Wash U holding off the challenge this time.  The result was fair and well-earned.

[thundermike]

Here's a look at who will not be returning next year to each school:

Augie:
Sarah Rachwalski (7.4 ppg)

Carthage:
Shana Lieberman (5.3 ppg)
Carlie Janowiak (4.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg) 3rd team all-CCIW
Katie Jarger (12.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg), 2nd team all-CCIW, top scorer
Lisa Gartelos (9.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg), 3rd team all-CCIW

Elmhurst:
Amber Hendricks (0.8 ppg)
Jen Myers (2.4 ppg)
Marissa Parker (1.1 ppg)
Brittany Bobruk (10.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg)

Illinois Wesleyan:
Claire Sheehan (13.5 ppg,76 assists), 1st team all-CCIW (not sure why this wasn't unanimous)
Mallory Heydorn (11.4 ppg, 87 assists) 2nd team all-CCIW
Colleen Caplice (4.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg)

Millikin:
Ricki Dorsett (5.0 ppg)
Ally James (2.4 ppg)
Jacquie Larson (2.0 ppg)
Kayla Pembrook (11.0 ppg, 7.1 rpg), 2nd team all-CCIW
Whitney Schwartz (6.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
Tracie Yantis (10.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg)

North Central (nice new athletics website, by the way):
Gia Navarra (7.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg)
Amber Cibrario (3.8 ppg)
Brianne Parra (13.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 1st team all-CCIW, top scorer

North Park:
Amanda Phillips (10.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg)
LaRae Kostreva (14.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg), 2nd team all-CCIW, top scorer/rebounder
Stylianee Damianides (6.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 79 assists)

Wheaton:
Noelle Dryden (1.9 ppg)
Lynnea Kvam (8.3 ppg, 63 three-pointers a single season Wheaton record), 3rd team all-CCIW
Kathleen Fidelia (18.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 107 assists, 71 steals), unanimous 1st team all-CCIW
Jamie Jones (12.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg), 2nd team all-CCIW
Whitney Edgecombe (5.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg)

There's a lot of talent in those lists. Just about every team is losing significant piece(s) to the puzzle. Carthage loses a ton of talent, Wesleyan loses three good players (but also has a ton of returning talent), Millikin loses a bunch (Elise Wildman stays though), North Central says goodbye to a couple of its top players, North Parks top scorers are gone, and Wheaton loses its top three scorers as well (including one of the best overall players in the conference).

Looking ahead, IWU (with MOP Solari back) and Elmhurst (Long is returning) both look to be in pretty good shape for 09-10. Everybody else has some big shoes to fill.

[RogK]

Thanks, thundermike, for taking the time to list all the seniors for us.
Their absence next fall will be a significant impact on their teams and the conference as a whole.
The first one on the list is a good example. Sarah Rachwalski had a nice career with Augie. She could shoot (and maybe should have more often) and played solid defense. But I think it's her ballhandling that will be missed the most. Good dribbling doesn't show in the stats, but is a vital component in a functioning offense. Augie will need others to pick up in that area, and I don't limit that to guards.
Millikin is losing a big portion (6 players) of its team.  However, that will open up opportunity for others.
One such player that could grab playing time is Julia Robert, who played 195 minutes as a freshman this season. Her shooting was very good, albeit a small sample : 11/22 on twos (.500), 7/19 threes (.368) and 7/8 FTs (.875). She might be someone to keep an eye on. Her fellow Big Blue freshman and former high school teammate, Bethany Wellbaum, also 5' 7", played 324 minutes this year. In the pair of games I saw, I liked her speed and general athleticism. It would not surprise me if she also is very prominent for Millikin next year.
I wish we had a Millikin fan among our readers, to perhaps contribute insight about the Decatur team.

[Mr. Ypsi]

IWU has picked up a pair of very athletic guards in Mallory Heydorn and Claire Sheehan. From what I saw Saturday at Elmhurst, I'd say IWU will be happy to have them for four years.

Speaking of freshman guards, when I attended the Nov 29 NC at Wheaton game, Kathleen Fidelia impressed me as being the next Laura Mount. I see that she nabbed 7 steals in 25 minutes at North Park. If Fidelia improves her offense from year to year, as Mount has done, she will be quite good.

Just ran across this old post as I was researching something.

RogK,  I commend your eye for freshman talent!