WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwu70]

RogK, I think Annie Tate had a foot injury . . . she was in a boot most of the times I saw her later in the season after she couldn't play.  Is it just me, or is 13 a rather short roster for Wheaton this year? 

'70

[Gregory Sager]

Aside from his first couple of seasons as head coach, when he only had a dozen players, Kent Madsen's kept a roster consistently between 14 and 19 players for a decade now, with 17 or 18 being typical.

[iwu70]

With the large first-year group and the one transfer, IWU is now carrying a roster of 21.   

The Titans have their Green/White Scrimmage tomorrow -- Sunday.   And, they will play exhibition games before the regular season opening weekend at DeVos.  They play an NAIA program, the rather weak, Milwaukee-based Cardinal Stritch program, first.  Cardinal Stritch was 6-21 last year. That game is at Shirk on October 29th.  Then, on November 5th, the Titans travel to Jackson, TN. to play an exhibition game against the very strong Union (TN), a D2 program that went 28-3 last season.   Ramping up fast now, with the opening game vs. Concordia (Wisconsin) at DeVos on November 11th.

'70   

[shepherd]

Wheaton's roster :
https://athletics.wheaton.edu/sports/womens-basketball/roster/2022-23
I forget what injury ended Annie Tate's season in December 2021, but I hope she has fully recovered. She's among the most interesting players in the league.
In her ten games last season, she scored 24 22 14 21 28 22 19 11 15 and 12. She also grabbed 95 rebounds.

The freshmen Kate Oliver is a taller Katie McDaniels and better finisher on the layups.  Will be interesting to see how long until she starts getting playing time.

[iwu70]

MU and IWU basically picked at the top of the pre-season CCIW coaches' poll, getting all nine of the 1st place votes.   Same as last year's outcomes.  Pios in third.   IWU may lose 3-4 games before they get to the CCIW schedule.   A 20 win season always a challenge given the schedule they play . . .  but, as usual, they will be battle tested for the CCIW run. 


'70

[Gregory Sager]

CCIW preseason coaches poll

1.	Millikin (5)	61
2.	Illinois Wesleyan (4)	58
3.	Carroll	49
4.	Wheaton	43
t5.	Augustana	33
t5.	North Park	33
7.	Carthage	27
8.	North Central	18
9.	Elmhurst	9

Augustana and North Park tied for fifth with 33 points apiece. NPU will take the floor in its season opener on Friday, Nov. 11 for the first time under new head coach Annie Shain.

The CCIW office really needs to get used to referring to Annie Radenkovich by her new name.

[iwu70]

First Exhibition Game:   IWU 86  Cardinal Stritch 46

CS only dressing nine, with several injured players sitting.   IWU with a full array, save for Kelly Carlson, injured with a thumb issue.  Likely back soon.  CS clearly out-matched, over-powered in this one.   Not sure what you can take away from it, other than IWU is pretty good and pretty deep.

As expected, starters:  Huber, Powers, Palmer, Heller (at PG) and the new transfer 6'0" Katie Kuntson, the junior transfer (three years remaining) from DI SIU-Edwardsville.  She's a player, a rebounder and a good scorer inside.  She had 12 and 5 by halftime.  This is clearly an important new piece, a new dimension for this already talented IWU team.  First three shots, all treys, went down and off the Titans went:  30-15 after 1Q, 53-26 at the half, and 72-37 after 3.  With 4:27 left in the game, the Titans had their 78.     The starting group have great shooters, lots of speed and pretty good full-court defensive pressure, as we've come to expect from Mia Smith "run and jump" teams.

The second and third rotations and beyond played much of the second half, esp. the 4Q.  First subs in the rotation look to be Emily Collins and Taylor Tarver, though many others could play the part.   Coach Smith had everyone in, everyone being given minutes in this first exhibition.  A great circumstance to assess talent and let everyone get into the game and have game experience.

I was impressed  with three freshmen who look quite poised and ready to be good CCIW players -- Sara Balli, Laura Mahlum, and Emily Galvan.  Galvan could be a very useful back-up at PG for Heller.  A good ball-handler and not afraid to take threes too, which she made. 

The Titans made 12-14 treys . . .  and had an inside and paint presence that was much improved over last year.   Katie Knutson and Kelly Carlson are going to provide a much stronger low-post game, with scoring and rebounding this year.  We know the talent the Titans have around the perimeter.

Much more to learn . . . and the exhibition game next week in Tennessee against a strong program will be a better test, a much more competitive game and opponent.

One has to be very optimistic about this Titan team, its talent and its depth . . . first game of the regular season at DeVos vs. Concordia (Wisconsin) on November 11th.   

Katie Knutson a difference maker.

Just my initial impressions. 

IWU'70

[RogK]

new Carroll roster :
https://gopios.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/2022-2023
it may not be the final version, with two #3s shown ... a pair of '21-'22 non-seniors not shown are guard Sam Shallow and forward Elizabeth Behrndt

[Gregory Sager]

Behrndt would be a significant premature loss. But Carroll's incoming freshman class appears to be pretty impressive.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Preseason Top 25 is out:

https://www.d3hoops.com/top25/women/2022-23/preseason

Millikin at #14, IWU in the ORV category

[iwu70]

IWU will have plenty of chances to move up, prove themselves, playing likely Hope, Whitewater, Depauw and Millikin twice.  Didn't IWU beat Millikin two out of three last year and share the conference title, win the CCIW tournament?   With the addition of Katie Knutson, I think IWU is stronger.  And, I think MU actually lost more key pieces than IWU did . . .  I know MU and Coach Lett recruited her strongly too.  They could have had Knudsen and Knutson . . .  sorry Millikin.    

Should be a great season.  I agree the Pios will be tough as well.  NPU and Wheaton, too.

IWU's final exhibition is against a very strong Union (Tennessee) program, the Titans travelling to TN. for this one. 

IWU'70

[iwu70]

Congrats to Elyce Kundsen (Millikin / First Team) and Jayla Johson (North Park / Second Team) on pre-season All-American honors from D3hoops.com.

'70

[iwu70]

IWU played their second exhibition today vs. Union University of TN. in Jackson, TN.  Union is D2, a strong program going 28-3 last year, ranked in D2 and picked to win the Gulf South Conference this year.

Final:  Union 86 IWU 85

Seems both programs know how to put the ball in the basket.  No box score that I could find, but will try to post more when I have more details. 

A very good showing by the TITANS.  IMHO.

Opening games next weekend for IWU at DeVos, first up Concordia of Wisconsin on November 11th, then perhaps Hope.  The tough schedule begins.   

IWU '70

[iwu70]

Details of the IWU exhibition at Union (TN):

Union:
Lucas 22
Little and Thompson 13 each

IWU:
Powers 20
Huber 19 and 10, 6 assists, 5 steals
Heller 18
Palmer 18

IWU shooting 51%, 48% from three (12-25), and 9-11 FTs.

Looks like the Titans are ready for the regular season.

'70

[RogK]

the Carthage roster :
https://athletics.carthage.edu/sports/womens-basketball/roster/2022-23
5 freshmen join 13 returning players