WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

That sounds like the "game of the year"!

And the POY contest is clearly just a two person contest: Solari and Long.

[Mr. Ypsi]

How would a first-team all-conference team of the following sound to people?

Christina Solari
Lyndsie Long
Diana Jacklin
Elise Wildman
Hope Schulte

Not at all sure I've got a 'balanced' team actually ready to take the floor, but (ignoring position) they seem like the top five players to me.

[iwu70]

Wow, what a game for Lyndsie Long.  Congrats to her.  Incredible. 

Carthage gets the W, so Titans must keep it rolling, keep winning. . .

Ypsi, I'd go with your 1st Team, All CCIW.   Must say Nikke Preston and Arlis Stacey are right up there with Hope, too.  Such even, consistent and reliable talent on the Titans. 

[Hoosier Titan]

Sounds like a fantastic game for Lyndsie Long, Katie Klemke, and both teams!  Congratulations to both teams and their coaches.

I think that five for first team sounds good although you're right about positions; it's heavily weighted toward front-court players.  Hope Schulte has played the point although it's far from her favored position; no one else could conceivably be called a guard.

The last three games look interesting with Millikin and Elmhurst both at 7-4 in the conference.  Millikin still has to play Carthage, while Elmhurst has completed play with both Carthage and IWU.  Both Millikin and Elmhurst still have to play Wheaton, so the Thunder could have a say in the conference tournament pairings (or even be in the mix should they beat both Millikin and Elmhurst!).   It's definitely been one of the more interesting CCIW seasons of late. 

[RogK]

The Carthage web site summary of that game is nicely detailed and points out that the CCIW scoring record that Lyndsie surpassed was owned by none other than the wife of Lady Reds coach Tim Bernero. They weren't married yet then.
Regarding the 1st team all-CCIW, it could still be impacted by whatever happens in the remaining three rounds of conference play.
I reviewed the 1st teams of the last 6 or 7 seasons and found that it's unusual for one school to get more than one player on 1st team. If the coaches decide to limit IWU, Carthage, Elmhurst and Millikin to one player each on 1st team, we could maybe see Lindsey Brenneman, Christine Karl, Kamauria Acree or Lani Kasten make it.
Last night, Diana Jacklin was overshadowed by Long and Klemke, but played really well. And in Carthage's win over IWU, she had 19 and 10 plus 4 blocks and 4 steals. Let's add her to the Player of the Year conversation.

[Old Hoosier Baller]

From statistics, consistency, impact on all games performance-wise, I cannot see the CCIW Player-of-the-Year going to anyone but Lyndsie Long.  I also believe that the second and third-team All-Conference selections could go to a variety of players.  I am assuming that the ultimate selections will be based upon how the teams finish in the conference standings.  Clearly, IWU and Carthage will be well represented, Millikin's Wildman is a lock for first team, and Elmhurst could put at least one player on a second or third team with a strong finish to join Lyndsie in post-season honors.

[RogK]

More comments and guesses :
Based on their win-loss records, Augie, North Park and North Central probably will not get more than one player onto the 15-spot all-CCIW team.
If there are any close calls for nominations to the team, coaches often pick a senior over a younger player.
Wheaton may get one or two. If they get two, and Aug NP and NC get one, that leaves ten spots for IWU, Carthage, Elmhurst and Millikin to fight over.
This could result in three for some, two for others. So, some very good players will be left off.

[Gregory Sager]

The Carthage web site summary of that game is nicely detailed and points out that the CCIW scoring record that Lyndsie surpassed was owned by none other than the wife of Lady Reds coach Tim Bernero. They weren't married yet then.

The Carthage website summary didn't mention the school for whom the future Mrs. Bernero, Rachel Pearson, played when she set that CCIW single-game scoring record. Rachel Pearson played for North Park, and it was her 40-point performance for the Vikings against Illinois Wesleyan in 1994 that set the previous record. Rachel, who is still NPU's all-time leading scorer in women's basketball, still holds the CCIW records for field goals in a game, 16 (shared with Millikin's Lindsay Ippel and, now, Lyndsie Long of Elmhurst as well), field goals in a season (145) -- a record she set in 1991, when she was a freshman! -- career points (1,102), career field goals (460), and career rebounds (680).

Rachel and Tim met at North Park, where Tim was an assistant men's basketball coach at the time under Bosko Djurickovic. Like Bosko, Tim later relocated from NPU to Carthage.

[WESNSports]

From statistics, consistency, impact on all games performance-wise, I cannot see the CCIW Player-of-the-Year going to anyone but Lyndsie Long.

I understand I'm completely new to this forum, but I thought this statement a little closed minded especially to Solari.  Being a Titan fan, I realize I am biased, but looking at just the statistics Solari in the equivalent of 4 fewer games minute wise has more total rebounds, assists, and steals.  I appreciate Lyndsie's incredible efforts this season and think she deserves to be in this conversation, but I think Solari deserves it as well from her well rounded stats and considerably fewer minutes.

For my background, I am the Sports Director at IWU's radio station and have been keeping a blog about IWU Sports at http://www.collegefanz.com/people/WESNSports?view=blogposts, please check it out and comment.

[Old Hoosier Baller]

That is the beauty of this forum, everyone is entitled to his or her opinion.   Good arguments can be made from several perspectives, but Lyndsie's numbers really speak for themselves.  Minutes notwithstanding, as impressive as Christina Solari has been, if your talking Player of the Year honors, it is very hard to select her over Lyndsie from a global perspective.   

[Mr. Ypsi]

That is the beauty of this forum, everyone is entitled to his or her opinion.   Good arguments can be made from several perspectives, but Lyndsie's numbers really speak for themselves.  Minutes notwithstanding, as impressive as Christina Solari has been, if your talking Player of the Year honors, it is very hard to select her over Lyndsie from a global perspective.   

Is that 'global' perspective, or 'Old Hoosier Baller's' perspective?

Lyndsie Long is having an incredible year (IMO, an AA year), but I wonder how the stats would compare if Christina wasn't on the bench most second halves because of blowouts? 

I'd have no objection if Long ended up POY, but to say it is a foregone conclusion is a bit over the top.

[Hoosier Titan]

That is the beauty of this forum, everyone is entitled to his or her opinion.   Good arguments can be made from several perspectives, but Lyndsie's numbers really speak for themselves.  Minutes notwithstanding, as impressive as Christina Solari has been, if your talking Player of the Year honors, it is very hard to select her over Lyndsie from a global perspective.   

Is that 'global' perspective, or 'Old Hoosier Baller's' perspective?

Yes, that is not the perspective on the on the globe I'm standing on, either.  As I said earlier, and others have said, Lyndsie Long is a terrific player, but no way is she head and shoulders above Christina Solari.  Solari is consistently double teamed; she is among the league leaders in assists and steals as well as rebounding.  Her relatively modest scoring is due to having played fewer minutes (thanks for the "four fewer games", WESNSports!).  But every team the Titans play prepares for her (and they have beaten every team in the NCAA's regional rankings). 

If you want to make a case for Lyndsie Long, OHB, that's perfectly fine, but trying to discount Christina Solari's accomplishments isn't a good way to make that case.

[bflong]

In regards to the previous posts mentioned about POY... I would have to agree with Old Hoosier Baller... while I do tip my hat to Christina Solari, you have to take into consideration the shots each are taking... Solari is a post player, Lyndsie is a small forward/big guard... their shot selections don't compare!  When one is choosing a player to be POY they have to look at every angle.  Although Solari does have better stats in three of the categories mentioned before: rebounds, assists, steals than Long- Look at the percentage of shots each are taking.  Lyndsie is constantly having to create, shoot higher percentage of shots, and is multi-dimensional on the court (can drive, shoot the J, and post up---- ALL WHILE BEING DOUBLE, SOMETIME TRIPLE TEAMED)... While one looks at rebounds- it is somewhat expected for Solari to grab more boards due to the size and postion she is playing.  However, being a fan of the CCIW and watching many different games against different apponents, I have never seen Solari shoot outside the 5-7 ft. mark?  When looking at other statistics throughout conference play, you see that Lyndsie is ranked higher in FT%, 3pt%, 3pt FG made, and is still very high up there there in FG% (while taking a more difficult percentage of shots).  In regards to the playing time--- I don't feel that has anything to do with a individual's performance, but rather gauges how well the team is performing!  BIG DIFFERENCE!  There is no doubt that they are both deserving, however LYndsie Long's season has been way more remarkable and historic on an individual level, which is what POY should reperesent...

[Mr. Ypsi]

In regards to the previous posts mentioned about POY... I would have to agree with Old Hoosier Baller... while I do tip my hat to Christina Solari, you have to take into consideration the shots each are taking... Solari is a post player, Lyndsie is a small forward/big guard... their shot selections don't compare!  When one is choosing a player to be POY they have to look at every angle.  Although Solari does have better stats in three of the categories mentioned before: rebounds, assists, steals than Long- Look at the percentage of shots each are taking.  Lyndsie is constantly having to create, shoot higher percentage of shots, and is multi-dimensional on the court (can drive, shoot the J, and post up---- ALL WHILE BEING DOUBLE, SOMETIME TRIPLE TEAMED)... While one looks at rebounds- it is somewhat expected for Solari to grab more boards due to the size and postion she is playing.  However, being a fan of the CCIW and watching many different games against different apponents, I have never seen Solari shoot outside the 5-7 ft. mark?  When looking at other statistics throughout conference play, you see that Lyndsie is ranked higher in FT%, 3pt%, 3pt FG made, and is still very high up there there in FG% (while taking a more difficult percentage of shots).  In regards to the playing time--- I don't feel that has anything to do with a individual's performance, but rather gauges how well the team is performing!  BIG DIFFERENCE!  There is no doubt that they are both deserving, however LYndsie Long's season has been way more remarkable and historic on an individual level, which is what POY should reperesent...

Of course the playing time matters.   Your post is riddled with stats - if Solari wasn't on the bench for the second half of blowouts (which IWU has had far more of than Elmhurst), wouldn't her stats probably be rather higher?  And despite playing the equivalent of four games less, they ALREADY are higher in several categories.

There is a HUGE difference between limited playing time due to conditioning and/or defensive liabilities (see: Ryan Connolly, mens' Titans) and limited playing time because the team is just too danged good for most opponents and the coach is not sadistic!

FOR THIS CASE, you can't argue stats yet ignore minutes played.  If the award was MVP, I'd give it to Long - without her the Jays would probably not make the conference tourney (without Solari, the Titans would still be a very good team, though Carthage would have won the regular season).  But for POY, don't penalize Solari because her team is so good that she doesn't play that much!

[RogK]

Good reasons for either Lyndsie or Christina to be named Player of the Year. And there wouldn't be any shame for either to lose out to the other.
Both will be sorely missed next year, for sure. I hope they can each have a fun time over the next month as they wrap up their careers.
Lindsey Brenneman hit two free throws with :15 to go to win Wheaton's game in Indiana yesterday, 75-74 over St Mary's. Judging from the stats, the Thunder got good contributions from throughout their roster.