WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[WUPHF]

Either Carthage or IWU will lose in the CCIW championship, which could really shake the rankings. 

I forgot that the CCIW, along with probably every other conference, has a conference tournament.  Thanks for the detailed response.  I also cannot wait for selection weekend.

Let me ask: is that how it works, the men have priority the first weekend and the women the second, everywhere in every region?

My tentative plan is to watch any possible home games, and then travel to watch the women play, hopefully down to the end.

[Hoosier Titan]

  She would probably go way past 97 wins if she came back for a fifth year (she told the Pantagraph that was not going to happen).

Well, she did leave just a bit of wiggle room in her comments to the Pantagraph (it's at the end of this report of the first IWU-Augustana game).  It doesn't sound like an absolutely flat "no" to me.

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/article_c0140bba-0b06-11df-b716-001cc4c002e0.html

[Mr. Ypsi]

WUH,

Yes, the gender-priority is a d3 rule.  It flip-flops each year, so next year the rounds are reversed.

And, yes, so far as I know the UAA is the ONLY conference without a tourney.

[WUPHF]

Yes, the gender-priority is a d3 rule.  It flip-flops each year, so next year the rounds are reversed.

That is an interesting approach that makes a lot of sense.  Thanks again for the feedback.

I have been following the Bears closely since 2005, so I should know all this, but for whatever reason, I really never paid close attention until this year.  I started following the D3boards.  And, now I am completely addicted.

I would like to see another Bears-Titans rematch.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Yes, the gender-priority is a d3 rule.  It flip-flops each year, so next year the rounds are reversed.

That is an interesting approach that makes a lot of sense.  Thanks again for the feedback.

I have been following the Bears closely since 2005, so I should know all this, but for whatever reason, I really never paid close attention until this year.  I started following the D3boards.  And, now I am completely addicted.

I would like to see another Bears-Titans rematch.

Though with a different outcome than last year, of course!

[Hoosier Titan]

Over on the CCIW men's board, Izzy Stradlin posted this yesterday:

"A few years back, Keelan Amelianovich from a 12-2 Titan team was chosen over Joel Kolmodin from a 10-4 Thunder team for MOP when Kolmodin had a statistically better year.  My biased pick probably would have been Joel, but I had no problem with Keelan getting the award.  Chris Martin probably could've won multiple MOPs based on stats. 

Individual stats have too many confounders when relied upon for comparison of players.  A good supporting cast can impact a players stats positively or negatively.   The pace at which a team plays or overall poor defense can lead to more possessions per game and inflated per-game averages,  etc, etc.  Winning is the best tool we have to find the best players."

I think this is relevant to the Solari-Long debate.  There's no one absolutely correct (or incorrect) answer, and either player would be deserving of POY.

[RogK]

Congratulations to Lyndsie Long, CCIW player of the week. She averaged 37.5, just about all of which was needed. They beat North Park by 7 and lost by 1 to Carthage.
I agree, Hoosier Titan, that stats do not tell the whole story when comparing players from one team with another. Not even within one team. For example, one player gets credit for a rebound, but a teammate may have done the hard work by blocking out a strong opponent.
Anyway, on the subject of Most Outstanding Player, Diana Jacklin is a better defensive player than either Christina or Lyndsie. Jacklin scores a decent amount and is a good rebounder, too, so she could easily get some MOP votes. Maybe there will be a tie!

[RogK]

More MOP:
Maybe Mia Smith will surprise us and nominate Hope Schulte for MOP!
In any conference, you have to look at the top team and ask who are the main reasons (aside from good coaching) why the team is so good. As has been stated, there are many fine players on the Titans. C Solari and Schulte would be at the top of that list, I think. Both of 'em contribute in a variety of ways.
Lyndsie Long, on the other hand, has carried her team to a greater extent than anyone else in the league. I don't mean to diminish her teammates, but I think that's an accurate statement.

[RogK]

When thinking about the best all-around players, I sometimes wonder what would happen if 5 of one played 5 of another.
This would require a player to be able to handle the ball, score one way or another, be able to guard small or large players, rebound well. It would also require cloning.
How would 5 Diana Jacklins do against 5 Lyndsie Longs? Could 5 Diana Jacklins beat 5 Christina Solaris? Could 5 Christina Solaris beat 5 Karen Solaris? How would 5 Heather Gilmores do vs 5 Elise Wildmans? Or 5 Dani Ripkeys against 5 Cecily Aldridges?
Of all recent CCIW players, I think I'd take former Wheaton forward Elisabeth Fox as best all-around player. She had enough size to guard big opponents, was quick enough to guard small ones, could score inside and out, could rebound and handle the ball well.
Correction : make that Elizabeth Fox.

[Moser]

Very important game at Wheaton tonight between the Thunder and Millikin. While these two programs have spent much of the CCIW's history battling for 1st place, tonight's game will go a long way in determining 4th place and the last spot in the CCIW tourney.

Millikin would clinch a tourney spot with a win tonight, and if Elmhurst beat North Central the 3 and 4 seeds would still come down to Saturday's games (Millikin vs. Carthage; Elmhurst vs. Wheaton). In this scenario, if both teams win on Saturday then the 3 seed would go to Elmhurst based on its hypothetical 6-1 in-conference road record. Millikin would be 4th. The only way for Millikin to be the #3 seed would be to win out and have Elmhurst split.

If Wheaton beats Millikin tonight things get interesting. In this case Millikin would need to win Saturday or else cheer very hard for Elmhurst. If Wheaton wins both of its games this week and Millikin loses to Carthage, the Thunder would be the 4 seed based on its hypothetical 6-3 record in its last 9 games (Millikin would be 5-4 in this scenario).

Elmhurst holds any potential tiebraker with Wheaton because of its 1-1 record vs. Carthage.

Weeding through the technicalities it is very simple for all three teams. For Millikin and Elmhurst: win a game this week to clinch a tourney spot. For Wheaton: win both of your games and trust that Carthage will play like the #10 team in the nation on Saturday against Millikin.

Should be an interesting week. Millikin and Elmhurst control their own destiny, and Wheaton knows that if it wins both games there is a good chance that the rest of the dominos will fall in its favor.

[iwu70]

IWU over Augie tonight, 79-40, thus claiming at least a share of the CCIW crown.  One more W and the championship is the Titan's outright.  Congrats to the team and the coaches -- what a great season so far.  Keep it rolling all the way back to the Shirk!

[iwu70]

Turnovers:  Augie 40, IWU 14 -- pretty much tells the story.  IWU must be setting some kind of an amazing record on TO's caused this season.  Run and jump is going to new levels.  Gotta love it.  Congrats to the Titans on a share of the CCIW crown.

[mactitan]

In the MOP debate:
I think if I was voting, I would ask myself, "If I was going to start a team, who would I pick first? Who is the one player I would want on my team before anyone else?"  For me, it would be Solari, but I speak with no authority on the specifics of the debate because she's the only candidate I've seen play.  I think though, that the question is still valid.

[RogK]

I'm hoping for a tie in the MOP vote, mactitan, because we have such excellent candidates.
Congrats to Illinois Wesleyan, Carthage, Millikin and Elmhurst for securing the four spots in the upcoming CCIW tournament. Saturday's results will set the matchups.
Christina Solari led IWU with 16 pts, 8 rebs and 6 steals (pretty good work for 26:00!) as they beat Augie 79-40. Holly Harvey and Sarah Cotner each scored 10 in 18:00. The hapless Vikings were led by Lani Kasten's 12 pts and 8 rebs, but committed 40 turnovers.
The other Vikings (NP) also endured a difficult evening, getting drilled 86-39 at Carthage. The Lady Reds' Rosie Dorn tallied 17 pts in 25:00 and Heather Gilmore netted 13 pts in her 19:00, adding 3 steals and 4 assists. Allison Groessl scored a quick dozen and had 3 steals in 13:00. Kamauria Acree scored 20 for North Park.
Elmhurst sprinted out to a 44-20 advantage and defeated North Central 79-67. Five Bluejays and four Cardinals were in double figures. Lyndsie Long led the Jays with 18 pts (becoming EC's all-time leading scorer), 9 rebs and 4 assists. Jackie Errico had 19 pts, 9 rebs (but 7 TOs) for NC.

[RogK]

I saw the 84-64 Millikin win at Wheaton.
Before things got started, there was a nice little ceremony for the sole Thunder senior, Sarah Jones. She received several ovations for her full four year career in the Wheaton orange, blue and white.
I've seen her play about 17 or 20 games and in each one, she devoted maximum energy for her team, which is always a pleasure to see.
Last night was the 100th game of her NCAA career and she made sure to include a few of her familiar kamikaze drives to the basket. One such drive brought her teammates and fans to their feet as she crashed loudly to the floor while her layup went in. She finished her final home game with 13 pts, 8 rebounds and 3 assists.
Elisabeth Potts topped the Thunder with 14 pts, to go along with 6 rebs, 3 assists and a pair of steals. Lindsey Brenneman was not at full strength.
Wheaton did not, however, have any luck containing Millikin's Elise Wildman, who poured in 26 pts, had 12 rebs, 3 assists and two blocks. The Big Blue, wearing pink and white, also got efficiently productive games from Cecily Aldridge (18, 8, 3 steals) and Julia Robert (19 pts). Beth Wellbaum calmly ran the Millikin attack for all 40 minutes, picking up 6 assists and 8 rebounds along the way and making few mistakes.