WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Steve]

The loss of Jones and the emergence of Ippel should make this a very interesting matchup. Millikin proved that they can go on the road and beat good teams.

[d-mac]

And then there were FOUR... or really eight!
This weekend... the best of the best are crowded
But before then... we tell you who we think are the best... on "http://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville">Hoopsville"!!!

Eight teams in the nation can see where the road finishes. But who is going to get past the final two exits?

Millikin took out Calvin in a hard fought battle... to earn their way to the Women's Final Four. So is this Illinois team ready to go? Coach Lori Kerans will let us know. Her #6 ranked Big Blue Ladies are the lowest ranked team remaining, but still battle tested and ready for their semi-final game with Southern Maine.

The #1 ranked Scranton Lady Royals sure had a tough road to drive as they took on last year's championship finalist, Bowdoin College in the Elite Eight. Scranton showed why they are the #1 team in the nation, knocking off the Polar Bears. So do the Lady Royals have anything left in the tank for Randolph-Macon in the semi-finals? Coach Mike Strong answer that question and if that #1 ranking adds any pressure.

On the men's side, Rochester is still marching... even though mid-way through the season, most thought they had no chance. But their star player returned... and they knocked off not only last year's Final Four finalist Amherst in the Sweet 16... but then took out a suddenly hot SUNY-Potsdam team in the Elite Eight. Now, Rochester has been here before, and Coach Mike Neer has the experience. But how does his team prepare for a tough Final Four match-up with Calvin.

Calvin - people warned us about. They are the only team left in this men's tournament that has played every game to get here. First Wheaton, then Aurora, finally Mississippi College fell to the side of the Knights. Then came MIAA conference foe - and champion Albion. Which Calvin disposed of 60-52... to take their drive to Salem... for the first time since they won the national title in 2000.
So, what will Coach Kevin Vande Streek use from that last title run to help his team get past Rochester and into the title game? We will ask him that and much more (including if he saw Albion's buzzer beater Friday night? Jared did!).

And then there is York College (PA)... 11-15 last year... flew under many radars most of the year... and now they are in the first Final Four in the school's history.
Coach Jeff Gamber has traveled to Salem before, but never with a team playing. Now, after 28 years... he in Salem as a participant. But, this trip is completely new to Coach Gamber and the Spartans, who until this year had never won a NCAA Tournament game. We will talk to the coach of York and see if he has yet to come down from the high of beating Kings on Saturday to lock up the trip to Salem.

So come join us online and LIVE from 8-10PM Eastern!

[Steve]

Well, Millikin beat my hometown team, USM, 66-60 to make it to the Championship game.  Congratulations to Millikin.

[Allen M. Karon]

Watching the national title game on CSTV--

Looking good for the Millikin Big Blue--Millikin up by 20 with 7:26 to go.

I'll switch back to Mark Simon for the post-game show, as my internet connection is such that the internet audio is not in synch with the live TV feed.

[Allen M. Karon]

Congratulations to the Millikin Big Blue--

NCAA DIII Women's Basketball National Champions.

Lindsay Ippel gets my vote for Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament.

Millikin is a well-deserving national champion.

Congrats also to the CCIW-- your conference has always been respected in men's hoop-- women's hoop can now be added to the list.

[Steve]

CCIW is having a trememdous year in women's sports.  Wheaton national champs in soccer, Millikin in basketball.  It's great to see.

[Allen M. Karon]

All tournament team--

Megan Myles-- USM
Meghan Silva-- Randolph-Macon
Lindsay Ippel-- Millikin
Audrey Minnott-- Millikin

Most outstanding player of tournament:  Joanna Conner, Millikin.  (The NCAA's pick for MOP is also a great pick, in my opinion.)

[Steve]

Allen-any idea about All-Americans?

[diehardfan]

Congrats Millikin!!! Wow, what a great run! And a national championship blowout? Amazing. Thanks for bringing the conference a lot of respect and a lot for us to be proud of.  

I bet that voter that incessantly voted for Millikin when no one else was is feeling pretty good about himself right now. http://discus.d3hoops.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":-)" BORDER=0>

I joked earlier this year that wheaton's respect could be seen with a microscope... looks like Millikin's newfound respect can be seen with a big huge national championship trophy!

Man, it's crazy to think how many returning players there are on Wheaton and Millikin, and even crazier to realize that the CCIW MOP wasn't even from the national championship team. Great basketball to come in this league next year!

Have a great offseason, and take some time off to celebrate and enjoy this Millikin players... like all spring, summer, and fall... http://discus.d3hoops.com/discus/clipart/proud.gif" border=0>

[Mr. Ypsi]

Way to go, Millikin!!!

Surprisingly, being from IWU, I didn't even gag saying that!

Posters who know far more than I, does the CCIW have hopes of moving beyond the men's NCAC (i.e., Witt/Woo and the '7' dwarfs); we've got the national champion, a Wheaton team that might have made it to the Final Four (and has the FRESHMAN CCIW MOP), but do we have anything else?  (I know IWU was the pool A team only a couple of years ago, but was that just a fluke, or do we really have a CONFERENCE?)

In other words, are we moving beyond #1 Millikin, #2 Wheaton, #3-8 who cares, to an actual power conference in women's hoops?

[Gregory Sager]

Congrats, Big Blue!

[Allen M. Karon]

D3Hoops.com All Americans on the women's side should be posted later this week-- Mark Simon said on the pre-game show just before the national championship game that the voters voting on these players wanted a few more days to think about their choices.

[Steve]

Trenz and Conner are both third team All-Americans.  Trenz is only the third freshman All-American in D3hoops history.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Steve (since you seem to be the only one consistently here!),

DO we seem to be moving towards a national conference, or are we stuck at the big 2 and the little 6?

[Lurker]

cabonney:

A team other than Wheaton or Millikin won the conference as recently as 2002-03 (IWU).  And this year IWU lost in OT at Millikin in the regular season and beat Wheaton in the tournament.  Wheaton and Millikin are clearly the powers, but I do not think the CCIW is quite a "big 2, little 6."