WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

bblover · February 16, 2011, 12:38:39 PM

A fun evening for Elmhurst fans yesterday. Elmhurst, with a nice win, kept its very slim hopes alive for a CCIW playoff bid. With this being the final Elmhurst home game, the evening began with the honoring of 4 seniors, Claire Gentry, Rashida Joiner, CJ Harris and Kelsey Monroe. Due to a knee injury that never got completely right, Claire was denied what would have undoubtedly been a productive senior year. Joiner, who transferred to Elmhurst early in her college career was a frequent starter for Elmhurst, a solid point guard who was not afraid of defensive pressure. For those that have watched CJ Harris for the past four years, one saw an amazing transformation. CJ turned into quite a ballplayer. She started about one-third of Elmhurst games this season. By her final season, she was accomplished rebounder, especially on the offensive side of the glass. Finally, Elmhurst said good bye to Kelsey Monroe. If you polled every player in the CCIW that has had Monroe guard her, I believe that most everyone would rank Kelsey as the best defensive player that they came up against. She has a way of being glued to her defensive assignment. Combine that with amazingly quick (but quite small) hands, she was able to deflect or steal many, many passes. If there were an all-defensive CCIW team, she would be a top vote getter.

On to the game. The first half saw both teams look a little lethargic. The biggest lead by either was 5 points (by NC); for most of the period, NC was in the lead. At the half, the score was 29-27 in favor of NC. In the first 20 minutes, 25 fouls were called and many free throws were shot. NC hit a very credible 16 of 19 from the line. They also made 3 threes (3 for 7) as Elmhurst lost track of key shooters a couple of times. However, NC was a paltry 2 for 14 on twos. Sophie Newson led the way for NC with 15 points, including 8 for 9 from the charity stripe. Elmhurst hit just one of 10 threes and was not that much better close in. Mitchell along with seniors Harris and Monroe helped keep Elmhurst close.

The second half was more of the same, at least for the first 15 minutes. NC seemed to be in control, but could not build a commanding lead. NC was up 8 with just over 7 minutes left. They still led by 7 (62-55) with 4.5 minutes. It seemed like it would be enough, but Elmhurst's bigs thought otherwise. Pushing the ball inside, Elmhurst scored on nearly every possession at the end, a nice combination of inside shots and/or free throws. Elmhurst also dialed up the pressure on the defensive end. In those final 4.5 minutes. Elmhurst outscored NC 13 to 1. Ney and Merklein combined for just 5 points in the first half, but scored 29 of Elmhurst's 41 in the second half, much of that from the inside.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 16, 2011, 03:37:42 PM

Week 3 Regional Rankings are out: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2011/02/16/ncaa-2011-regional-rankings-week-3/

BleedBlue4Life · February 16, 2011, 06:49:33 PM

Unless I'm reading the tiebreaker rules incorrectly, Millikin just needs a win over Carthage to secure the #3 seed, not necessarily needing to finish 2-1 . Even if MU went 1-2, a win over Carthage would put both teams at 8-6, but MU would hold a 2-0 record over Carthage. However, a win over Carthage is definitely necessary.

bblover · February 17, 2011, 10:18:57 AM

Three key games left, I believe. Elmhurst travels to Wheaton on Saturday; Elmhurst beat them handily at home, but Wheaton definitely had an off day. It will be much tougher for Elmhurst to win at Wheaton, but you never know. Wheaton does not really have much to play for in their final regular season game. Win or lose, they will undoubtedly be the second seed. Meanwhile, what is going on with Millikin; they have not looked good in recent games. Carthage should be the clear favorite as Millikin travels to Wisconsin on Saturday. So, Tuesday's Elmhurst at Millikin, the make up game due to the snowstorm on Groundhog day, might just be a critical battle for the 4th spot. Interesting.

Out_Of_My_Kitchen · February 17, 2011, 03:49:52 PM

Milikin has been a bit of a Jeckle and Hyde team all year. They can look great one game, then really fall off the Earth the next. Dangerous team in the CCIW tournament if they make it? Absolutely. They have one of the best post players in the conference and experienced guards. I wouldn't doubt they could win two games and sneak into the NCAAs.

Which brings me to my next point. Would the conference be for IWU losing in the conference title game to get two teams in or have a IWU which allows only one team in, but strengthens IWU chances of hosting?

I think I know where IWU stands on the topic, but any other opinions?

iwumichigander · February 18, 2011, 10:50:18 AM

Quote from: Out_Of_My_Kitchen on February 17, 2011, 03:49:52 PM
Milikin has been a bit of a Jeckle and Hyde team all year. They can look great one game, then really fall off the Earth the next. Dangerous team in the CCIW tournament if they make it? Absolutely. They have one of the best post players in the conference and experienced guards. I wouldn't doubt they could win two games and sneak into the NCAAs.

Which brings me to my next point. Would the conference be for IWU losing in the conference title game to get two teams in or have a IWU which allows only one team in, but strengthens IWU chances of hosting?

I think I know where IWU stands on the topic, but any other opinions?

Usually, teams with 6 or more losses have little chance getting into NCAA tournament. The exception - win the Automatic Qualifier (AQ) in those conferences which receive an AQ (CCIW does).

The above the only way I see conference getting two teams in.

Hosting - as IWU hosting CCIW tournament almost a given, a loss in the conference tournament would not likely effect IWU changes of hosting an NCAA 1st round. The big unknown as far as IWU --- How does this year's committee (given the national tournament will be played at the Shirk again this season) view IWU as a host team in the early rounds?

thunder38 · February 18, 2011, 11:01:25 AM

Can anyone clarify...if Millikin beats Carthage tomorrow does it matter what they do against Elmhurst as to rather they're the three or the four?

I was shocked at the Millikin team I saw on Wednesday night. Wheaton's post defense was the best I've seen all season during the first seven minutes, of which Millikin was held scoreless, but Millikin seemed to just give up on the post game after that and decided just to shoot threes from anywhere. Congrats to Julia Robert on breaking the Millikin single season 3-point record, but jacking up 16 3's a night the way she did Wednesday night, I'm not surprised she broke it.

Speaking of 3-point shooting...what's the single season conference record for 3 point percentage because Laura Karsten is most likely close to breaking it. Shooting anywhere near 40% from 3 is impressive but shooting 50% on the season and 57% in conference play is unbelievable. I think at this point it's between Karsten and Stacey Arlis for Player of the Year.

bblover · February 18, 2011, 11:21:39 AM

I believe (emphasis on believe) that if Millikin beats Carthage, they will end up with the 3rd seed and Carthage the 4th seed, regardless of what happens when Elmhurst visits Millikin next week (Millikin's then 2-0 record vs. Carthage wins any tiebreaker). If Elmhurst loses at Wheaton and Millikin loses at Carthage, then Carthage will get the 3rd seed and Millikin will get the 4th seed. If Millikin loses to Carthage, and Elmhurst beats Wheaton, then the fourth seed will be determined by the Elmhurst at Millikin game (if Elmhurst wins, Elmhurst wins the second level of the tiebreaker; season series would be 1-1).

thunder38 · February 18, 2011, 12:34:22 PM

I also believe that tiebreaker scenario is correct.

RogK · February 18, 2011, 01:15:05 PM

thunder38illini, the CCIW weekly notes
http://www.cciw.org/custompages/CCIW_Links/WBasketball/Notes/1011/WBB_Notes17.pdf
list Wheaton's Amy Russell (1993) holding the conference games only record for 3FG pct with .586 (17/29).
Laura Karsten has done a wide array of things superbly this season. She has as good a chance as anyone for Most Outstanding Player. Whomever IWU nominates also could take it. Players from other teams are up there, too. But, it probably should go to someone from the winningest teams.

thunder38 · February 18, 2011, 03:53:45 PM

Quote from: RogK on February 18, 2011, 01:15:05 PM
thunder38illini, the CCIW weekly notes
http://www.cciw.org/custompages/CCIW_Links/WBasketball/Notes/1011/WBB_Notes17.pdf
list Wheaton's Amy Russell (1993) holding the conference games only record for 3FG pct with .586 (17/29).

Yikes! Thanks for that Rog. Russell was 17/29 but Karsten is 35-62!! She'd have to shoot 4/4 or 5/6 from deep on Saturday to break Russell's record. There almost need to be a separate demarcation for that.

RogK · February 18, 2011, 04:32:54 PM

The best small college 3FG shooter I can remember, for accuracy and quantity, was a 5'10" forward at NAIA St Xavier, Angie Brown.
In '06-'07, she made 120/228 (.526) in 32 games. That's 3.75/7.13 per game average. She made 24/26 FTs (.923) and averaged 2.0 assists per game. Not bad, eh?

billys · February 18, 2011, 05:51:44 PM

Quote from: RogK on February 18, 2011, 01:15:05 PM
thunder38illini, the CCIW weekly notes
http://www.cciw.org/custompages/CCIW_Links/WBasketball/Notes/1011/WBB_Notes17.pdf
list Wheaton's Amy Russell (1993) holding the conference games only record for 3FG pct with .586 (17/29).
Laura Karsten has done a wide array of things superbly this season. She has as good a chance as anyone for Most Outstanding Player. Whomever IWU nominates also could take it. Players from other teams are up there, too. But, it probably should go to someone from the winningest teams.

Is that a 1 make per game minimum to qualify?
Seems like a really low threshold to be considered the all-time leader. Kind of an injustice to the kids that have made 40 or 50 and shot a very high percentage.

BleedBlue4Life · February 18, 2011, 06:49:17 PM

Congrats to Julia Robert on breaking MU's school record for made 3 pt goals in a single season. Wednesday night was an anomaly for MU in a lot of ways, but certainly Robert putting up 16 3's is not her typical game. In fact, if you check the stats, you'll see she puts up just under 8 per game.

RogK · February 18, 2011, 06:55:13 PM

Apparently, the only qualification for the league record is at least 16 attempts. So, if someone hits 10/16 or 10/17, they have the new league record.
The qualification for current league leader is 1 make per game, by the way.
That hypothetical player who made 10/17 would set the new league record, but would not be the league leader for the season.