WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwu70]

RogerK, thanks for the assessment on next year.  Yes, lots of good talent moving on via graduation.  While that is surely true for the Titans, I personally don't think there's going to be much of a change and that the Titans will again be very good, formidable with the "run and jump" and with much good offense again next year.  Basically four front line, current year rotation players are returning -- Hasselbring, Lett, Gardner and Solari.   Gardner and Solari, if all goes well, move into starting positions and you add Shelby Jackson . . . and things look very strong to me again.  We all thought it would be impossible to replace Christina Solari, but look at the season Arlis Stacey had.  I would expect similar re-loading next year, and actually Gardner is more of a scorer than Hope Schulte was this past year.  No doubt, Harvey, Stacey, Schulte and Preston are big losses, but I do have confidence that the 2011-12 Titans will be equally strong again next year.  We don't know yet who amongst the non-rotation, practice squad players (current freshmen and sophomores), or the yet unknown recruits will step up and into the starting positions or top-flight rotation.  Mia Smith no doubt has some ideas already.  Stay tuned. 

[iwumichigander]

RogerK, thanks for the assessment on next year.  Yes, lots of good talent moving on via graduation.  While that is surely true for the Titans, I personally don't think there's going to be much of a change and that the Titans will again be very good, formidable with the "run and jump" and with much good offense again next year.  Basically four front line, current year rotation players are returning -- Hasselbring, Lett, Gardner and Solari.   Gardner and Solari, if all goes well, move into starting positions and you add Shelby Jackson . . . and things look very strong to me again.  We all thought it would be impossible to replace Christina Solari, but look at the season Arlis Stacey had.  I would expect similar re-loading next year, and actually Gardner is more of a scorer than Hope Schulte was this past year.  No doubt, Harvey, Stacey, Schulte and Preston are big losses, but I do have confidence that the 2011-12 Titans will be equally strong again next year.  We don't know yet who amongst the non-rotation, practice squad players (current freshmen and sophomores), or the yet unknown recruits will step up and into the starting positions or top-flight rotation.  Mia Smith no doubt has some ideas already.  Stay tuned. 

Agree.  Titans should be able to reload from the existing roster.  Recruits and/or a transfer could be value adds (Another Olivia Lett please!) Titans continued post season success can't hurt recruiting efforts.

[gordonmann]

While I'd love to see some CCIW team(s) play that frenetic style, I realize that D3 can't give athletic scholarships like NAIA can, so it's difficult to assemble a group of 15 or 17 very athletic players, if a coach wanted to try that style.

From what I understand, Muhlenberg (D3 school in Pennsylvania) tried this system for a season or so.  They didn't have the athletes to make it work and have subsequently become one of the better defensive teams in the region.

[RogK]

Thanks for that info, gordonmann.
I checked their site and it was in '03-'04 and '04-'05 when they had a bunch of high scoring games.
The last time I saw Olivet Naz this year, a St Xavier fan seated next to me said it was kind of dumb for ONU to use their 11th - 15th best players almost as much as their best 5. That's was a fair point, but I replied that their best 5 couldn't play nearly as hard over 25-30 minutes as they do for 13 or 15 minutes. Also, ONU has been using that style long enough that all of the current roster knew exactly what they were signing up for when they joined the team.
By the way, ONU scatters its best players among the three 5-player "shifts,"
although they will play the best five together late in a tight game.
I don't know how well it would work if they just played their 10 best in two alternating shifts. The frenetic pace might be too exhausting, game after game, for individuals playing 20 minutes of it instead of 13 or 15.

[bbaskets]

Congratulations to Jackie Errico (NCC), Kelly Brooks (Wheaton) and the 15 other CCIW student-athletes from various sports that were honored with the 2011 Merle Chapman Leadership award!!!  The award identifies the student-athletes from the eight member institutions that best exemplify the traits that Chapman displayed and encouraged during his three-plus decades of service as teacher, coach and mentor to the athletes, coaches and administrators of the CCIW. Those traits are loyalty, enthusiasm, and commitment to academic, athletic and personal excellence, leadership and sportsmanship.  A wonderful honor for these student-athletes to achieve.

http://www.cciw.org/news/2011/4/13/Gen._0413112716.aspx

[Just Bill]

CCIW grad gets MWC job:

http://www.midwestconference.org/news/2011/4/14/WBB_0414110156.aspx

[thunder38]

looks like Wheaton may have settled their coaching issue after all...rumors swirling that Coach Baker is announcing her retirement.  Kent Madsen more than proved his capabilities as the head coach this year so I would feel the program is in good hands but congratulations to Coach Baker on an absolutely outstanding career at the helm of the Thunder program.

[RogK]

Baker's retirement is official:
http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2011/5/2/WBB_coach_baker.aspx?path=wbball
She wraps up a very successful career. I wish her a happy retirement.
The last sentence of that release says a national search will be conducted for her replacement.
Probably could confine that to Illinois. Maybe the '10-'11 CCIW Coach of the Year would be interested in the job. I hope Kent Madsen's gender isn't a problem.

[thunder38]

i would sincerely hope that the search is only a matter of formality.  i think wheaton would be making a mistake passing on kent madsen the year after winning the coach of the year.  not only would it be a huge loss for the women's basketball program but also the baseball program where he is an assistant.  one would think that if wheaton passes on madsen that he would be a hot commodity for other head coach openings.

[RogK]

Recent star player Joanna Conner has been hired as assistant coach for Millikin :
https://www.millikin.edu/sites/athletics/Pages/AthleticNews.aspx?ID=8587
Dick Marshall got his wish for revised duties; he'll be a "gym coach," working primarily to develop young players.

[thunder38]

And the coaching search is over at Wheaton.  Kent Madsen has been named the head coach.  Very wise pick as the girls really bought in last year and it keeps a seemless transition following Coach Baker.

[RogK]

Congratulations to Coach Madsen!
Coaches are allowed to spectate at the Summer League next month at Elmhurst College, so we will expect Kent to be there on a nightly basis.
Direct coaching is not allowed, although telepathy may be used.

[RogK]

I think it's now official that the women's 19' 9'' three point line is gone:
http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Resources/Latest+News/2011/May/Rules+panel+approves+restricted+area+arc+for+Division+I
Using the 20' 9" line may reduce the shooting pcts a little, but it should make calls easier for the refs visually.
That link refers to some other possible changes.
The suggestion of a 35 second shot clock for women is really awful. Stalling stinks. If anything, the men should go to a 30 second clock.

[Wydown Blvd.]

I think it's now official that the women's 19' 9'' three point line is gone:
http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Resources/Latest+News/2011/May/Rules+panel+approves+restricted+area+arc+for+Division+I
Using the 20' 9" line may reduce the shooting pcts a little, but it should make calls easier for the refs visually.
That link refers to some other possible changes.
The suggestion of a 35 second shot clock for women is really awful. Stalling stinks. If anything, the men should go to a 30 second clock.

But I believe the combination of the 10 second backcourt and the 30 second clock would create a sloppier women's game. I don't support the ten second backcourt, but if I did, I would definitely recommend the 35 second change as well. We'll see how it tests during the experimental period.

I didn't see mention of the floor marking changes for the elimination of the women's three point line. Is there a deadline for the basketball courts to change their markings or is the dual three point line going to stay on most courts but just not be utilized? I guess that only really factors in for all-womens D3 schools...

[Wydown Blvd.]

There is a little bit of talk about the rules change on the MIAA women's board as well. Wish we actually utilized the multi-regional section for big news like this