WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Backseat Driver]

Returning '10-'11 all-CCIW performers (http://cciw.org/news/2011/2/24/WBB_0224112748.aspx):

First Team
Laura Karsten, Wheaton (G)

Second Team
Lindsey Brenneman, Wheaton (G)
Diana Jacklin, Carthage (C)
Olivia Lett, Illinois Wesleyan (G)
Meghan Merklein, Elmhurst (F)

Third Team
Brooke Olson, Wheaton (G)
Megan Ney, Elmhurst (C)
Julia Robert, Millikin (G)

It makes sense to add Kamauria Acree from North Park to the list as well, a 2nd team performer as a freshman in '09-'10.

[RogK]

I'm thinking Millikin may do alright lowpost scoring-wise despite the graduation of Wildman. Consider these 2FG pcts from last season : Heather Pruemer .566, Nikki Tipsword .529, Cecily Aldridge .507, Crystal Zeigler .475.

[gordonmann]

The discussion of individual Titans who did very well against strong opponents brings to mind this : when IWU beat Kean at Kean's gym, Britt Hasselbring had 15 pts (efficiently - 5/7 FG, 5/6 FT), 15 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists, 0 TO. Not bad.

I was at that game. The combination of her play and Kean's inability to execute its offense down the stretch (partly a credit to IWU's defense) is why the Titans beat the Cougars.

[Backseat Driver]

Wheaton's roster: http://athletics.wheaton.edu/roster.aspx?path=wbball&;

[RogK]

And the Bluejays...
http://www.elmhurstbluejays.com/roster.aspx?path=wbball
Ten freshmen.

[RogK]

Meghan Merklein and Megan Ney have proven to be very reliably good at both ends of the court and are certain to play 25 - 30 minutes per game. Beyond them, though, a lot of Elmhurst's playing time should be up for grabs. Among the returning guards and small forwards, most of them excel at one or two aspects of the game but need improvement in another. Are any of the freshmen good enough to earn significant minutes immediately? And can any of them (regardless of height) hit threes, to punish defenses that sag in reaction to Merklein's and Ney's strong scoring abilities in the lane?
A reinvigorated Elmhurst could improve on last year's 5-9 CCIW record (they beat NC twice, Aug, NP and Wheaton once).
What are your views on the Jays, Backseat Driver?

[iwu70]

In looking at IWU's pre-CCIW schedule, I truly doubt that many teams have as tough a set of games as the Titans do this year.  That is one rough, tough road thru 'til early January and the beginnings of the CCIW schedule. 

[Gregory Sager]

NPU's non-conference schedule (2010-11 records in parentheses):

November 15 Benedictine (16-10)
November 18 @ Franklin (19-7) *   
November 19 vs. DePauw (25-4) or Albion (14-13) *   
November 25 @ Colorado College (11-15) %   
November 26 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson - Florham (9-16) %   
December 3 Purdue-Calumet   (17-13)
December 6 Greenville   (13-12)
December 12 @ Kalamazoo (5-20)
December 17 Dominican (20-7)
December 20 @ Aurora (6-19)
December 30 Chicago (25-4)

* Franklin College Tip-Off Tournament
% Colorado College Thanksgiving Classic

Looks like Amanda Reese has lined up some solid non-con competition for NPU. Interestingly, Colorado College faces NPU early in the season right after it hosts both Elmhurst and Augustana in another tournament.

[Backseat Driver]

Meghan Merklein and Megan Ney have proven to be very reliably good at both ends of the court and are certain to play 25 - 30 minutes per game. Beyond them, though, a lot of Elmhurst's playing time should be up for grabs. Among the returning guards and small forwards, most of them excel at one or two aspects of the game but need improvement in another. Are any of the freshmen good enough to earn significant minutes immediately? And can any of them (regardless of height) hit threes, to punish defenses that sag in reaction to Merklein's and Ney's strong scoring abilities in the lane?
A reinvigorated Elmhurst could improve on last year's 5-9 CCIW record (they beat NC twice, Aug, NP and Wheaton once).
What are your views on the Jays, Backseat Driver?

Elmhurst made 95 threes last year and shot just 27% from beyond the arc, both numbers were by far the lowest in the league. With such a talented and experienced inside duo, the Bluejays really need someone to knock down some outside shots if they want to move up in the standings. Meghan Merklein actually went 3-5 from beyond the arc at Wheaton last February, interestingly enough. With so many freshmen on the roster, it's tough to get a read on them at this point, but I think they'll be in the running for a conference tourney spot.

[RogK]

The more I think about Millikin (9-5 in CCIW last yr), the better they look for this season, even though Wildman is gone.
I am assuming that Cecily Aldridge and Kaitlin Brassil are fully healthy, along with the rest of their roster. If anyone knows of injuries, tell us!
Brassil missed all of last season, but is back on the roster this year; she shot .383 threes in 09-10. Aldridge missed a chunk of last season, but if she's back to 09-10 form (she made .375 threes then), she'll be one of the best small forwards in the league.
Heather Pruemer, a strong post player, was with the team only part of last year and could be a starter this year.
Three other seniors, Wellbaum, Zeigler and Robert, are excellent players, their talents well-known.
Juniors Olya Cholewick (can play point and 2 guard) and Nikki Tipsword (sharp-shooting tall forward) are both very good.
Any of these eight players are good enough to be starters.
And surely some of the younger players are pretty good, if inexperienced at the varsity level.
I realize that any player's senior season is not necessarily her best season, but Coach Kerans usually gets the best from her players.

[bblover]

To all the CCIW women basketball followers, I am back on the sidelines as an assistant (again). Having a great time, but unfortunately, with a 30-game season, I will not be watching many CCIW games this season. I will miss both the games and the discussions. Sounds like, for the first time in a long time, IWU is not a lock to go to the tournament. With more parity, it should be quite exciting. Have fun.

[RogK]

The CCIW coaches did their annual standings forecast :
http://www.cciw.org/news/2011/10/26/WBB_1026115740.aspx
Carthage - IWU - Wheaton - Millikin - Elmhurst - North Park - North Central - Augustana.
Each coach ranked the other 7 teams, not her/his own.
I can't dispute the order other than Millikin 4th; I see them as 2nd place.
But, it would be more fun if all 8 teams finish at 7-7 in conference play. This could be accomplished if all 56 conference games ended with the visiting team winning 101-98 in OT.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Not sure how happy fans would be if they NEVER saw a home team victory!

I sure hope the Titans will be prepared for the onslaught.  I've got a feeling a whole lot of teams are thinking "payback time"!

[RogK]

I think you are correct, Mr Ypsi, regarding a wish for "payback," at least among a few of the other CCIW coaches.
However, a win against this year's Titans team has no relevance in terms of making up for losing to IWU during previous seasons. IWU's recent successes are "in the books" and cannot be altered.

[Gregory Sager]

I sure hope the Titans will be prepared for the onslaught.  I've got a feeling a whole lot of teams are thinking "payback time"!

On the contrary, Chuck, I suspect that the other seven head coaches, their staffs, and their players are all focused upon maximizing their potential and building solid teams that can compete for the CCIW title. Yes, Illinois Wesleyan has been the top dog over the past four seasons, but that's not long enough to form the sort of dynastic rule that engenders the focus of every other program in the league (think NCC in men's cross-country, or Wheaton in men's soccer prior to a half-dozen years ago).

The CCIW is a strong league that has a couple of other programs that've had long-term success (Millikin and Wheaton) and another that has become a legitimate regional power under Tim Bernero in Carthage. It is not a league that revolves around one team, and I'm sure that Mia Smith would be the first to agree.

IWU will mind its business, the other seven teams will mind theirs, and we'll see what happens.