WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwu70]

Another great IWU-CC game tonight, with the Titans winning 68-67 in a barn-burner, with many lead changes, runs by both teams.  My hat is off to Carthage for playing tough, hard, outshooting and out rebounding the Titans, but run and jump, and smart coaching adjustments again led to another IWU win, 68-67.  Lett again a great line, though CC did alot to slow her down.  Her line:  23, 7 RBs, 7 assists.  Very strong games by Solari, Hasselbring and Jackson.  Good coaching and play-calling adjustments to get behind the pressure on Lett at the top of the key.  Strong IWU senior leadership.  Jacklin had 26 and 11 and was just outstanding.  Jacklin and Lett were like two heavyweights trading excellent punches all night, back and forth.  A really great game.  My hat is off to both teams, both coaches -- a game deserving of the title "championship game."

Drive for Five complete -- five outright regular season and CCIW tournament championships in a row.  An amazing achievement in this tough league and with the incredibly tough schedule IWU played this year.  Congrats especially to Coach Mia Smith.  Tremendous job.

The Shirk faithful -- whiners and all -- went to their cars, went to their homes very happy tonight.

Everyone hoping now, of course, for a good seed and perhaps a home game or two as we start the journey through the Dance, yet again.

Again, Carthage is a great team, deserving of a bid for the national tournament.  I hope they get one.  My congratulations to them as well on a very fine season, great play.

IWU70

[Backseat Driver]

Illinois Wesleyan 68
Carthage 67

I tuned in to catch the last few minutes of this game. Carthage had the ball with 13.9 seconds left, drew up a play during a timeout, and then just threw the ball away. It looked like they were trying to get it to Diana Jacklin, but she didn't have time to create space from Olivia Lett before the pass was made and it just trickled out to half court where Britt Hasselbring recovered it and was fouled. She missed both free throws, but that gave Carthage less time and they couldn't get a shot off. Certainly a frustrating ending for the Lady Reds.

Congrats to IWU on the hard-fought victory. I'm sure the Titans will represent the conference well in the tournament once again. It will be interesting to see the pairings, especially with the likelihood of 3 or 4 WIAC teams, plus Chicago and I would think Wash U. as well. IWU could end up with a pretty tough first round draw.

Carthage is a really good team, with a star player in Diana Jacklin, and certainly is a team that could succeed in the tournament, but I just don't think they will even get to the table. Same goes for Wheaton, another team that could compete at the national level, but doesn't have the resume to get selected. The Central Region is just really deep this year.

[iwu70]

BS, yes, no easy outings upcoming in the tournament in the Central Region, esp. with Wash U, UC, and WIAC teams all there.  But, I'd bet few of these teams want to see IWU in their draw either . . . Whitewater, Pointers, WashU and UC, all excellent teams.  Hopefully, Titans will look forward to a rematch with them, and to get a win at this time of year.  No easy route, ever, to the Final Four . . . Hope College this year.  George Fox probably goes undefeated this year . . . at least 'til deep into the tournament.  IWU had to play them last year, too.  Remember the epic comeback?

Carthage was a tough tough opponent tonight.

IWU70

[iwu70]

Perhaps WI-River Falls and Depauw there somewhere in the IWU draw too, could be.  A tough road, but you gotta get it going, for six games . . . play tough D, keep everyone on Olivia Lett's back, have all the role players contribute well, and use run and jump to frustrate most opponents.  Carthage handled it pretty well tonight, but you could see, feel the frustration, see the TOs, at various points in the second half. 

Shelby Jackson had a good game tonight -- also Karen Solari was big in the second half, playing very smart. 

IWU70

[Backseat Driver]

You know, the more I think about, Carthage probably is in the mix for a Pool C. Last week's regional rankings:

1 Chicago 24-0 24-0 (AQ)
2 UW-Stevens Point 20-3 21-4 (AQ)
3 Washington U. 19-3 20-4
4 UW-River Falls 19-5 20-5
5 UW-Whitewater 20-5 20-5
6 Illinois Wesleyan 16-5 20-5  (AQ)

My uneducated guess is that Carthage is 8th, behind UW-Eau Claire. So they would probably be the 5th team from the region to the board. I don't have a good enough understanding of the national picture to have a really strong opinion on Carthage's chances though.

[iwu70]

I sure hope Carthage gets a chance to play more.  They deserve it.  IMHO, they are better than WI-EC.   Central region has alot of good teams, to say the least.

Will be interested to see the draw, to see if IWU hosts a pod the first weekend.  Would be nice, esp. with Shirk such a great place to host a round of the Dance.  We may end up in Wisconsin again, at Ratner in Chicago, or down at Wash U.  All familiar venues for this toughened, seasoned Titan squad.  No doubt you gotta be good on the road to get to the Final Four. 

Fan base here @The Shirk is so good, so that would assure a nice crowd, gate to have IWU host a first round group.  I know the top-seeds normally get to host, if eligible and have the approved facilities.  Guess that argues for UC.  We'll see.  No easy outings in this region from here on out.

IWU70

[Backseat Driver]

I sure hope Carthage gets a chance to play more.  They deserve it.  IMHO, they are better than WI-EC.   Central region has alot of good teams, to say the least.
IWU70

D3hoops has Carthage in it's projected bracket, which is a good sign. It also tells me that if Wheaton had beaten Simpson and had won the CCIW semifinal, the Thunder would be in the tournament.

The mock bracket has IWU playing Simpson at Stevens Point, and Carthage playing Louisiana College at UChicago.

[RogK]

I'd definitely like to see Carthage vs Louisiana College at the Ratner. That'd be a very interesting match-up, with Carthage's strong defense (and good offense) facing an 86 pts/g Louisiana College team.
It still holds true that only 4 teams have beaten Carthage this season. I hope they get in, especially for their fine seniors, who aren't ready to stop playing yet. I didn't see the 68-67 IWU/Carthage game, but it sure appears that iwu70 accurately described it as a barn-burner.

[iwu70]

Sure hope D3hoops.com has it right and that Carthage gets a bid.  They deserve to be in, IMHO. 

Some long trips, tough road games upcoming.  Hope IWU is peaking at the right time, and that the tough, long season will pay dividends here at the stretch run.   Six games to go. . . keep going.

IWU70

[RogK]

Congratulations to IWU and Carthage; here's hoping they meet on March 10.

[Backseat Driver]

Congratulations to Illinois Wesleyan and Carthage. Both teams hitting the road. Success in the tournament is hard to predict, but both teams are capable of making a run.

[Backseat Driver]

FYI, Augie is looking for a new coach: http://ncaamarket.ncaa.org/jobs#/detail/4685929

[RogK]

Hopefully, Coach Endress will "land on her feet" with another coaching job (perhaps in the Quad Cities area if she bought a home there) if that's her wish. She's definitely young enough to make a fresh start at another school.
I just read that job listing and found it (mildly) interesting that the position is called full-time, but on a 10 month schedule. Is that normal at the D3 level? Presumably, the off-months are what, July and August? Do coaches scout summer leagues or AAU games all summer? Just wondering.

[RogK]

An odd tidbit for you Titan fans to chew on : Friday's opponent Maryville twice this season held the opposition scoreless. What?
Sorry, just two forfeits. Their stats cover only 25 games, but their record is 21-6.

[Naperick]

Congrats to IWU and Carthage on their D3 tourney berths!  Both are deserving.  Good luck to both teams!