WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Backseat Driver]

Holy cow. IWU just absolutely blasted through the first two rounds 

Congrats to both teams on advancing to the second weekend. Big win for Carthage @ #4 Depauw. The Lady Reds seem to have found another level that they didn't reach during the conference season. Keep up the good work Reds and Titans.

[iwumichigander]

Holy cow. IWU just absolutely blasted through the first two rounds 

Congrats to both teams on advancing to the second weekend. Big win for Carthage @ #4 Depauw. The Lady Reds seem to have found another level that they didn't reach during the conference season. Keep up the good work Reds and Titans.

A good night, again, for entire CCIW as Wheaton, North entral and IWU Men all chalk up W's too

[iwu70]

Congrats to Carthage women on a big big win, taking down DePauw on their floor.  Not a small thing.  Like winning at DeVos!!! 

My TITANS are dominating.  Another bigtime, too easy win tonight over Thomas More, ahead by 30 before half time. 

Melissa Gardner was lights out tonight -- 7 for 7 from treyland, finishing with 25.  Run and Jump must have been telling as Thomas More had bundles of TOs.  Titans are on a bigtime roll now.  Look out everyone.  Mt. Union up next.  Hoping for a Shirk Center Sectional.  . . .and a sectional final vs. Carthage.  Why not?  That game, given the three already played, would certainly be sectional final worthy.  Just say'in.  (Carthage plays Centre next, who took down Wash U). 

Go CCIW, GO TITANS!!!

IWU70

[Hoosier Titan]

The IWU-Thomas More game went pretty much as predicted:  the combination of a grueling, late game last night and the loss of yet another player meant that the Saints were pretty debilitated.  The Titans jumped out to a quick lead that they never came close to losing.  Melissa Gardner hit all seven 3's she attempted, and went 8/9.  Alison Long, the star last night for TM against Louisiana College, scored 14 and could still hit open threes.  A game performance from a team that was simply stretched too thin.  They are a quality program, and the folks at Thomas More were great hosts.

The biggest drama for the IWU fans came from laptops, tablets, and smartphones as we followed the men's progress in Hope.  By the end of the women's game we were huddled around computer screens to see the men defeat Hope, willing each free throw into the net. 

Not the Sweet 16 grouping anyone  would have predicted, I think:  IWU, Carthage, Centre, and Mount Union.  Who is likely to host?  Bloomington would seem as central a place as any, with good, proven facilities and a local airport.  We'll know tomorrow.

[gordonmann]

Mount Union is within 500 miles of the other three teams so they can all drive. Or at least the NCAA doesn't have to pay for a flight. My guess is that's who hosts.

[pbrooks3]

Mount Union is within 500 miles of the other three teams so they can all drive. Or at least the NCAA doesn't have to pay for a flight. My guess is that's who hosts.

When we will know? Sunday night during Hoopsville or before?

[gordonmann]

It'll be before the show, usually mid or early afternoon.

[pbrooks3]

It's close to 500 miles from IWU to Mt. Union - just under.

[sumfun]

Centre might be more centrally located, but IWU and the Shirk will probably get the nod to host.

[Hoosier Titan]

Gordon is right--it comes out at 490+ between the campus addresses of IWU and Mount Union.  Of course, the trip to Bloomington would be much shorter for Carthage.

As an IWU fan who's typing this from Kentucky before starting home, I'd love to see a round at Shirk, but I do understand that's not one of the committee's criteria. 

Besides, should the IWU-Carthage-Fourth-Time-Around-This-Season Matchup occur (no assumptions about the first games!), maybe it would be just as well not at Shirk--IWU both games there this season by a single point.

Whatever...

[Backseat Driver]

Having the sectional at IWU would not only be of great benefit for the Titans, but I think it would be for Carthage as well. Familiar surroundings can only make things easier, though it obviously doesn't guarantee anything.

[gordonmann]

The NCAA tournament bracket now has the sectional hosts. Mount Union gets this one. Amherst, Mary Washington and Chicago get the others.

On the men's side, it's Middlebury, UW-Whitewater, Franklin & Marshall and Wooster.

[iwu70]

Yup, Mt. Union hosting the sectional.  Higher seed gets it.

Warm congrats to Coach Smith and the Titans . . . and to Carthage as well.  Great night for the CCIW. 

Melissa Gardner last night was just in a zone . . . what a line, 8-9 shooting, 7-7 from treyville, and 25 points.  The basket to her must have looked like the ocean.  Great team effort on the defensive side, with everyone chasing and contributing.  Good games by Olivia Lett and Shelby Jackson too.  I think 14 Titans scored. 

Carthage must be playing in such an outstanding way now, too -- to take down Whitewater and DePauw on DP's home court.  Congrats to them.  Two bigtime wins on the first weekend.

IWU70

[Mr. Ypsi]

Just got back from seeing the Titan men beat host Hope, 108-101 in double OT.  The DeVos is such a great venue (I'd seen it empty before, but never with a sell-out crowd!), and the hospitality was so gracious in Holland, that I wouldn't mind a return trip in a couple of weeks - hint, hint!   (Of course, after their great run in recent years, the Hope women didn't even make it into the tourney, so the atmosphere will probably not be quite the same as this past weekend.)

Of course, if the men somehow make it to Salem, I'd REALLY be torn - with no laptop, I might have to just stay home so I could watch both tournaments!

[iwu70]

Ypsi, let's hope the Titans make it to DeVos.  My dream Final Four would be IWU, Chicago, Amherst and George Fox -- three undefeateds vs. our Titans!    Then the place would be jumping!!!   

IWU70