WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[dansand]

Here's a rundown of Mark Beinborn's first recruiting class at Augustana:

http://www.augustana.edu/x41277.xml

[RogK]

dansand, that looks like a good set of new players for Augie. Coach Beinborn is no doubt eager for October 15 to arrive, so he can start implementing his ideas with this new roster. There's even a newcomer from north of the border (Edmonton). I just got back last night from 6 days in Toronto (pronounced more like "Trawno" by them). An example of how nice Canadians are : the official checkout time at my hotel was noon, but they let me leave before 11:00 a.m.
iwu70, I think you should add Colleen McMahon to your list of Titans from whom good things can definitely be expected. And, keep an eye on Kasey Reaber, assuming she's recovered fully from injury.

[iwu70]

Looks like a strong Augie recruitment class.

Yes, RogK, I totally blanked out on Colleen.  She's a terrific player, returning starter.  She could have a very big year with much improvement over past campaigns.  I loved the way she played in the national championship season.  I'm looking forward to seeing how the new pieces all come together and how the returning starters and key reserves have worked hard and improved over the off-season.  I'm sure Mia has them working with some pretty specific areas of proposed improvement highlighted.

Would be interested in proposed line-ups for the new go 'round.  I would guess:

Lexi Baltes -- PG
Melissa Gardner --SG
Michele Bilek/Whitney Scurlock - 3
Colleen McMahon - 4
Shelby Jackson - C 

Lots of others back, newbies etc. to make contributions, work into the overall 8-9 player rotation, including Kasey Reaber, with much emphasis again on defense and "run and jump."  Let the running and the jumping begin! 

Other thoughts?

IWU70

[Titan Q]

IWU's 2012-13 schedule...

http://www.iwusports.com/schedule.aspx?path=wbball

[iwu70]

Another very very tough schedule for the pre-CCIW portion for the defending national champions.  Nice to see a better array of home games in that pre-CCIW run of games. 

Happy summer, happy heat waves to all the CCIW chatsters.  Again, very very optimistic for the Titans for the 2012-13 campaign.  It's going to be fun, AGAIN. 

IWU70

[RogK]

The '12-'13 schedule for Elmhurst:
http://www.elmhurstbluejays.com/schedule.aspx?path=wbball
The summer league at Elmhurst College resumes a week from today.
I attended only one session in June. Games are set for July 9, 10 and 11, followed by a single-elimination tournament July 16 - 19.
Starting times on July 9 - 11 are 5:45, 6:45, 7:45, 8:45, 9:45. Games are completed in less than an hour because FTs are automatically made, not shot unless it's a close game at the end; also, I think teams are limited to 2 timeouts. The refs keep things moving pretty well.

[RogK]

Millikin's schedule :
http://athletics.millikin.edu/schedule.aspx?path=wbball
Lots of prominent Big Blue players graduated this spring. Thus, lots of playing time is up-for-grabs.

[iwu70]

Sure looks like MU is playng a much much tougher pre-CCIW schedule than in the past.  With the WIAC games, Wash U and Kean, that's a pretty darn tough schedule.  Hope it pays off for them. . .  Seems to be going the IWU route, method, to play a very tough series of games before the CCIW season. 

Looking forward to seeing the new IWU squad, if/when any of the newbies can fit in with the strong returning caste.

IWU70

[RogK]

iwu70, Millikin's opponents also include the rather good UST Tommies, 31-2 in '11-'12.
Also, I wouldn't attribute the idea of a tough nonconference schedule to IWU; it's been thought of by others. We know you see everything through green glasses, so I guess we should excuse your Titanic way of thinking (ha ha).
Did you mean cast or caste?

[iwu70]

RogK, I proudly and fully admit to my greenie glasses, no doubt.  Some habits never change, heh?

Of course other programs also try to schedule a tough pre-conference schedule, to prepare and toughen up, but I think you have to admit that in recent years IWU has surely done this to a degree beyond all the others in the CCIW.  I'm glad to see MU doing what they're doing and hope it pays dividends for them in terms of conference campaign prep, rankings etc., should they have success.  I think it has proved very helpful, overall, for IWU in the recent 5-6 seasons.  We'll see. 

Yes, UST is another very good, strong program . . . we played them several times in recent years, too, including for the national, Final Four semis last year, right?

"Cast" of characters, right?    Guess I come from the Dan Quail (or is it Quale?) school of spelling! 

Stay cool, more terrible heat here in B/N today and tomorrow -- 103, then 105 as per "forecastes!"  (sic)    

IWU70

P.S.  The Shirk full of wrestlers today, then high school all-star football at Tucci Stadium (Shrine Charity game) later in the month.   Should be fun, good if not too too hot.  These conditions are truly dangerous for outdoor work and football games/workouts.  ms   

[RogK]

That's good advice, iwu70. Even the most superbly-fit athletes would be wise not to push their luck exercising in this heat.

[Titan Q]

A DI game will be played at IWU's Shirk Center this season...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/women/isu-women-to-play-morehead-state-at-shirk-in-preseason/article_f2ae92be-d04a-11e1-b8e3-001a4bcf887a.html

[Naperick]

Nice of IWU to help out the Redbirds!  It should be a positive experience for all involved.

[Backseat Driver]

Looks like the typical crowd for ISU last year was in the 1,500 range, so the Shirk Center should provide a really nice atmosphere for that game.

[RogK]

The summer league at Elmhurst College wrapped up last night. A few remarks:
Thanks to the EC WBB staff for again hosting the league!
Of the 8 CCIW teams, all but Millikin had players participating. I didn't watch the North Central group much; when I did, I saw some good enthusiasm and effort. Last season didn't work out too well for them, but hopefully they can be more competitive this time.
Wheaton had some participants : Hovee, Graham, Lee, plus some new ones whom I didn't recognize. Didn't see them much.
I watched the North Park bunch a few times. They have some interesting newcomers who should get in the rotation and help out soon.
Augie also has some newcomers who will help them this coming season, with a lot more depth in the front court. Returning guards Molly Etheridge and Gianna Pecora played with renewed energy. There appeared to be a lot of optimism among the players.
I didn't watch the Elmhurst teams much, but they too have some new players that should help out. The Jays may be a noticeably different looking team next season, without Merk and Ney dominating the lane area.
The very swift (and cheery) Kim Schwerdtmann will return from last year's injury and could be a key contributor.
Finally, we come to the best of the conference, namely IWU and Carthage.
I'll predict here that Carthage will again lead the league in blocked shots. They will have a deep frontcourt, with at least five good big players to utilize. Their guard corps is rather good too.
IWU made it to the summer league title game, but lost by around 6 pts to a team of D1 players (a mix of UIC, Drake, DePaul?). Their core of prominent returnees (Baltes, Bilek, McMahon, Gardner) looked very sharp and energetic. Others played well too.