WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Hi Dave. I can see why someone might be charitable toward a Rochester or Trine and not want to debit them for a loss to an excellent opponent. However, this borders on rewarding some teams (but not all) for "good losses", thereby blocking advancement of other teams just below them.
I am in favor of reassessment of the entire top 25 weekly, without ceding ownership of any rank to any specific team. Hopefully, the voters do this.
Similarly, preseason rankings are based on 0 games, and should not be used as "pole positions" for the rest of the season (which seems to happen in D1 football and basketball).
Also, my view is that predictions/expectations can cloud how one views a game. Instead, I try to see each game as a new entity, with each team having a fair chance to win.
The intent of all of the above is to encourage constant fair consideration of all teams, including those unranked. You'll notice that I have not criticized any ranking; for all I know, the current top 25 is exactly correct. I just disagree with the idea of continuous ceding of any rank to any team.
Which leads me to a possibly dumb question : is the top 25 supposed to be a ranking of the best performance November-to-now or is it supposed to be a ranking of the best teams at the moment? I think it would be "November-to-now" but am not 100% sure. Thanks.

First off... as a voter on the men's side, I have a problem with the idea that because a team lost, no matter to who, that they should be demoted. If a team lost to someone I clearly predicted in my rankings they would lose, then I am being an idiot to then punish them for it. Now, if they got blown out, that is a different conversation. However, a ten point game... not necessarily pulling that trigger. I will also say a lot has to do with what is going on around that team. How are teams who I ranked near them doing, how are teams doing that I have off my poll, even teams well above them that might slip down. I actually have removed teams who have not lost, because their results, other results, and other factors caused me to make that decision. But to straight up say a loss means demotion no matter to whom is a bit harsh.

As for how the voters vote, that is up to them. We don't necessarily decree any rules. I think voters vote with a combination of how has the team done all season and how are they doing right now. That is kind of the approach I take. However, I also look at each team differently so a decision I make for A doesn't mean I use the same decision for B and so on.

[RogK]

Updated "road wins minus home losses" (CCIW play only) :
AUG +1
CRL -3
CTG -1
ELM +1
IWU +3
MIL -1
NCC even
NPU -3
WHE +3

[iwu70]

IWU over Augie at the half, 43-39. 

Titans need this one.

IWU'70

[lmitzel]

Back and forth affair up in Carthage from watching the stats page refresh. Doesn't look like Diamond Calicott is playing tonight, but I haven't gotten any word on her condition going forward.

[iwu70]

Important win for the Titans over Augie @The Shirk tonight.  Final was 83-74 Titans.

Maddie Merritt with a career night - 24
McGraw 23
Kelly 12
Ehresman 12

Hard-fought game with IWU separating just enough in the 4th Q.  Augie is such an improved team over editions of recent years.

Titans now 7-2 in league play, just one game out of first, now held by WC and EC.

Titans have Saturday night off this weekend. 

IWU'70

[iwu70]

Key tonight was Titans shooting 54% from the field.

'70

[Gregory Sager]

North Park 85, Millikin 81

Liz Rehberger: 22 pts, 7 rebs, 4:2 a:to
Hannah Rehfeldt: 20 pts (6-9 trey)
Gabby Sandoval: 13 pts
Amani Davis: 12 pts, 5 rebs, 4:2 a:to, 3 blks, 4 stls
Shaylee Sloan: 6 rebs

Devin Curry: 23 pts (5-8 trey), 5 rebs
Yanni Sadler: 20 pts
Emily Schultz: 14 pts, 5 rebs
Rachael Webber: 11 pts
Lauren Moses: 16 rebs

The Vikings snapped a five-game losing streak with the win tonight downstate in the Griz. NPU charged out to an early 23-8 lead and was up by 13 at the half, and then spent the entire second half fending off one Big Blue charge after another. MU managed to tie the game no less than five times in the fourth quarter, but never pulled ahead as the Vikings were able to answer each time.

If I'm not mistaken, tonight was a career high for senior guard Hannah Rehfeldt.

[RogK]

Wheaton got out to an 18-0 lead and topped IIT 84-35. The Thunder rested McDaniels and Meacham, but got plenty of contributions by many players.
Carthage defeated North Central 106-95. Carthage was very smart with the ball, committing only 16 TOs vs NCC's press. NCC committed 19.
Rachel Szydlowski was outstanding for Carthage, scoring 32 (11/19 2FG, 10/14 FT), 0 TOs, 6 rebs, 4 assists. Nice work.
The Lady Reds also got 20 pts from Madie Kaelber, 18 from Bailey Gilbert, 15 by Autumn Kalis, 13 pts 11 reb and 8 assists by Morgan Harris, plus 5 blocks by Maggie Berigan. In the postgame interview, Coach Bernero complimented guard Micala Giammarino (31:00, 0 TOs) for her very helpful ballhandling efforts.
Siarra O'Neil led NCC with 18 pts. Natali Dimitrova had 13 pts and 8 rebs -- glad to see that last Saturday's knee issue did not carry over substantially, if at all.
Elmhurst got the better of Carroll 100-69. A large handful of Bluejays shot very well. Mikaela Eppard had 16 pts, Erika Johnson 15, Kaela Jones 15 (plus 4 blocks and 6 rebs).
Carroll's Brittney Wald led all with 29 pts. Morgan Lund tallied 21 while Caylee Koker led the Pioneers with 6 rebounds.

[RogK]

One of last night's games adjusts the Road Win - Home Loss numbers that I posted yesterday : Millikin and North Park are now -2.
A question for GoPerry (and anyone else!), how optimistic are you for the Thunder for the remainder of the CCIW season? I've had thoughts that they could "run the table" the rest of the way. But, maybe I'm overestimating their progress.

[iwu70]

I think only the Augie and IWU games are a remaining challenge for WC women.  Of course, the CCIW regular season title could come down to that last game of the regular season at WC.  Titans are playing well and could run the table as well.  Titans will have to win vs. EC too, which will be tough.  EC may surprise us all.

IWU'70

[GoPerry]

One of last night's games adjusts the Road Win - Home Loss numbers that I posted yesterday : Millikin and North Park are now -2.
A question for GoPerry (and anyone else!), how optimistic are you for the Thunder for the remainder of the CCIW season? I've had thoughts that they could "run the table" the rest of the way. But, maybe I'm overestimating their progress.

Running the table is certainly possible but ask me again in a week because these next 2 games @ NCC and @ Carthage are not comfortable games.  Wheaton only beat the Cards by 5 at King way back in December and they are very much worthy of respect.  A team that only slightly underperforms against the system can find itself in a real fight like last time when the Thunder committed 30 turnovers.  It was a 2 pt game with about 2 mins left as I recall.  I think Wheaton is the better team as evidenced by the records and the experience on their roster.  So Wheaton should win.  But one never knows  vs NCC.  Travelling to Kenosha is always a rough trip for any team and I think Carthage will be looking to play well given their very lackluster performance at King Arena last Saturday.  Interestingly, WC, Augie and IWU all still have to make that cold bus ride north.

Even if they do lose one of these 2, Wheaton will still be in pretty good shape with a schedule advantage with the remaining key contender games(EC, Augie, IWU) at home.    I agree with '70 that IWU could possibly win out (and probably need to do so for Pool C hopes) and that Feb 21 final game at Wheaton is looming large – will likely determine who hosts the tourney.  I don't believe Elmhurst will stay where they are given their schedule and will lose at least 2 more.   

[lmitzel]

One of last night's games adjusts the Road Win - Home Loss numbers that I posted yesterday : Millikin and North Park are now -2.
A question for GoPerry (and anyone else!), how optimistic are you for the Thunder for the remainder of the CCIW season? I've had thoughts that they could "run the table" the rest of the way. But, maybe I'm overestimating their progress.

Running the table is certainly possible but ask me again in a week because these next 2 games @ NCC and @ Carthage are not comfortable games.  Wheaton only beat the Cards by 5 at King way back in December and they are very much worthy of respect.  A team that only slightly underperforms against the system can find itself in a real fight like last time when the Thunder committed 30 turnovers.  It was a 2 pt game with about 2 mins left as I recall.  I think Wheaton is the better team as evidenced by the records and the experience on their roster.  So Wheaton should win.  But one never knows  vs NCC.  Travelling to Kenosha is always a rough trip for any team and I think Carthage will be looking to play well given their very lackluster performance at King Arena last Saturday.  Interestingly, WC, Augie and IWU all still have to make that cold bus ride north.

Even if they do lose one of these 2, Wheaton will still be in pretty good shape with a schedule advantage with the remaining key contender games(EC, Augie, IWU) at home.    I agree with '70 that IWU could possibly win out (and probably need to do so for Pool C hopes) and that Feb 21 final game at Wheaton is looming large – will likely determine who hosts the tourney.  I don't believe Elmhurst will stay where they are given their schedule and will lose at least 2 more.   

I certainly don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that Wheaton runs the table, but especially given their next two, I don't think it's likely. I bet they finish either 13-3 or 14-2, and I'm hoping one of those 2 or 3 is Saturday. The Cardinals haven't beat Wheaton since 2009, and haven't won at home since 2008 (a game I somewhat remember because it was my first radio call back in my WONC days.)

To Perry's point, the Cardinals played Wheaton as well as they ever have back in December, but Mayson Whipple isn't walking through that door. And unfortunately, neither is Diamond Calicott; who's probably looking at at least 2-3 more weeks, best case scenario. That said, I don't know that Wheaton is quite as good as they've been in years past, record notwithstanding. Of course, in their first matchup against The System, they were down Ellie Zeller and their young guns were getting their first taste of that style of play. If North Central is going to finally exorcise those demons, Saturday will be a tough opportunity, but a doable one.

I know it was against the Titans, but after their loss Wednesday anyone else think Augie might regress a little bit the second time through?

[iwu70]

Yes, I think Augie might regress a bit the second time through.  I think WC may as well.  Titans are getting stronger, IMHO, esp. with Shelby Gray back and Ehresman now seemingly fully healthy again, after the ankle sprain.  Maddie Merritt seems to be getting stronger and more confident. Titans have good depth, lots of folks now feeling more confidence, getting more minutes, the freshmen and sophomores more comfortable in the IWU rotation and system.  Some key seniors leading the way.  We'll see.  Key games for IWU surely EC, NCC, then the final game at WC.  One month to go, seven games.

IWU70

[iwu70]

WC over NCC 112 - 71.  So much for "the system." 

EC marches on.  I think they are on a roll . . .

IWU'70

[lmitzel]

WC over NCC 112 - 71.  So much for "the system." 

EC marches on.  I think they are on a roll . . .

IWU'70

Wheaton's never lost to The System, and I wouldn't have been surprised about them winning today, but if you told me the Thunder would have scored the game's first 21 points and the Cardinals would take like 7 minutes to get on the scoreboard, I'd have laughed at you. But this was... not ideal. I was very angry for much of the first half before settling into acceptance that we were getting blown out and trying to make the most of plays made the rest of the way.