WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[RogK]

In the civic interest of raising blood pressures, I offer a different look at the top MOP candidates, arbitrarily limited to McDaniels and Eppard.
These are their per-game averages in the 16 game conference season only.
                                      McDaniels             Eppard
minutes                            32.4                     32.5
blocks                                 0.3                       0.4
steals                                 1.9                        1.8
turnovers                           1.8                        4.2
rebounds                           5.2                       11.2
fouls                                   1.3                       3
assists                                4.3                        2.4
FT / att                           5.8/7.7                4.4/5.6
2FG / att                        5.3/11.6              8.8/13.6
3FG / att                        0.9/2.7                0.4/0.9
We know that much of defense does not appear in individual stats available for D3. McDaniels deserves a good share of the credit for Wheaton's league-best defense. And Eppard deserves a good share of credit for Elmhurst's above-average defense. McDaniels gets additional credit for doing much of the dribbling for the Thunder, even when she doesn't get an assist. Eppard is not asked to participate that way, but helps out setting picks numerous times in a game.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Without closely examining all the stats, I think both Molly McGraw and Rebecca Ehresman also deserve to be in the MOP discussion.  But being teammates, they would probably partially cancel each other out, so I agree that the only realistic candidates are McDaniels and Eppard (I'll predict McDaniels).

[lmitzel]

Or at least avoid a 33-5 1st quarter at Wheaton!

Thanks. I just repressed that memory. 

We've got 5 years of data to suggest a relative shooting range for the Cardinals. I'd like it to be higher, and at least eclipse 30 at some point, but we haven't gotten there yet (and Michelle Roof would attest to the poor shooting to a degree as well). For me, part of the problem as well is layups. They miss a lot of easy ones. Some of that will be helped next year with Whipple coming back, some more with development of the freshmen, but they also need to work on using the glass a little bit. Those missed layups killed.

p.s. .435 - .357 = .078.
p.s. #2 - hey lmitzel, have you heard any early news regarding recruits headed for Naperville? You don't have to name names. Also, I think there was a freshman who sat out '16-'17 due to injury.

Hopefully the recruits are better than me at math at noon on a Thursday.

I don't know much about recruits. I've met a few and heard some names thrown around, but there haven't been any agreed on commitments as of yet.

[iwu70]

I think it will be McDaniels as well.  She has my vote (which means nothing!). 

Ehresman and McGraw have had outstanding seasons, no doubt.  Both coming back for more.  And, Maddie Merritt has proven to be the third major force in scoring, rebounding and defense in the paint that the Titans needed.  A bright future for the IWU program, esp. next season.

But, the time is now and I hope this current team, the current seniors, gets to dance in March.  I think they could go far.  We'll see.

IWU70

[GoPerry]

In the civic interest of raising blood pressures, I offer a different look at the top MOP candidates, arbitrarily limited to McDaniels and Eppard.
These are their per-game averages in the 16 game conference season only.
                                      McDaniels             Eppard
minutes                            32.4                     32.5
blocks                                 0.3                       0.4
steals                                 1.9                        1.8
turnovers                           1.8                        4.2
rebounds                           5.2                       11.2
fouls                                   1.3                       3
assists                                4.3                        2.4
FT / att                           5.8/7.7                4.4/5.6
2FG / att                        5.3/11.6              8.8/13.6
3FG / att                        0.9/2.7                0.4/0.9
We know that much of defense does not appear in individual stats available for D3. McDaniels deserves a good share of the credit for Wheaton's league-best defense. And Eppard deserves a good share of credit for Elmhurst's above-average defense. McDaniels gets additional credit for doing much of the dribbling for the Thunder, even when she doesn't get an assist. Eppard is not asked to participate that way, but helps out setting picks numerous times in a game.

Again, it will all depend on what the coaches value in their MOP.  They are both excellent players and both would be deserving.  One factor that could be in coaches mind if trying to cast a close vote might be "tie goes to the senior"? I don't necessarily endorse that line of thinking but if a coach thinks it's that close. . .?  That's sort of in the same category as the team success factor.

Thanks for the breakdown RogK.  If trying to assess defense, the one defensive statistic where Eppard is surprisingly lacking is blocked shots.  She only has 8 for the entire season which is really low for a primary forward.  And since there seems to be some uncertainty over whether conference only games are considered, the overall stats seems to favor McDaniels even more, which is not insignificant since Wheaton played a much tougher non-con schedule.

[RogK]

Since coaches can now vote for their own players, maybe they'll each nominate and vote for 8 of their own players for 1st team. Then we'll have 72 players on 1st team. Ha.

[RogK]

Congrats to the all-CCIW honorees.
The new voting method may have something to do with the odd and/or silly result that Rehberger, Kallenberger and Harris were not unanimous.
They got Coach of the Year right; well deserved for Kent Madsen.
I still would have put Eppard as MOP, by the thinnest of margins.
I like Kaelber as Newcomer of the Year.
Kyler and Lawson would be switched for me, but their coach knew whom to put on 1st team.
North Central apparently didn't have any good players this season.
I might have opted for Curry over Schultz for Millikin.

[lmitzel]

Congrats to the all-CCIW honorees.
The new voting method may have something to do with the odd and/or silly result that Rehberger, Kallenberger and Harris were not unanimous.
They got Coach of the Year right; well deserved for Kent Madsen.
I still would have put Eppard as MOP, by the thinnest of margins.
I like Kaelber as Newcomer of the Year.
Kyler and Lawson would be switched for me, but their coach knew whom to put on 1st team.
North Central apparently didn't have any good players this season.
I might have opted for Curry over Schultz for Millikin.

My gut reaction was anger over getting snubbed. But when I stopped to think about it, I don't know who from North Central would have supplanted somebody. I wasn't expecting a First Team player, but I was shocked that we didn't get anyone.

Best option from NCC would have to have been Anita Sterling (10.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 40/37/61 shooting splits, 23 blocks and 45 steals in 25 games). But again, who do you replace? Can't knock Brittany Wald off the list, and I don't have a problem with Schultz over Curry (and I'd have put Schultz in over Sterling). Who's really left? I calmed down a little bit after that.

So all in all, no real arguments on the All-CCIW teams or other awards. I think I agree on McDaniels for MOP, but I wouldn't have had a problem with Eppard winning it either. Kaelber is a deserving Newcomer of the Year winner, and Kent Madsen is an excellent coach.

[GoPerry]

Congratulations to all who made the CCIW All-Conference team.  Yes- a little surprised that Liz Rehberger would not be unanimous while Kelly Lawson was.  I wasn't sure Wheaton would get a 4th recognition in Chantal Meacham but I think she is very deserving.  That's not to say Jamie Cuny or Anita Sterling were any less deserving because I thought Cuny would make it. 

There was no wrong choice for MOP between Katie McDaniels and Mikaela Eppard.  Of course, I'm happy that Ms McDaniels received the recognition and extend my congratulations. 

[Gregory Sager]

Liz Rehberger's not being a unanimous first-teamer was a disgrace. Some CCIW head coach is a real head case to have snubbed her.

[iwumichigander]

IWU 63 Elmhurst 61 in squeaker that maybe should not have been.  IWU needs to finish lay ups as I lost track at either 6 or 8 that did not go in.  I will let someone who knows the Lady Titans better comment.
Neither team gave up and played hard the entire game.  It was a contest where if you were a neutral fan you hated to see either preamble come up short.

[GoPerry]

IWU 63 Elmhurst 61 in squeaker that maybe should not have been.  IWU needs to finish lay ups as I lost track at either 6 or 8 that did not go in.  I will let someone who knows the Lady Titans better comment.
Neither team gave up and played hard the entire game.  It was a contest where if you were a neutral fan you hated to see either preamble come up short.

,
IWU +9 on turnovers (20-11)  resulting in 15 more shots.....the difference right there.. Elmhurst had their chances though.

[GoPerry]

Liz Rehberger's not being a unanimous first-teamer was a disgrace. Some CCIW head coach is a real head case to have snubbed her.

Agree.  Maybe the Carroll coach not being quite as familiar with her?

[iwumichigander]

IWU 63 Elmhurst 61 in squeaker that maybe should not have been.  IWU needs to finish lay ups as I lost track at either 6 or 8 that did not go in.  I will let someone who knows the Lady Titans better comment.
Neither team gave up and played hard the entire game.  It was a contest where if you were a neutral fan you hated to see either preamble come up short.

,
IWU +9 on turnovers (20-11)  resulting in 15 more shots.....the difference right there.. Elmhurst had their chances though.

right - IWU had an 18-11 points scored off turnovers that offset a plethora of other things gone not quite the way Coach Smith would have liked.
The difference maker for the Titans was freshman Sydney Shanks with a timely 17 points to lead all scorers. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

At the half: Wheaton 54, Augie 39.  Looking like the expected Wheaton vs. IWU (act III) for the title.