WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwu70]

Ypsi, don't be nervous!   D3hoops has the Titans selected rather early on, and likely heading for MN. in a pod that includes Whitewater and St. Thomas.  That would be a tough pod, but I guess they are all tough at this point, and it is just fortunate to be given a bid and having a chance to play a few more games, hopefully quite a few. 

Sure hope IWU gets in.  I think they are very deserving and I'd bet some higher seeded teams don't want to see the Titans appear on their horizon. 

Doubt the men get in . . . most prognosticators now seem have them beyond the bubble. 

IWU70

[GoPerry]

Yes- D3Hoops projection is encouraging.  Thanks to Dave, James, BJ, Gordon and Pat for the great work. 

Let's hope the Titans make it.  As Ypsi noted, IWU has the 5th highest SOS in the country which at .620 is pretty compelling. 

http://d3hoops.com/seasons/women/2016-17/schedule?tmpl=sos-template

How can a committee ignore that once a team gets to the table?  (Among other things, it tells me that Titan nation should've been cheering for Wheaton to rack up the wins all season long!)

A subtle question regarding the projected draw(and I know it's only a projection).  I'll be curious to see if indeed Gustavus Adolphus ( .925, 2-2, .542 ) does host a pod over Wheaton (.850, 6-3, .578 ) or similar team.   I, of course, would argue that Wheaton is equally deserving.  I guess it's really a question of how does the committee weight each criteria?  Another interesting question however is how influential are the week to week D3Hoops top 25 polls?  The answer on-the-record of course is that it's not a criteria for Pool C consideration.  But does it come into seeding and hosting? 

[GoPerry]

By the way:  Congratulations to Millikin's Devin Curry who led the nation in free throw % this year going 87/92 for 94.6%.  Quite an accomplishment and worthy of mention.

[iwumichigander]

Yes- D3Hoops projection is encouraging.  Thanks to Dave, James, BJ, Gordon and Pat for the great work. 

Let's hope the Titans make it.  As Ypsi noted, IWU has the 5th highest SOS in the country which at .620 is pretty compelling. 

http://d3hoops.com/seasons/women/2016-17/schedule?tmpl=sos-template

How can a committee ignore that once a team gets to the table?  (Among other things, it tells me that Titan nation should've been cheering for Wheaton to rack up the wins all season long!)

A subtle question regarding the projected draw(and I know it's only a projection).  I'll be curious to see if indeed Gustavus Adolphus ( .925, 2-2, .542 ) does host a pod over Wheaton (.850, 6-3, .578 ) or similar team.   I, of course, would argue that Wheaton is equally deserving.  I guess it's really a question of how does the committee weight each criteria?  Another interesting question however is how influential are the week to week D3Hoops top 25 polls?  The answer on-the-record of course is that it's not a criteria for Pool C consideration.  But does it come into seeding and hosting?

other than coaches lurking the Top 25, I do not think the committees lay one iota to the Top 25 other than for publicity purposes.  No bearing at all for seeding and hosting which are numbers driven with the exception that hosting can be effected by odd and even years when both women and men from a school qualify, cost considerations and geography.  Cost and geography have had a little less impact in recent years; and, this year each D3 members had increased dues as approved by the presidents.  So, a little more money to,overcome cost and geography in all sports.

[lmitzel]

Congratulations to Illinois Wesleyan, grabbing a Pool C Bid!

Tough road ahead though taking on Trine on Friday with a potential shot at host Ohio Northern on Saturday.

[GoPerry]

Congratulations to Illinois Wesleyan, grabbing a Pool C Bid!

Tough road ahead though taking on Trine on Friday with a potential shot at host Ohio Northern on Saturday.

Good for IWU.  Trine is an interesting first round matchup and there's no doubt in my mind the Titans can beat them on a neutral floor.  I've wondered a few times why Trine kept getting ranked in polls having not really played anyone.  Greeny fans will notice they've played a very weak schedule (.510, 223rd toughest) and their 2 losses are to Wheaton and Hope(SOS .521).  On the other hand, Massey has them ranked #7 overall, probably because of their margin of victory. 

[GoPerry]

Wheaton Thunder(23-4) vs RHIT Engineers (24-3 . . . 19-8 on D3Hoops bracket is incorrect )
At Wash U(23-2) vs St Norbert (20-5)

You don't expect any easy games at this point in the season and the Wheaton ladies certainly won't get any in this tough pod - only 14 losses among the 4 teams(the Oshkosh bracket above has only 11).   A difficult first round matchup vs the RHIT Engineers who are pretty familiar with the CCIW going 2-1 this season- wins vs NPU, NCC and loss at IWU.  Both teams have a common win against Chicago also.

If they can get by RHIT, then Wash U likely awaits.  Not too surprising Wheaton ended up traveling to St Louis – better there than Oshkosh or St Thomas I think.  I hope the NCAA releases the final regional rankings like they did for the men. 

[Roundball999]

Congratulations to Illinois Wesleyan, grabbing a Pool C Bid!

Tough road ahead though taking on Trine on Friday with a potential shot at host Ohio Northern on Saturday.

Good for IWU.  Trine is an interesting first round matchup and there's no doubt in my mind the Titans can beat them on a neutral floor.  I've wondered a few times why Trine kept getting ranked in polls having not really played anyone.  Greeny fans will notice they've played a very weak schedule (.510, 223rd toughest) and their 2 losses are to Wheaton and Hope(SOS .521).  On the other hand, Massey has them ranked #7 overall, probably because of their margin of victory. 

I wouldn't underestimate Trine.  Their defense is quite solid and will keep them in most games.  They lost at Wheaton by 13 early in the year but they have improved greatly since then.  Massey gives them a 63% win probability on a neutral floor vs. IWU.  That seems a bit optimistic to me though, IWU's tough noncon and overall schedule should make them more battle tested.

[GoPerry]

Congratulations to Illinois Wesleyan, grabbing a Pool C Bid!

Tough road ahead though taking on Trine on Friday with a potential shot at host Ohio Northern on Saturday.

Good for IWU.  Trine is an interesting first round matchup and there's no doubt in my mind the Titans can beat them on a neutral floor.  I've wondered a few times why Trine kept getting ranked in polls having not really played anyone.  Greeny fans will notice they've played a very weak schedule (.510, 223rd toughest) and their 2 losses are to Wheaton and Hope(SOS .521).  On the other hand, Massey has them ranked #7 overall, probably because of their margin of victory. 

I wouldn't underestimate Trine.  Their defense is quite solid and will keep them in most games.  They lost at Wheaton by 13 early in the year but they have improved greatly since then.  Massey gives them a 63% win probability on a neutral floor vs. IWU.  That seems a bit optimistic to me though, IWU's tough noncon and overall schedule should make them more battle tested.

Yes absolutely.  At this time in the season, underestimate anyone at your own peril - especially a 25-2 team.  My main point would be that IWU at 18-9 vs Trine at 25-2 is a much closer game than records suggest.

[Roundball999]

Agreed, I'd expect a very close game.  Trine probably hasn't seen pressure like IWU will apply; I think how Trine handles that may determine the outcome.  Hope's defense is different but when Hope beat Trine, it was largely due to turning them over 26 times.

[iwu70]

Congrats to Coach Smith and all the TITANS for their NCAA bid.  We were all hoping the TITANS would get in, get to dance, and so it has come to pass.  Let's really make some noise now!  A new season, all slates wiped clean -- just go out and go far!  Yes, a tough pod esp. vs. Ohio Northern, one of the undefeated teams.  Frankly, I'd rather be battle-tested like the Titans, going through the wars of the CCIW.  I'm sure Mia and the Titans will be ready.

Good luck to Wheaton in St. Louis.  Also a tough tough pod with Wash U, but all the games pretty tough from here on in.  As it should be, no easy outings. 

Good luck to the CCIW entries.

IWU'70

[Pat Coleman]

Wheaton Thunder(23-4) vs RHIT Engineers (24-3 . . . 19-8 on D3Hoops bracket is incorrect )
At Wash U(23-2) vs St Norbert (20-5)

Sorry about that. We can usually count on the NCAA getting at least one piece of info wrong on any bracket and we didn't catch this one.

[Enginerd]

I though the updated Regional Rankings were going to be published - men's are out - still nothing on the Women's side.

[GoPerry]

Congratulations to Wheaton's Katie McDaniels and Elmhurst's Mikaela Eppard on being named finalists for the 2017 Josten's Trophy.  Both were also named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team, Eppard(1st team), McDaniels (2nd team).

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I though the updated Regional Rankings were going to be published - men's are out - still nothing on the Women's side.

There appears to be some kind of problem. I have been emailing back and forth with some higher-ups... I know they are looking into it, so I am trying not to harass them. They are aware.