WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

So... we are going to ignore Hope's loss at DeVos to Trine because one other one was a win? SMH

[Mr. Ypsi]

So... we are going to ignore Hope's loss at DeVos to Trine because one other one was a win? SMH

By what stretch of the imagination was I ignoring their loss at DeVos?

[iwu70]

Let's face it, the Shirk pod is a quality pod.  No doubt.

'70

[GoPerry]

And the Shirk will host postseason basketball: Illinois Wesleyan gets Marietta for a first round draw. DePauw and Trine will play in the other first round game.

Wow, DePauw v Trine in the first round... that's #6 v # 7 nationally in the round of 64.  Just shows how screwed you can be in D3 if you don't win your AQ.

Relieved Wheaton got in.  Traveling to Holland no surprise.  Less excited about a rematch from last year in Wash U and Madeline Homoly who hung 26 and 11 on us a year ago.

As expected, Titans hosting.   DePauw/Trine is a brutal 1st rounder.   But I think IWU should be able to handle them.

Careful, this is the same Trine team that beat IWU by 7 in the dance last year.  They have everyone back from that team.

Thanks.  But careful about what?  Of course IWU might lose to Marietta.  Or after beating the Pioneers they might lose to DePauw or Trine.  That's why I say "should."  Just an opinion.

I feel confident that I know what IWU's capable of.  I've not seen Trine or DePauw at all but they have great records and I respect that.  Beyond that, this is what I'm looking at. 

IWU      24-3, 4-3 vRRO, .580 SOS ( SOS #s are from 2/21 )
DePauw   25-2, 2-1vRRO,  .531 SOS
Trine      24-3, 1-3vRRO,  .526 SOS

So I like IWU's chances to come out of their pod, especially playing at home.  Also, when I saw the draw, I had the same reaction as Dave on Hoopsville that a 1st rd matchup of DePauw/Trine is pretty harsh.  But now I'm not sure that either team deserved any "protection" vis a vis other teams – again, just based on the data and criteria.

I think it's equally tough to assess Wartburg, the presumed overall #2 seed, who is undefeated but with just a single vRRO game(yes, an impressive win vs Whitewater) and a .526 SOS.  Maybe somebody can give insight as to how good they are?

[Gregory Sager]

I think it's equally tough to assess Wartburg, the presumed overall #2 seed, who is undefeated but with just a single vRRO game(yes, an impressive win vs Whitewater) and a .526 SOS.  Maybe somebody can give insight as to how good they are?

I called the Wartburg @ NPU game in the crackerbox at the beginning of the season, which the Knights won by six but which was only a one-point game going into the final minute. The Knights are good, but they're no match for Illinois Wesleyan.

[badgerwarhawk]

Wartburg beat WHITEWATER by nine 64-55 in their gym.  We hung tight with them to about the 7 minute mark of the fourth quarter when we trailed by a pair and they made a 9-0 run.  Eight was as close as we could get after that.  We didn't shoot well that game 32% and only 25% from beyond the arc and they beat us pretty good on the boards.  We actually out rebounded IWU when we beat them early in the season. 

I know none of this means that much but it gives me pause to think the game may be a tad more competitive than you're suggesting Greg.  Maybe not, we'll see. 

Interstingly we get paired with our old ex-conference foe, UW-Superior.  I guess they'll have to make that bus ride at least once more.

Good luck

[Just Bill]

I think the 1-2-3 teams in the Great Lakes and the 1-2-3 teams in the Central are all outstanding. Geographically speaking it's inevitable their going to bang heads early.

[Gregory Sager]

Wartburg beat WHITEWATER by nine 64-55 in their gym.  We hung tight with them to about the 7 minute mark of the fourth quarter when we trailed by a pair and they made a 9-0 run.  Eight was as close as we could get after that.  We didn't shoot well that game 32% and only 25% from beyond the arc and they beat us pretty good on the boards.  We actually out rebounded IWU when we beat them early in the season. 

I know none of this means that much but it gives me pause to think the game may be a tad more competitive than you're suggesting Greg.  Maybe not, we'll see.

Could be. The game at NPU was an early-season game, so there is that. But nine of the ten members of the Knights rotation were rotation players last season as well, so I didn't think that the Wartburg team I was seeing was in any sort of a breaking-in process with its players.

The day before the Wartburg @ NPU game I saw the Knights take on Elmhurst, and the 'jays managed to hang around for the entire game before losing by eight, although it was clear, as was the case in the NPU game, that the Knights were the more talented team. The 'jays were certainly nobody's idea of a powerhouse team this season.

[Dutchfan]

And the Shirk will host postseason basketball: Illinois Wesleyan gets Marietta for a first round draw. DePauw and Trine will play in the other first round game.

Wow, DePauw v Trine in the first round... that's #6 v # 7 nationally in the round of 64.  Just shows how screwed you can be in D3 if you don't win your AQ.

Relieved Wheaton got in.  Traveling to Holland no surprise.  Less excited about a rematch from last year in Wash U and Madeline Homoly who hung 26 and 11 on us a year ago.

As expected, Titans hosting.   DePauw/Trine is a brutal 1st rounder.   But I think IWU should be able to handle them.

Speaking of the AQ,  Chicago goes undefeated in the UAA, 23-2 overall, 5 wins vRRO, their only 2 losses vRRO, and has to travel to St Thomas.  Feels a little rough to me.

It is foolish to take Trine so lightly. I did and they beat Hope by three at Hope. Remember, Trine lost three games this season. They lost to the no. 1 team in the country by five points. They beat Hope on the road by three and Hope needed a buzzer beater to send it to over time on Saturday. You can look at stats all you want, but don't let those stats give you false confidence. I give Illinois Wesleyan a 33% chance of winning the pod. I give each Trine and DePauw a 25% chance and Marietta a 17% chance.

Let me ask this, would you feel as confident if it was Hope instead of Trine? Because they are virtually equal.

[GoPerry]

And the Shirk will host postseason basketball: Illinois Wesleyan gets Marietta for a first round draw. DePauw and Trine will play in the other first round game.

Wow, DePauw v Trine in the first round... that's #6 v # 7 nationally in the round of 64.  Just shows how screwed you can be in D3 if you don't win your AQ.

Relieved Wheaton got in.  Traveling to Holland no surprise.  Less excited about a rematch from last year in Wash U and Madeline Homoly who hung 26 and 11 on us a year ago.

As expected, Titans hosting.   DePauw/Trine is a brutal 1st rounder.   But I think IWU should be able to handle them.

Speaking of the AQ,  Chicago goes undefeated in the UAA, 23-2 overall, 5 wins vRRO, their only 2 losses vRRO, and has to travel to St Thomas.  Feels a little rough to me.

It is foolish to take Trine so lightly. I did and they beat Hope by three at Hope. Remember, Trine lost three games this season. They lost to the no. 1 team in the country by five points. They beat Hope on the road by three and Hope needed a buzzer beater to send it to over time on Saturday. You can look at stats all you want, but don't let those stats give you false confidence. I give Illinois Wesleyan a 33% chance of winning the pod. I give each Trine and DePauw a 25% chance and Marietta a 17% chance.

Let me ask this, would you feel as confident if it was Hope instead of Trine? Because they are virtually equal.

I'm not taking Trine lightly.  I haven't seen them, or Hope, play.  I'm expressing an opinion based on the data that IWU, playing at home, will beat Marietta and then prevail over either DePauw or Trine – same as your opinion.  I'm not suggesting either game will be easy or will be a 20 pt blowout.  Would I be surprised if IWU lost?  Of course not.

IWU      24-3, 4-3vRRO, .588 SOS
Trine      24-3, 1-3vRRO, .549
Hope      25-1, 3-1vRRO, .558

Yes, IWU and Hope look virtually equal with IWU having one more RRO win and 3 more vRRO games.  So would I favor IWU at home over Hope?  Yes.  Would I feel confident?  Only that it would be a great game.

[iwu70]

If IWU gets past Marietta, I assume either DePauw or Trine will be very very tough.  Both great programs with lots of tournament experience, even on the road.  This pod is worthy of Sweet 16 or Elite 8 games, IMHO.  Home court should be a great help, as The Shirk is a very friendly atmosphere, lots of fun for the home team, pep band, and home crowd.  I've said all along that I thought this edition of the Titans was a Sweet 16 caliber team, so now we'll see if this comes to pass.   Would love to see Rachel Hughes back in uniform this weekend.

IWU'70

[GoPerry]

If IWU gets past Marietta, I assume either DePauw or Trine will be very very tough.  Both great programs with lots of tournament experience, even on the road.  This pod is worthy of Sweet 16 or Elite 8 games, IMHO.  Home court should be a great help, as The Shirk is a very friendly atmosphere, lots of fun for the home team, pep band, and home crowd.  I've said all along that I thought this edition of the Titans was a Sweet 16 caliber team, so now we'll see if this comes to pass.   Would love to see Rachel Hughes back in uniform this weekend.

IWU'70

Rachel Hughes . . . ?

[Enginerd]

And the Shirk will host postseason basketball: Illinois Wesleyan gets Marietta for a first round draw. DePauw and Trine will play in the other first round game.

Wow, DePauw v Trine in the first round... that's #6 v # 7 nationally in the round of 64.  Just shows how screwed you can be in D3 if you don't win your AQ.

Relieved Wheaton got in.  Traveling to Holland no surprise.  Less excited about a rematch from last year in Wash U and Madeline Homoly who hung 26 and 11 on us a year ago.

As expected, Titans hosting.   DePauw/Trine is a brutal 1st rounder.   But I think IWU should be able to handle them.

Speaking of the AQ,  Chicago goes undefeated in the UAA, 23-2 overall, 5 wins vRRO, their only 2 losses vRRO, and has to travel to St Thomas.  Feels a little rough to me.

It is foolish to take Trine so lightly. I did and they beat Hope by three at Hope. Remember, Trine lost three games this season. They lost to the no. 1 team in the country by five points. They beat Hope on the road by three and Hope needed a buzzer beater to send it to over time on Saturday. You can look at stats all you want, but don't let those stats give you false confidence. I give Illinois Wesleyan a 33% chance of winning the pod. I give each Trine and DePauw a 25% chance and Marietta a 17% chance.

Let me ask this, would you feel as confident if it was Hope instead of Trine? Because they are virtually equal.

The DePauw-Trine game could potentially set a record for lowest First-Round score. I think if DePauw had won the NCAC Tournament, they would probably be in Whitewater and it would be RHIT vs. Trine in an NFC North-like slugfest. Either match-up would have been two Top-10 defensive teams going at it.

DePauw is a much better match-up for IWU than Trine. Trine is a LOT like Rose-Hulman, albeit a bit more athletic. DePauw is a poor match-up for Trine because they are such a good offensive team execution-wise-they probably lead all divisions in made shots under 10 seconds on the shot clock-and Trine won't be able to "out-tough" DePauw. IWU is a bad match-up for DePauw for lots of reasons, mostly their athleticism and their press.

In short, my submission is that the winner of the "other" game at IWU will determine who advances. If it's DePauw, IWU advances - if it is Trine, Trine advances.
It will be fun to watch during timeouts of the Engineers' game.

[Mr. Ypsi]

If IWU gets past Marietta, I assume either DePauw or Trine will be very very tough.  Both great programs with lots of tournament experience, even on the road.  This pod is worthy of Sweet 16 or Elite 8 games, IMHO.  Home court should be a great help, as The Shirk is a very friendly atmosphere, lots of fun for the home team, pep band, and home crowd.  I've said all along that I thought this edition of the Titans was a Sweet 16 caliber team, so now we'll see if this comes to pass.   Would love to see Rachel Hughes back in uniform this weekend.

IWU'70

Rachel Hughes . . . ?

Does Raven have a sister we haven't yet heard from?!!

[Enginerd]

And the Shirk will host postseason basketball: Illinois Wesleyan gets Marietta for a first round draw. DePauw and Trine will play in the other first round game.

Wow, DePauw v Trine in the first round... that's #6 v # 7 nationally in the round of 64.  Just shows how screwed you can be in D3 if you don't win your AQ.

Relieved Wheaton got in.  Traveling to Holland no surprise.  Less excited about a rematch from last year in Wash U and Madeline Homoly who hung 26 and 11 on us a year ago.

As expected, Titans hosting.   DePauw/Trine is a brutal 1st rounder.   But I think IWU should be able to handle them.

Speaking of the AQ,  Chicago goes undefeated in the UAA, 23-2 overall, 5 wins vRRO, their only 2 losses vRRO, and has to travel to St Thomas.  Feels a little rough to me.

It is foolish to take Trine so lightly. I did and they beat Hope by three at Hope. Remember, Trine lost three games this season. They lost to the no. 1 team in the country by five points. They beat Hope on the road by three and Hope needed a buzzer beater to send it to over time on Saturday. You can look at stats all you want, but don't let those stats give you false confidence. I give Illinois Wesleyan a 33% chance of winning the pod. I give each Trine and DePauw a 25% chance and Marietta a 17% chance.

Let me ask this, would you feel as confident if it was Hope instead of Trine? Because they are virtually equal.

I have seen Trine play a couple times this year and RHIT played Hope at DeVos and nearly got them. I think, if I HAD to choose a poison, I'd choose to play Trine over Hope, especially if Hope were at home. Hope has a ridiculously good set of guards and as much length (a highly undervalued asset until tournament time IMHO) as anyone in D3. Not that Trine is a cupcake, they definitely aren't - but Hope is a LOT deeper and there is very little, if any, drop-off from #1 through the last kid at the end of the bench. If either of Trine's D-I transfers get in foul trouble and have to sit, there is some drop-off. I would not want to see either of the two MIAA schools in a 1st Round game-that's for sure.