WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwu70]

Hope now #1. 

'70

[GoPerry]

Coach Harvey confirmed that they did take "bad losses" into consideration.

That was the biggest strike against Ohio Northern, which did have a really bad loss to Muskingum. I'm not real comfortable with using that as a criteria because some bad losses are subjective. Augsburg's loss to Puget Sound was cited as a bad loss. UPS was .500 and narrowly missed beating George Fox. Wheaton had a bad loss to Carroll, and it didn't stop them from getting into the tournament early enough that a couple other Central teams followed.

But that's the way it goes. The Committee has a tough job.

Harvey made it sound like "bad loss" was a secondary criteria, put into play between teams with indistinguishable resumes.

Am I the only one who cares that the national committee is invoking a criterion that doesn't exist in order to decide between Pool C candidates?

Whatever happened to following the rules?

No doubt it is a very tough job.  But this is still walking dangerously close or outside the boundary in my opinion.

Yes - she did state that a "bad loss" was treated as a secondary "tie-breaker" sort of factor.  Between two close teams then I guess that's better than a coin flip.  But on the interview, she mentioned bad losses a few more times with other teams that would suggest that it is considered a little more than that.  For instance, are bad losses researched prior to the process just like the primary criteria . . . SOS, non con SOS, record vRRo, etc?  Or said another way, did Ohio Northern have a bad loss asterick or similar notation next to their name from the very beginning on their sheets?  If so, then I think ONU has a beef -  that it would damage them vs the other seven once they got to the table.  She didn't say any of that - I'm just speculating.

Somehow I would think that "loss quality" should already be factored in.  For instance, 22-5 record with 3-2 vRRo implies 3 losses vs unranked teams.  Not exactly bad losses but it's kind of there.  Maybe a Matt Snyder(KnightSlappy) question?

Dave - thank you for pressing her on that question.  Very good interview as always.

[Pat Coleman]

"Wins against .800" was another non-criterion invoked.

[RogK]

Whitman, Wheaton's next opponent, has several prominent players who shoot well above 50% at 2FGs :
5'10" Sr Makana Stone  163/306  .533
5'10" So Kaylie McCracken  101/182  .555
5'11" Sr Lily Gustafson  65/98  .663
Those three could keep Wheaton's taller defenders busy.
Their team numbers are good across the board :
2FG .492  (548/1113)
3FG .334  (177/530)
FT   .725  (321/443) nearly everyone is reasonably good at FTs.
Senior guard Mady Burdett has made 70 3FGs and shoots about 42% from distance.
Whitman has outrebounded opponents 38-31 per game. Turnovers have gone 16-14 in their favor.

[iwu70]

Anyone have a take on Berea?   I have good friends teaching there and know of the school's interesting history and financial model, but know nothing about their D3 sports history or women's basketball program.  This year's team has a nice record.  How strong is their conference?

Hope now #1, still undefeated.  If the TITANS get to them, well, "the bigger they are, the harder they fall."  They've blown out about everyone, save for the games against Trine.  Would be interesting to know if IWU's pressure and style of play would be a good match-up vs. Hope.  As has been mentioned, IWU beat Chicago and played DePauw tough, to the wire.  Had more trouble with WI-WW and MHB, in Texas.  I'm hoping Sam Munroe stays hot and Syd Shanks and Kendall Sosa continue to do their thing.  Rebounding key . . .and staying out of foul trouble important.  Assume Eck may be back by the weekend.

I give IWU a good chance in game #1 and a much tougher climb, obviously, vs. Hope at home if they get to game #2 this weekend.

IWU'70

[iwu70]

Congrats to Hannah Frazier on her Jostens finalists' nomination. 

'70

[Ultimate Titan Fan]

Anyone have a take on Berea?   I have good friends teaching there and know of the school's interesting history and financial model, but know nothing about their D3 sports history or women's basketball program.  This year's team has a nice record. 

IWU'70

Judging solely on their roster, they're long. They'll have a height advantage in several positions. Hope the Titans can out hustle them.

[iwu70]

Ypsi, you driving over to Holland this weekend? 

'70

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I did a quick eval of the 2 Fri games in Holland and posted on the MIAA board.  Here is what I have for Berea vs IWU:

Offense	% 2pt	% 3pt	% FT
Berea	40.8	32.9	69.2
IWU	47.1	34.3	65
------
Defense	% 2pt	% 3pt
Berea	39.7	26.8
IWU	46.2	30.1
------
Rebounding	Team	Opp	Margin
Berea	50	36.5	13.5
IWU	39.1	38	1.1
------
Scoring	Team	Opp	Margin
Berea	76.9	58.6	18.3
IWU	74.6	65.3	9.3
------
3 point shooting	Made/game
Berea	7.7
IWU	6.9
------
Ball Control	Stl/game	TO/Game	OppTO/Game
Berea	10.2	15	17.4
IWU	11.1	16.1	20.4
------
Ball Control	Asst/game	A/TO	Blks/game
Berea	11.8	0.79	4.2
IWU	16.5	1.02	2.6
------
	vRRO	In-Div SOS	Massey Predicts
Berea	0 - 1	0.5	69
IWU	3 - 6	0.582	80

[Mr. Ypsi]

Ypsi, you driving over to Holland this weekend? 

'70

Alas, family obligations in the way.  I'll TRY to watch on the computer.

[RogK]

Thanks to Flying Dutch Fan for sharing the stat comparisons of Berea and IWU.
Eight Berea players have appeared in all 28 of their games. One other key player, Destiny Combs, has missed the last two and played "full" minutes in only one of the last seven contests. Sounds like a lingering injury. She averages 10.7 pts, 6.2 rebs and 1.8 steals.
Berea's top scorer at 20.2 is 5'9" freshman Aaliyah Hampton. Her eFG% is .515, thanks in part to 41 of 88 threes (.466). Most noteworthy, however, is that she averages 7.6 FT attempts/game. She makes 3/4 of her FTs. Sounds like quite a dynamic player. I'm guessing Sydney Shanks will be assigned defensively.
Berea's 13.5 rebounding advantage is about as good as it gets, #4 rank nationally. Incidentally, Berea is #1 nationally in total FTs made and FT att.
Back to rebounding, 6'1" senior Nakeisha Greene has an astonishing total of 280 (10/g) in 516:00. She's grabbing 54 per 100 minutes, when 30 per 100 is considered very good.
Judging from the stats, Berea seems like an energetic assertive team, likely fun to watch.

[iwu70]

Thanks for all the data on Berea.  Looks like a very tough challenge for the TITANS.  Tough D and their normal pressure will need to be applied, esp. to their freshman scorer.  Rebounding always a challenge for IWU -- Brovelli and Lowis and Shanks need to really pay attention, and rebound well.  Bowen and Eck, too.  Looks like a great game, even before thinking about the greater challenges of #1 HOPE on their home floor, if the Titans get a second game this weekend.

Ypsi, hope you get to catch the game, from afar.   See you back at IWU in October. 

Good luck to Wheaton this weekend, as well.

IWU'70

[GoPerry]

Whitman Blues

6'0" F Makana Stone, Sr.         15.1ppg, 8.3 rpg
6'0" F Lily Gustafson Sr.           6.0ppg, 5.0 rpg
5'7" G Mady Burdett, Sr.         13.6ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.4 asst/g, 41.7% 3pt%
5'7" G Kaelan Shamseldin, Jr   7.3 ppg, 2.7 rpb,  32.6% 3pt%
5'9" G Natalie Whitesel Sr       4.0 ppg, 3.6 rpb

5'10"G Kaylie McCracken, So.   11.3 ppg, 6.4 rpb
5'5" G Taylor Chambers, Jr.       4.2 ppg, 1.8 asst/g
5'7" G Shaira Young     , Fr.      4.4 ppg

Whitman, like Wheaton, is a very senior led team.  This won't be the first time the Blues have traveled this year as they took a Texas trip in December to play @ Mary Hardin Baylor (loss, 78-58) and Concordia-Tx (win, 82-55).  They also traveled to SoCal to play Redlands(win 79-76) and Whittier(71-52).

Wheaton will have to deliver a superior defensive effort as the Blues come with a very balanced scoring attack.  6'0" senior F Makana Stone was the NWC player of the year and is a very mobile forward – always on the move without the ball and can go left or right in the post once she has it.  Not sure if Frazier will guard her or not.  First team NWC 5'7" senior G Mady Burdett is a pretty speedy ball handler and their best 3 point shooter.  If they end up doubling Stone in the post, it can't come from whoever is guarding Burdett or she will bury 3s all night. Same with Shamseldin. 

On offense, Wheaton will need to be aggressive going to the hoop as the Whitman defense is very active.  Feeding the ball inside and driving to draw fouls or to kick it back out for a three will have to be on the menu.  15+ secs of passing around the perimeter won't do it.  Kirsten Madsen and Hannah Swider had a combined 3 of 15 (1/11 three) showing against IWU so they'll need a big bounce back from that.  Someone other than Hannah Frazier will need to step up with a good one.

Wheaton will be the underdogs but no question the Thunder are capable of winning if they can forget about the poor IWU performance and play with confidence.  There's no reason to play tentatively now.  They need to be ready to start fast and gain speed from there.

[Titan Q]

Illinois Wesleyan (19-8, 11-5) vs Berea (25-3, 15-1), Friday 3/6, 5:30pm ET/4:30pm CT, at Hope College...

Illinois Wesleyan (19-8, 11-5 CCIW)
G - Sam Munroe, 5-7 Jr. 8.9 ppg, 3.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg
G - Brooke Lansford, 5-7 So. 9.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.8 apg
G - Sydney Shanks, 5-9 Sr.  13.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.7 apg
G - Kendall Sosa, 5-9 Jr.  20.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.5 apg
F - Riley Brovelli, 6-1 Jr.  9.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.1 apg

Berea (25-3, 15-1 USAC)
G - Bailee Vanover, 5-4 So. 9.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.8 apg
G - Aaliyah Hampton, 5-9 Fr. 20.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.3 apg
G - Briana Lanham, 5-9 Sr. 8.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg
F - Bethanie Williams, 5-9 Sr. 8.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg
F - Nakeisha Greene, 6-1 Sr. 4.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg


Links
IWU Game Notes - https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/iwusports.com/documents/2020/3/4/Game28_NCAATournament_Berea.pdf

Video - https://www.youtube.com/hopeathletics

WEXG Radio - https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/index.cfm?stationCallSign=WWHP

Live stats - https://www.iwusports.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary

[iwu70]

Thanks, Q.  Looks like a pretty even match-up.  Key is going to be Shanks guarding their freshman scorer . . ?  We'll see how the IWU pressure gets to Berea, or not.  Gotta win the rebounding battle, or keep it even. 

Go TITANS!   

'70