WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[RogK]

Just looked at the other 8 web sites but saw no other '20-'21 schedules for WBB.
I did not look at twitter or bookface or other team sites.

[Jester1390]

From Dave Mchugh with alot of good insight i think


Per Coach Sain ... we shall see. Time will tell. I'll keep some of my thoughts to my self.

Per schools and conferences, we are at the tip of the iceberg in terms of closures. I made a prediction at the start of the new year and before C19 that we would have 6-12 closures this year. I thought I was being a bit heavy-handed at the time, but I felt it was a safe number. Now I think it could be twice to three times that number in DIII.

With admissions for many schools pushed back to June 1, we will start hearing about more closures soon, I suspect. Yes, enrollment numbers will be missed, but the schools that can handle those the best will survive. Then schools having to adjust to different plans (online, off-campus, whatever) in the fall will also be a source of struggles and financial stress.

And we will get another wave of closures midway to late next academic year as the future is more clear and such.

There was already a pendulum was already swinging away from colleges in terms of enrollment and sustainability. The reason for the fact we had so many schools is because, as one person put it, college education is a by-product of the baby boomer generation and we are moving further and further away from that. Trade skills are much more needed and the cost of colleges is way out of hand. I think the swing back to more trade school and community school education was already happening, but that pendulum has gotten a huge shove from the coronavirus.

Yes, schools will need to adjust things and ultimately conferences. The NCAA (membership) will give some latitude. They have already drastically reduced the minimums in all sports. This isn't so schools still have a chance at championships, this is so schools can still stay in good standing with their membership while not spending the money on a lot of contests. We will see conferences allowed to keep AQs a bit longer than the two-year grace period (or at the very least the grace period not started immediately) when they lose members suddenly due to closing especially tied to the coronavirus impact. And there will be other things done to try and help members get through the next few years. Also, conferences will have to deal with schools closing sports permanently or temporarily - that will affect AQ decisions as well. That is another place where the NCAA (member schools) are likely to give more than the two-year grace period (on a case-by-case basis) to conferences and such.

Yes, conferences will also have to reevaluate themselves, but if they weren't already looking ahead at moves that could be made just in case ... they are have been doing a disservice to their conference and well being. There will be more changes coming - I am sure of it - but the impact is unknown as some school closings will be seen from a mile away and others will catch everyone off guard.

But as much as schools close will be significant to DIII, I think moving forward the division will once again be popular for the NAIA and DII (even DI) schools that just can't justify the costs of scholarships and such anymore. I actually wonder if DIII waives the restriction to only four schools each year entering the process as they get inundated with new requests. A sign the division likely already knew a wave was coming prior to the coronavirus was the fact they lowered the process from four years to three back in January.

DII schools are going to have some trouble staying open if they don't reduce sports and scholarships ... that means DIII will be an easy place to come. NAIA's, especially with sports like basketball reducing to one division, will no longer feel they can justify - or compete - and will look to come to DIII like they were doing in bigger numbers not that long ago.

The next few months and years will be very interesting to watch.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The goal was never to prevent infections? Apparently you don't have any older acquaintances with asthma.

That wasn't the goal of the national policy.  They were pretty clear about that.  I have a pair of 88 year old grandparents who've been quarantined separately in their care facility for the last four months.  I get the great lengths people have gone to individually to protect themselves - but the overall public picture was never really about containment - it could have been if they acted faster, I suppose - but everyone knew it was unlikely the whole country would be shut down until a vaccine was available (which was really the only way to contain once we had the kind of widespread infection we had).

We would've seen stricter and enforced quarantines, all sorts of other things.  The real concern was not overburdening the heath system, like Italy, and we seemed, amazingly, to do it - at least so far.

I think this US far exceeded my expectations, at least as a population.

I just think, with reasonable accommodations and decent testing, sports can happen - but the testing is what puts us into a better space to expand opportunities.


I do agree with Jester, though, we're going to see a lot of schools who can't open for 2021-22.  Those mid-year announcements will be very sad.

[Jester1390]

I wouldn't read to much into not seeing schedules posted. Only rose-hulman has their  schedule posted in the HCAC

[GoPerry]

https://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2020/6/8/general-2018-michael-hudson-the-thunder-womens-basketball-program-announces-its-newcomers-for-the-2020-21-season.aspx

So by my very rudimentary count, the Thunder roster will be 3 forwards and a whole bunch of guards.

I'll have to familiarize myself with the Villanova four-guard offense  . . .

[RogK]

GoPerry, I'll say completely disregard whatever positions are listed on rosters; look at height.
In the past we've had players from various teams listed as a particular position but we knew some of that to be complete nonsense.
Including a Thunder newcomer, I see five 5'10" players, a 6'1" and a 6'2". This assumes all non-seniors from last season return. We'll see.
If you insist on being concerned based on named positions, it should be reassuring that guards who are 5'10" can defend against opposing players of similar height.
I feel that 5'10" players who can handle the ball well (earning them the label "guard") are more valuable than if they were 5'10" and can't handle the ball well.
There will be a lot of playing time "up for grabs" for Wheaton, but I'm thinking there is a nice amount of talent coming back.

[Jester1390]

Perry  for what is worth rankings really dont matter past top 20 but Schwen  is not listed in in top 150 of 20 minnesota class. This class however is touted as one of the best ever from Minnesota of course led by MS Basketball herself Paige Bueckers.  I asked a friend who watches everyone if he has a report on her if he does i will post for you.  Southwest is a small class A school we go up to 4 A. She is very smart if i had been involve din recruiting last year I would have taken a look at her as her academics fit what we would be looking for.

Southwest Christian High School is a highly rated, private, Christian school located in Chaska, MN. It has 375 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. Tuition is $11,990 for the highest grade offered. After graduation, 93% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college.

[Gregory Sager]

https://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2020/6/8/general-2018-michael-hudson-the-thunder-womens-basketball-program-announces-its-newcomers-for-the-2020-21-season.aspx

One of those four freshmen was a three-year soccer player and was All-Conference in that sport in high school, and another one ran cross-country for four years (and was team captain for three of them) and played soccer for three years as well in high school. The logical question to ask is whether or not these newbies will be continuing their careers in soccer and/or cross-country at Wheaton as well, presenting Kent Madsen with the classic D3 coach's dilemma of having a two-sport student-athlete whose seasons overlap and who thus comes late into that coach's program every year.

So by my very rudimentary count, the Thunder roster will be 3 forwards and a whole bunch of guards.

I don't care at what position they're listed, Madsen's Maidens will still tower over their NPU counterparts.

(Doesn't bother me that much, as long as speed remains in North Park's favor.)

[iwu70]

What struck me about the WC class of newbies was their academic achievements.  A bunch of really smart players.    Wheaton and CCIW in general staying a very strong women's basketball league.

'70

[iwu70]

GoPerry, why not go all out and go for the IWU "five guard" offence.  Why hold back? 

I'm sure WC will continue strong for many seasons to come.  NPU and MU too, looks to me.  IWU will be very strong next year, with almost everyone back, save for Syd Shanks.  Still hoping for a Raven Hughes return.   

Be well, all CCIW chatsters.  Stay safe and healthy out there.  Strange and surreal times.  Surely so here in Hong Kong.

IWU'70

[Jester1390]

Well Perry

this isnt much but this what i got back from a guy who sees almost every Minnesota team every year


Apologies Chris. I was traveling this weekend and forgot to reply.
I only saw them play once and was focused on the 9th grader Brunsburg so I don't have a very good handle on Schwen's game. I recall she was a pretty good distributor but not particularly athletic. I think she led the team in scoring. Wish I could tell you more. Sorry.

[RogK]

I fear that GoPerry has been underwhelmed by our collective response to his provocative post and has not been moved to reply.

[GoPerry]

I fear that GoPerry has been underwhelmed by our collective response to his provocative post and has not been moved to reply.

Gentlemen – thanks for the feedback (although I surely didn't consider anything I posted to be "provocative"?) :

Of course your points are all well-taken.  The position on the roster often has little to do with how somebody plays on the court.  I get it.  Still, losing a pair of 6'2" seniors in Berg and Frazier, who along with 5'11" Jordan Myroth accounted for half the Thunder rebounding,  I was hoping for one or two newcomers describing themselves as a forward especially for a young lady seeing an opportunity to compete for some front court PT right away.  But if they're not there, you still put five out on the floor.  I think Ellie Cassel and Taylor Sanders will get the first looks.

Unless maybe Raven Hughes is available . . .?

[Jester1390]

Lol Perry I think Raven has become your where is Waldo.

[GoPerry]

https://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2020/6/8/general-2018-michael-hudson-the-thunder-womens-basketball-program-announces-its-newcomers-for-the-2020-21-season.aspx

One of those four freshmen was a three-year soccer player and was All-Conference in that sport in high school, and another one ran cross-country for four years (and was team captain for three of them) and played soccer for three years as well in high school. The logical question to ask is whether or not these newbies will be continuing their careers in soccer and/or cross-country at Wheaton as well, presenting Kent Madsen with the classic D3 coach's dilemma of having a two-sport student-athlete whose seasons overlap and who thus comes late into that coach's program every year.

As far as tough Thunder rosters to make for either the women or men, women's soccer would be right near the top.  If there were a recruit who was good enough to play Wheaton soccer and then join Madsen's crew for the winter, she would probably contribute right away.

As far as two sporters on the ladies side, this seems even more rare than the men.  Only recent one at Wheaton I can think of was Kelly Thornton, WBB and Softball and she eventually chose to continue in the latter.