WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[mactitan]

At the Shirk Center today, I had a few observations:
1. This was by far the most people I have ever seen at an IWU women's basketball game.  It will be interesting to see what kind of turnout they get for the CCIW tournament and NCAA opening round games.  They might top 1000 for the first time in school history.
2. At halftime the IWU lead was 9, and an IWU fan behind me commented, "It was a  low-scoring first half, I don't like that." To open the second half.  On the first possession the Titans hit a three.  Then they had a steal and a fast break bucket, then a rebound and FAST outlet for another bucket.  Timeout NCC, the lead is 16, and the game was pretty much over.
3. IWU's full-court press forced a lot of turnovers, and even when they didn't get a steal, NCC seemed out of sorts on offense, and rarely got good looks at the basket. They shot 27% from the field in the second half.

[mactitan]

I am a stat guy - and I noticed something pretty amazing about Christina Solari.  She is leading the Titans in scoring, rebounds, assists, steals, and field goal percentage.  She averages 14 points, 10 rebounds and about 3 assists and 2 steals a game.  Those are great numbers.  Then consider she averages 28 minutes a game because of the number of blow-outs, and those numbers are even more impressive.

IWU is No. 2 in the nation in scoring margin.  Solari is No. 4 in the nation in Field Goal percentage.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I am a stat guy - and I noticed something pretty amazing about Christina Solari.  She is leading the Titans in scoring, rebounds, assists, steals, and field goal percentage.  She averages 14 points, 10 rebounds and about 3 assists and 2 steals a game.  Those are great numbers.  Then consider she averages 28 minutes a game because of the number of blow-outs, and those numbers are even more impressive.

IWU is No. 2 in the nation in scoring margin.  Solari is No. 4 in the nation in Field Goal percentage.

And when you also add in the team being unanimously #1 in the country, I'd say Solari is a lock for first team AA, and perhaps the leader for national POY.

Since (IMO) Kent Raymond is the clear leader for men's national POY, what a coup for the CCIW if they could sweep both awards.

[iwu70]

Stat guy, you are most right about Christina Solari -- what incredible, solid, all-round numbers on relatively limited minutes, mostly under 30 minutes per game.  With the Titans going for the perfect season now, I just don't see any one else who could be considered the conference Most Outstanding Player than Christina.  Congrats to all the Titans and coaching staff for the incredible run they've had this season.  Let's go futher . . .

[Mr. Ypsi]

If not Mallory, it might be Katie Jarger, a major part of Carthage's fine defense and an efficient, mistake-free offensive player.
Mallory and teammate Claire Sheehan may be the best 4 year backcourt pair in the history of the conference. Getting them together on the 1st team in their senior year would be nice.
Christina Solari is the best player in the CCIW to this point, so she must be 1st team, too. I don't know if Mia Smith can persuade the other coaches to vote three Titans to 1st team.
There will be excellent players on the 2nd team all-CCIW no matter who gets 1st team honors. Millikin's Tracie Yantis and Carthage's Carlie Janowiak could be found there.
Any number of players still have the opportunity to play extraordinarily well to finish the season, not to make all-conference, but to help their teams win more games (and hopefully have fun along the way).

I think it is now almost a done deal that the first team will be Solari, Sheehan, Heydorn, Long, and Fidelia (NOT necessarily in rank order).  When a team has been as dominant as IWU this year, how could coaches be petty enough to deny a third spot?  (I'd be almost tempted to say just put the starting line-up as the first team - and I'd say that for a rival who was that dominant also - but that would be clearly unfair to Lyndsie Long and Kathleen Fidelia.)

I'd love it if Kent Raymond and Christina Solari swept the national POY honors - and I think it is a definite possibility.

[Hoosier Titan]

Great to see the increased number of posts here! 

The stats underscore the impression one gets watching Christina Solari play:  she is probably the most complete player I have ever seen at any level.  (She's right in there with Larry Bird).  She can lead the fast break, she passes as well as a guard, she rebounds at both ends, and she defends even considerably taller players extremely well.  She was unfairly overlooked for the all-CCIW teams last year (probably out of a desire to include IWU's seniors on those teams last year).  And because she lost her first year to an ACL injury, she is only in her second full year of collegiate competition!  So, yes, Solari for MOP, for Player of the Year...once the season is over.  There's a lot to be done yet.

[Hoosier Titan]

At halftime of yesterday's IWU-North Central game, it looked, from an IWU perspective, as though the Titans were playing great defense and not making easy shots.  The 27-18 score seemed to back that up.  A look at the broadcast, though, showed that both teams played pretty good defense in that half.  The Cardinals were successful in making the Titans rush their shots or settle for lower percentage ones.  North Central was handicapped by the absence of Brianne Parra due to a shoulder injury; adding her usual scoring would have made the game nearly even at halftime. 

After the break, the Titans picked up the offense, pushing the lead from 9 to 22 within five minutes on a three by Claire Sheehan, two 3's and two layups by Mallory Heydorn, and another layup by Hope Schulte.  As Mia Smith said, they were sprinting rather than running, and it gave them open looks.  With the depth of the IWU bench, the Cardinals were unable to keep up.  Heydorn is definitely back from that stress fracture injury.

Meghan McGuire was the most consistent scorer for the Cardinals on 7/10 shooting.  When she gets the ball on the block she is very difficult to stop.

Titan subs Kylie Castans, Stacey Arlis, Nikki Preston, and Holly Harvey have all been key players at times, and they all made contributions.  It's also good to see sophomore Sarah Cotner (who lost last season to an ACL injury) steadily becoming more confident and playing important minutes.

[Titan Q]

And because she lost her first year to an ACL injury, she is only in her second full year of collegiate competition! 

Solari only played 3 games before getting injured her freshman season.  I don't know anything about Christina personally (major, post-college plans, etc), but is there any chance she will pursue a medical redshirt for that first year at IWU?  (In other words, making her just a sophomore now?)  Believe me, I say that knowing how hard that is to pull off financially, so I'm sure it is not likely...but I'm curious.

[Hoosier Titan]

And because she lost her first year to an ACL injury, she is only in her second full year of collegiate competition! 

Solari only played 3 games before getting injured her freshman season.  I don't know anything about Christina personally (major, post-college plans, etc), but is there any chance she will pursue a medical redshirt for that first year at IWU?  (In other words, making her just a sophomore now?)  Believe me, I say that knowing how hard that is to pull off financially, so I'm sure it is not likely...but I'm curious.

It's been a major topic in conversation behind the Titan bench at games, believe me!  I don't have any direct answer to those questions--I haven't asked. 

If she did come back for another year, she could play with younger sister Karen for one more year...but that fact might suggest a reason why she might NOT come back (I write this as my youngest daughter prepares for college, with her sister still a junior).

If it would help, I think Titan fans would be prepared to take up a collection, hold bake sales, whatever...to keep Christina Solari for another year.

[jshoops]

I've had the pleasure of watching Christina and Karen Solari for the past 6 years.  They are unselfish team players that work hard at their game.   They are terrific people off the court too,  benefitting from their two wonderful parents.  Christina has a 3.81 grade point average  on top of basketball career (Sheehan, Solari Earn Academic All-District Honors).  Simply amazing!

[Hoosier Titan]

I think I've got the tiebreaker situation figured out for the fourth spot in the conference tournament; perhaps someone can confirm or correct.

Right now Elmhurst is alone in fourth at 7-6 while Millikin and North Central are tied at 6-7.  On Tuesday IWU goes to Elmhurst, while Millikin goes to North Central. 

If Elmhurst beats IWU, they will be at 8-6 and will be in the tournament.

If IWU beats Elmhurst and Millikin beats North Central, Elmhurst and Millikin will both be at 7-7.  Elmhurst holds the tiebreaker:  both they and Millikin were swept by CCIW #1 IWU and #2 Wheaton.  But Elmhurst split with #3 Carthage, while Millkin were swept by them.  Thus Elmhurst would be in the tournament.

If IWU beats Elmhurst and North Central beats Millikin, both Elmhurst and North Central will be at 7-7.  Here, North Central holds the tiebreaker:  Both were swept by IWU, but North Central beat Wheaton.  Thus, North Central would be in the tournament.

So, I don't see any way Millikin makes the tournament.  And, if IWU holds on for the school record (25-0) and beats Elmhurst, the last spot is North Central's to win.

Have I got this right?  Thanks!

[Mr. Ypsi]

I think I've got the tiebreaker situation figured out for the fourth spot in the conference tournament; perhaps someone can confirm or correct.

Right now Elmhurst is alone in fourth at 7-6 while Millikin and North Central are tied at 6-7.  On Tuesday IWU goes to Elmhurst, while Millikin goes to North Central. 

If Elmhurst beats IWU, they will be at 8-6 and will be in the tournament.

If IWU beats Elmhurst and Millikin beats North Central, Elmhurst and Millikin will both be at 7-7.  Elmhurst holds the tiebreaker:  both they and Millikin were swept by CCIW #1 IWU and #2 Wheaton.  But Elmhurst split with #3 Carthage, while Millkin were swept by them.  Thus Elmhurst would be in the tournament.

If IWU beats Elmhurst and North Central beats Millikin, both Elmhurst and North Central will be at 7-7.  Here, North Central holds the tiebreaker:  Both were swept by IWU, but North Central beat Wheaton.  Thus, North Central would be in the tournament.

So, I don't see any way Millikin makes the tournament.  And, if IWU holds on for the school record (25-0) and beats Elmhurst, the last spot is North Central's to win.

Have I got this right?  Thanks!

Looks right to me.

Re: the bolded line - I'm reasonably sure that would also be a conference record.  Only Augustana (16-0 in 1991) and Millikin (14-0 in 1998) have ever emerged unscathed from the conference battles; while I could not find records on CCIW, Augie, or Millikin websites, I doubt either of them was undefeated for the entire regular season.  Our next goal (well, after a conference tourney title) is to get the CCIW's second national title!

[NOT counting chickens before they hatch, but IF IWU makes it to the Final Four I will try my darnedest to make it to Holland - would I see anyone there?]

[Hoosier Titan]

Well, you're right, it is very premature.  Lots of basketball yet--going 25-0, the CCIW tournament, and the first and second rounds.  The second round, if not the first, of the NCAAs in the Central division could be a Final Four with all the great teams in this division--the WIAC teams, Wash. U., DePauw, just to name a few, along with IWU.

But IF the Titans make it you can be assured that at least this regular will be there

[Mr. Ypsi]

HT, just saw the announcement posted by David Collinge in the multi-region board: the next two years you won't have to travel to the Final Four - they're coming to Shirk!

A shame it's a year too late for Heydorn, Sheehan, and Caplice.

[Hoosier Titan]

Mr. Ypsi and DC--my apologies, but I had to go to the NCAA site to be sure you weren't pulling my leg!

I saw this as I was leaving work and ran into one of the JV players.  She was as gobsmacked as I was! 

More later.  VERY exciting.  And I'm scheduled to be on sabbatical next year!