WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwu70]

Thanks, Moser,

Yes, they are good, deep, and a joy to watch.  They have every chance to again go undefeated in the regular CCIW season and go deep into the tourney.  Game with Carthage on Jan. 9th will be another good test, a good barometer of just how good they are.  Christina Solari is truly one of the best all'round players in DIII without a doubt . . . and all on about 24 minutes per game.  CCIW will be tough, but I think pre-CCIW games were a tougher test.  The key for the Titans will be to keep up the relentless pressure, stay healthy, and in big games shoot the 3 ball relatively well.  Defense wins championships, but you still have to have the ball bounce your way at key times in close games.  We'll see.  Of course, all the Titan faithful are hoping for a "home" Final Four in March . . . that would be doubly special, 3000+ for women's DIII hoops.  My Mother will be crying with joy . . . for women sports to get their due.

Happy New Year to all those who follow the DIII women's game!

[RogK]

To respond to questions about what might happen in conference play, here are my thoughts:
Yes, Carthage is ready to challenge IWU. I wouldn't make too much of whatever happens between them on Saturday, although it'll be interesting to see how it goes. Whichever team loses the first matchup will make adjustments and cannot be counted out the second (or possibly third or even fourth) time they may face each other.
Can someone else beat either of them? Yes. I'm sure that IWU and Carthage will not take any game for granted. The rest of the league will be doing its best to knock off either of them.
While IWU is rated best of D3, I imagine that the Titans' perspective is as follows : we don't care about being favored to win every time; games have to be played one at a time and every opponent is to be respected.
All eight teams are tied at 0-0 for conference play. All eight should plan on being in contention for a spot, if not the top spot, in the 4-team conference tournament.
Good luck and best of health to all eight CCIW teams. Enjoy playing!
Congrats to Diana Jacklin for her 2nd Player of the Week honor.

[RogK]

Millikin upended Blackburn last night, 68-33.
Cecily Aldridge scored 25, hitting 10 of 15 FGs, including two threes.
Beth Wellbaum had 8 assists and 1 TO.
Julie Robert had 14 rebounds.
Elise Wildman tallied 23 pts, 12 rebs.
Two of them played 40 minutes, another played 39 and one played 38. I found that a little surprising, considering they play again tonight.
Endurance among those four may not be an issue anyway.

[Hoosier Titan]

Titans a unanimous #1 in that other poll, with Carthage #8.

Stacey Arlis came alive with 13 points and 11 rebounds as the Titans defeated North Central 77-63.  Christina Solari scored 11 and Olivia Lett 9 for the Titans.  The Cardinals' Jackie Errico led all scorers with 26 on 9/13 shooting.

Both women and men face Carthage on Saturday at Shirk.  I agree with Rog that the outcome of this one game isn't likely to tell us how the rest of the season will turn out, but it will almost certainly be a barnburner.  Would love to read a first hand report if anyone feels inspired to post.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Alas, I can't make it there, but the DH on Saturday at the Shirk should be one of the best ever.  Both women's teams are almost certainly top ten, and both men's teams are probably top 25 (with Steve Djurickovic of Carthage arguably the single best player in d3).

If you are not as stranded as I - BE THERE!

(Even though I'm retired, my travel is rather restricted by family matters.  But I WILL be there for the Final Four, as long as IWU remembers to show up! )

[RogK]

Hello over there, Hoosier Titan. I see here
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/
that some Illinois snow has followed you to Yawk.
Elsewhere in the CCIW last night, Rosie Dorn's 16 pts (5/6, 6/7) and 12 rebs in 24:00 led Carthage over Wheaton, 69-52. Cailee Corcoran added 12 pts (6/9) in 18:00.
Lyndsie Long (7/11 with 2 threes, 2/2 FT, 8 rebounds) led Elmhurst over Millikin, 56-47.
Kelsey Monroe helped the Bluejays pull away, with 12 2nd half pts, to go along with her 6 assists and 3 steals.
The remaining conference opener is in Rock Island today, Vikings vs Vikings.

[RogK]

Jackie Errico's 26 last night enhances an interesting list of season highs for North Central players. Christine Karl recently had 24 and a few weeks ago, Latrice Newson poured in 33.
Now, if they could do that all in one game... then they'd be the old Denver Nuggets, with Alex English, Kiki Vandeweghe and Dan Issel routinely all scoring in the 20s or higher. If college played 48 minutes, maybe we'd see that once in a while.
By the way, Newson hasn't played in the last two games. Is she injured?

[cciwalum03]

Was at the NCC/IWU game last night.  Errico put on an awesome performance.  Karl played an all around game.  Clearly Karl is the most talented player on that team.  However, I thought it was interesting how there was no ball screens or plays for her??  Agree that all three NCC players are going to need to score around 20 a piece to compete cause there isn't really anybody else that is trustworthy on that team.  Newson must be injured (she was in street clothes).  Any comments on Errico or Karl??  Did anyone see the game??

[RogK]

Welcome to the CCIW page, cciwalum03,
When you say that Errico, Karl and Newson are the "trustworthy" players on NC, I assume you mean that they are the most reliable scorers. You don't mean that the others are common thieves or liars, do you?
Anyway, Karl may be the best all-around player on NC, since she is a better ball-handler than the others mentioned and does a lot of good all over the court, although Errico and Newson are likely better at certain aspects of the game.
It's always hard to fully judge players, since we don't know exactly what the coaches tell them to do or not to do.

[Hoosier Titan]

Hello ove/N r there, Hoosier Titan. I see here
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/
that some Illinois snow has followed you to Yawk.

Rog,
The snow actually first came before Christmas, giving it a nice Dickensian feel.  They've run out of "grit" for the roads and are scooping up sand off the beaches to use.

I am more convinced than ever that basketball is the Midwest's way of coping with winter.  In England it may be going to the pub (we have a good one right across a narrow lane).  Anyway, I'm working on getting Internet into the flat so I can follow LiveStats.  Are you going to B/N for the game on Saturday?

[RogK]

Definitely not, HT. Wouldn't think of it!
If I felt the IWU vs Carthage game would end up something like 95-93, I would go. But I think it'll be more like 62-57.
I'll stay local : Millikin at North Park at 2:00 and maybe Augustana at Elmhurst at 5:00.
You're fortunate to have a pub that close to home, "within staggering distance," to use one of the late Mike Royko's phrases.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Hoosier Titan,

WAY premature, I realize, but if the answer is 'yes' it may take some advance planning.

IF the Titans make it to their own FF, any chance you will fly over?  It would seem a shame if one of the most prominent and loyal supporters (on these boards, at least) couldn't make it.

[Hoosier Titan]

Mr Y,
It's certainly been thought about.  It would be premature to plan, of course, but the frequent flyer account has been checked. 

I haven't been posting much, but my first reactions on looking at the box score from last night were so similar to Mia Smith's comments that I just might post more...assuming we get Internet in our flat!

[RogK]

Augustana beat North Park in their CCIW opener, 50-43.
Lani Kasten (12, 11) and Natalie Runge (12, 12) registered double-doubles for the victors and Abbi Staples led them with 13 pts.
For North Park, Lyndsey Thompson had a nice game, with 18 pts (8/13, 2/2) and 4 blocks. Hilary Kuhl grabbed 10 rebounds in 25:00.
NP has been without one of its better players, Sarah Peterson, for several games (injured?).
Both teams had more turnovers than FGs made.

[bbaskets]

NCC's Newson has an ankle injury.  It is anticipated that she will be back on the court on Saturday.