WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

First regional rankings...

http://d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2010/02/03/womens-regional-rankings-feb-3rd/

Central Region
1. Illinois Wesleyan 15-1 18-1
2. Carthage 13-2 16-3
3. Washington U. in St. Louis 13-2 16-2
4. Wisconsin-Stevens Point 15-3 17-3
5. Wisconsin-Whitewater 13-4 14-5
6. Chicago 13-5 13-5


Pretty significant that IWU has wins over every other team ranked in the region.

This speaks volumes about how much Mia Smith has toughened up the Titans' schedule.

Without question.  Mia Smith is to be commended for the non-conference schedule she put together...not to mention the recruiting and coaching that went into beating the teams above.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Yeah, and I love it!

The last two seasons have ended disappointingly once the tourney arrived.  This year they certainly should be battle-tested.  I'll be heart-broken if they can't play in their own Final Four!   [And if they do make it, I WILL be there!]

What seems unlikely, but would be a thrill, would be if Carthage and IWU are in different brackets and have a chance to meet in the FF.  Carthage has given #3 IWU their only loss.  They have given #4 Hope their only loss.  And #9 Calvin's only losses are Carthage and Hope.  IMO they are clearly under-ranked at #14.

[Titan Q]

Didn't Hope play without their All-American when they lost to Carthage?  Thought I remember reading that.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Didn't Hope play without their All-American when they lost to Carthage?  Thought I remember reading that.

Yes.  In fact is was their first game without Carrie Snikkers.  She has now returned.

BTW, that is another match-up I'd love to see: Snikkers vs. Solari!

[iwu70]

RogerK, I think you raise a very good point about the minutes of the IWU starters.  I think Mia Smith may be thinking about this too -- though she tends to play 11 and give the second group lots of minutes, esp. due to the "run and jump" pressure that they employ almost non-stop.  The substitutes that IWU has are truly outstanding, surely would be starters almost anywhere else.  The games I saw in person early in the year were basically over within 8-12 minutes, just like the game the other night when the halftime score was 51-17, with the starters basically settling the matter with the first few minutes.  The second half score was 35-35, so you can see the issue.  This won't happen later on if they make the tourney and play the other highly-ranked regional teams like Wash U, Whitewater, Carthage, etc. again in tourney play.  However, this distribution of minutes has also allowed IWU to rest folks more, also I think avoid possible injuries (knock on wood) and get the team to the post-season likely in relatively fresh shape.  Maybe we should ask Holly Harvey to do a blog on these issues, themes . . . of how much fatigue the team files thru the long season, with studies, travel and the exhaustion of the "run and jump" style of play.  There's very little "half-court" play in these women.  They are totally high-energy and truly fun to watch, given the style of play and the very high skill levels of this team.  I truly hope they can make a good run and get to a Final Four at the Shirk.  They deserve it for all their hard work over several years.  Just my thoughts, IMHO. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Just to update, Hope defeated Calvin again tonight, 61-50.  Carrie Snikkers went for 18 pts, 10 rbs, so she is definitely back.  Calvin has a freshman center (Verkaik) who will probably be an AA before she is done (and who played against Snikkers in HS), but she can't handle Snikkers yet.  Calvin led by 1 with 5 to go, but Hope scored the final 12 points of the game.

EDIT: Just re-checked the box score.  Carissa Verkaik went for 19 and 12, so I guess she can battle Snikkers just fine!   I'm not real conversant with women's centers around the country, but with Solari graduating this year and Snikkers next year, by Verkaik's junior year 1st team AA would not shock me.

[Hoosier Titan]

In regards to the minutes played by the IWU starters--I'm sure Mia Smith is well aware of the possible problems.  For the record, I don't think fatigue played a major role in last season's playoff loss to Wash U.  The team didn't seem to get its game going until midway through the second half, when they finally showed the relentless run and jump defense, and they almost pulled off the comeback.  Saturday's loss to Carthage followed something of the same pattern, as did the near loss to Elmhurst at Elmhurst last season, where the Titans were down by 20 in the second half.  In the Pantagraph story about Saturday's loss at Carthage, Coach Smith referred to her team's "lack of effort."  I think the fast start on Tuesday was the team's response to that.

It's clear, with the upcoming games against Elmhurst and Millikin, that no game can be taken for granted.  I think the coaching staff will make sure players get the time they need to stay game ready, whether they need to play 10 minutes or 30.

[iwumichigander]

In regards to the minutes played by the IWU starters--I'm sure Mia Smith is well aware of the possible problems.  For the record, I don't think fatigue played a major role in last season's playoff loss to Wash U.  The team didn't seem to get its game going until midway through the second half, when they finally showed the relentless run and jump defense, and they almost pulled off the comeback.  Saturday's loss to Carthage followed something of the same pattern, as did the near loss to Elmhurst at Elmhurst last season, where the Titans were down by 20 in the second half.  In the Pantagraph story about Saturday's loss at Carthage, Coach Smith referred to her team's "lack of effort."  I think the fast start on Tuesday was the team's response to that.

It's clear, with the upcoming games against Elmhurst and Millikin, that no game can be taken for granted.  I think the coaching staff will make sure players get the time they need to stay game ready, whether they need to play 10 minutes or 30.

As to minutes played, I agree with HT.  From a team success perspective, it is not so much how many minutes an individual plays as what you accomplish in the minutes you do play with effort, efficiency and productivity.

[RogK]

From the conference-games-only stats, of the 30 top scorers listed, eight are newcomers to the league :
Kamauria Acree NP 18.2
Diana Jacklin C 14.1
Christine Karl NC 13.7
Lyndsey Thompson NP 12.1
Latrice "Sophie" Newson NC 10.1
Dana Christensen NP 8.7
Rashida Joiner E 8.4
Brooke Olson W 7.2

No conclusions drawn; just thought it was interesting.

[Mr. Ypsi]

From the conference-games-only stats, of the 30 top scorers listed, eight are newcomers to the league :
Kamauria Acree NP 18.2
Diana Jacklin C 14.1
Christine Karl NC 13.7
Lyndsey Thompson NP 12.1
Latrice "Sophie" Newson NC 10.1
Dana Christensen NP 8.7
Rashida Joiner E 8.4
Brooke Olson W 7.2

No conclusions drawn; just thought it was interesting.

And NONE of the top 13 are Titans.  Incredibly balanced team - #14,14,16,17 ARE Titans.

Something that will probably shock no one: IWU is way out on top for scoring margin (by 14.2 ppg over #2 Elmhurst).  Carthage is in almost a dead-heat with Elmhurst: +7.6 to +7.1.  Millikin is 4th at +4.6.

IWU is also first in fg%, fg defense, rebounding margin (despite being last in offensive rpg), assists, steals, and turnover margin.

Since IWU would be the first Pool C selected (if necessary), and Carthage would be a veritable lock, I'm almost rooting for Elmhurst to win the tourney - three CCIW teams would be so sweet!  (But, in reality, I'll have to root for my Titans in the tourney. )

[Hoosier Titan]

Since IWU would be the first Pool C selected (if necessary), and Carthage would be a veritable lock, I'm almost rooting for Elmhurst to win the tourney - three CCIW teams would be so sweet!   (But, in reality, I'll have to root for my Titans in the tourney. )

Ooh, Mr. Ypsi!  Referring back to the superstitions previously discussed....As a Titan fan I don't even want to consider the possibility of  them being a Pool C.  But to each his (her) own superstition.

[Titan Q]

Christina Solari 1st Team All-District ESPN...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/article_db729bc0-120d-11df-9321-001cc4c002e0.html

Not only a great player,  but she has a 3.84 GPA.

[RogK]

Millikin's Elise Wildman is our conference's other honoree on that academic all-star team.
Elise and Christina are very smart on the court and off.
Congrats to the both of 'em!

[RogK]

Mr Ypsi, while IWU leads in over-all FG pct in conference play, their 2 point FG pct is even more impressive at .546.
- - - - -  2FG - - - -- - - - - - 3FG
IWU   203/372  .546       59/187  .316
MILL   142/295  .481       65/170  .382
ELM   189/393  .481       36/119  .303
CART  161/348  .463      54/138  .391
AUG   144/328  .439       40/139  .288
NP      164/399  .411      24/111  .216
NC     134/343  .391       44/158  .278
WHE   141/374  .377      56/171  .327

[RogK]

A better measure than over-all FG pct is FG Pts/FG att.
Over-all FG pct treats a 2FG as equal to a 3FG.
Current conference-only FG Pts per FG att:
IWU 1.043  (583/559)
Mill   1.030  (479/465)
Cart  .996  (484/486)
Elm   .949  (486/512)
Aug   .874  (408/467)
Whe  .826  (450/545)
NC    .798  (400/501)
NP    .784  (400/510)
This stat is definitely not a complete measure of a team's offense :
it doesn't give any credit for scoring points via FTs and doesn't credit offensive rebounds (2nd and 3rd chances always help);
and it doesn't penalize for turnovers, a major factor troubling some offenses.
Points per possession is the best stat to rank offenses, but unfortunately possessions are not shown in the box scores (we've discussed that before).