WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

I don't believe they are allowed to play the entire tournament at home.  That was Hope's problem over the last two years.....if you host the Fnal Four you can't host the Sectional Round.  They will most likely have to go on the road weekend after next and that is where Hope stumbled.

I suspect that is right, and (since they don't have the FF any more ) I suspect Hope, assuming they survive, will host the sectional.  In which case, the Titans (assuming THEY survive) could have the opportunity to eliminate the entire MIAA on their home turf!   (It might really help Pat sort out the AA centers if Solari battles Verkaik and Snikkers in back-to-back games!)

[Just Bill]

I don't believe they are allowed to play the entire tournament at home.  That was Hope's problem over the last two years.....if you host the Fnal Four you can't host the Sectional Round.  They will most likely have to go on the road weekend after next and that is where Hope stumbled.

It's not prohibited by rule, but the NCAA committee has shown in the past that they will avoid allowing that to happen unless they have to.

[iwumichigander]

I don't believe they are allowed to play the entire tournament at home.  That was Hope's problem over the last two years.....if you host the Fnal Four you can't host the Sectional Round.  They will most likely have to go on the road weekend after next and that is where Hope stumbled.

It's not prohibited by rule, but the NCAA committee has shown in the past that they will avoid allowing that to happen unless they have to.

I have not found a rule prohibiting it either.
In '08 and '09, D3Hoops had both Hope Men's and Women's team ranked #1.  For this post, I'm going to assume the committees had them ranked the same way.
With the 'even year rule' in '08, Hope Men hosted 1st & 2nd rounds which put the Hope Women on the road. 
In '09 with the 'odd year rule', Hope Women hosted the 1st & 2nd Rounds, sending the Men to Wheaton.  If Hope Men had won in Wheaton, under the 'odd/even year rules' they could have likely hosted the sectional. 
Whether or not the Women's committee had some discussion about that prospect in making up the '09 brackets?  We'll never really know.  And, it is fair to speculate the "buzz" if a given team had a home court advantage throughout the tournament.

[RogK]

From the Elmhurst web site :
"Elmhurst finished the season with an 18-9 overall record and a 10-4 mark in the CCIW. The Bluejays reached the CCIW tournament title game for the first time in school history while winning 18 games for the first time in 24 years. The squad's 10 CCIW victories marked the first time Elmhurst has won double-digit conference contests in 19 years."
Nicely done, Coach Werner, her staff and of course, the players!

[Mr. Ypsi]

From the Elmhurst web site :
"Elmhurst finished the season with an 18-9 overall record and a 10-4 mark in the CCIW. The Bluejays reached the CCIW tournament title game for the first time in school history while winning 18 games for the first time in 24 years. The squad's 10 CCIW victories marked the first time Elmhurst has won double-digit conference contests in 19 years."
Nicely done, Coach Werner, her staff and of course, the players!

With no disrespect intended for anyone else, you've gotta chalk that up first-and-foremost to Lyndsie Long.  (In retrospect, I'm not sure why I bothered debating POY - I was just offended that some saw it as a 'slam dunk', like Christina Solari was chopped liver.)

With juniors-to-be Meghan Merklein and Megan Ney, they obviously have a strong nucleus to build around, but I wonder if they'll take a step back with the graduation of LL?  (Though I admit I expected the same thing when IWU graduated three excellent seniors last year. )

IF Coach Werner is building anything close to what Coach Smith has built, I suppose they'll find some players on the bench to step right up.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Also, a shame the way the d3 selections are done (though I support the philosophy).  Elmhurst had a near zero chance of selection, but they would DESTROY half the teams in the field.

[Bulldog8]

Mr. Ypsi, I don't think anyone thought Solari was chopped liver... Yes, she is a great player but her team is 10+ deep. They do not need her to put up the kind of number that Long did and that's why Long received POY. To me, POY is someone that is a game changer and a producer on the court. Again, I know Solari can do all of these things but she didn't have to because of her supporting cast. Us Bluejay fans saw day in and day out that Long needed to do these things to help her team win. Except, for the last game against Carthage when her teammates stepped up when she had a hard time getting open. This shows that these girls will be a force to be re-conned with in the coming years. Werner has built a solid team in her 3 years of coaching at Elmhurst. They will be back in the conference championship next year, I can feel it.

On another note, I agree with your last post with Elmhurst being able to play with some of those teams that did make the NCAA tourney. I mean, they beat Carthage twice (almost 3 times) and they are a top 10 team IN THE NATION! I would have thought the NCAA would want to see Long perform on the "big stage" .

[Bulldog8]

When does All-Region and All-American Usually come out?

[Titan Q]

Mr. Ypsi, I don't think anyone thought Solari was chopped liver... Yes, she is a great player but her team is 10+ deep. They do not need her to put up the kind of number that Long did and that's why Long received POY. To me, POY is someone that is a game changer and a producer on the court. Again, I know Solari can do all of these things but she didn't have to because of her supporting cast.

I think the 2010 M.O.P. award went to the right player - let me first make that clear.  But I'm really surprised by all of the posts that suggest that because IWU is so deep, the Titans somehow don't need Christina Solari as much as Elmhurst needed Lyndsie Long.  That somehow IWU just plugs different players in and the system takes it from there.

Christina Solari is an incredibly skilled low-post player that completely changes the game.  The way she uses her strength and her lower body to establish position is something you just don't see very often.  Her ability to consistently get great low-post position, which leads to every opponent to have to double her, is the #1 key to IWU's offense.  Without her on the floor, IWU is a completely different team.

I really think many here underestimate the impact Solari has on everything this Illinois Wesleyan team does.  Yes, she does not have to score as much as Long did for Elmhurst to be successful, but her presence is critical for the Titans.

[Titan Q]

Congratulations to Christina Solari and Lyndsie Long on the Jostens Award nominations....what an honor.

[Bulldog8]

Congratulations to Christina Solari and Lyndsie Long on the Jostens Award nominations....what an honor.

It's great to see 2 nominees from the same conference. CCIW representing!! Congrats ladies and best of luck.

[Old Hoosier Baller]

Thanks to all posters for your insights.  It is clear that the CCIW is certainly one of the strongest conferences in the country.  Mr. Ypsi's comment about Elmhurst destroying many teams in the field is right on the money.   The Bluejays handed Carthage two of their four losses and were within a half-court shot from beating the Lady Reds three times.  They also blew out IWU's first-round opponent, Franklin College (21-6), by thirty on Franklin's home court back in November.

Best of luck to IWU and Carthage this weekend.  While I anticipate that IWU has an excellent chance to go all the way, it would be nice to see both CCIW teams do well.

Congratualtions to Lyndsie Long and Christina Solari for the Josten's nomination and to all of the CCIW All-Conference selections. 

[iwu70]

Warm congrats to Christina Solari and LL on Josten.  Well deserved.

Good luck to IWU and Carthage as the Dance begins.

[Titan Q]

Article on Hope Schulte, from a paper near her hometown...

http://www.thejournal-news.net/articles/2010/03/04/sports/college/college01.txt

[CCIWFAN3]

TitanQ...thanks for defending Christina.  Most posters, fans, parents, etc have no idea how much of an impact Christina has on her team.  The opposing teams do though:)  I could post 10 pages on C.S.  Her basketball instincts are 2nd to none.  And she does all of it quiet and subtle.  Let me just say she is the best post player I've ever been around.  She makes everyone on her team better.