WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[rfcf]

Carthage makes it to the Sweet 16 and not one player makes it to the Central All Regional Team? It doesn't make sense. 

[Pat Coleman]

Jacklin was the next-best vote-getter among post players, the first player left off the team. As a sophomore I am sure she will have other opportunities. When you're going up against the WIAC and Wash U, like the Central Region does, it's an accomplishment to make All-Region.

[RogK]

Now that everyone is done discussing Millikin, let's look at Wheaton.
The Thunder were middle-of-the-pack this season (13-12, 6-8), but will be better next year, if a few things happen :
(1) Better health for Breanna Bohlen and Lissie McAlvey and (2) just a little more help in the frontcourt.
Kelly Brooks and Lisa Ballenger are good players, but neither are 25-30 minute per game players (not so far, anyway). Annie Bowen often played the 5 position, but was out-heighted now and then, and might be best as a 4. Elisabeth Potts is definitely good as a 3 and sometimes as a 4. Add in one or two new good big players and you have a very solid group.
The guard list is pretty deep. Lindsey Brenneman is an all-conference-level player. Brooke Olson is a hard-nosed player, who could be very good, with a little refinement. Breanna Bohlen, if healthy, could become a major star. McAlvey, if healthy, would be very valuable at either guard or small forward.
Shannon McNeil, Jennifer Lee and Darcy Cornell all provided a good boost as subs.
Wheaton's returning players combined for a very good .347 3FG pct.
The team 2FG pct was only .405, though, so I'm sure they'll work on that.
What do others have to say about Wheaton?

[RogK]

The Kenosha News sports page has an article mentioning that the NCAA has in fact apologized for screwing up and letting Wash U host, when Carthage should have been the host.
http://www.kenoshanews.com/sports/index.php

[Moser]

Wheaton and Millikin are teams to watch for the 2010-11 season. Here's my scattered thoughts on the two teams.

Millikin needs depth. They had a solid starting group this season (4 sophomores, 1 junior) and Kaitlin Brassil provided scoring off of the bench. But the Big Blue rarely played more than 7 players, which makes winning against say, Illinois Wesleyan, very difficult. Millikin's roster is certainly big enough to fit a couple more people into the rotation, and I would expect that some JV players will find their way into the mix next year. The advantage Millikin has is that it's entire starting 5 returns.

I don't think 11 CCIW wins is out of the question for Millikin next year, simply based on who is returning around the league.

Wheaton needs to improve defensively. Wheaton was seventh in points allowed (73.8 ppg), fourth in field goal % defense, last in 3 pt. % defense, and last in defensive rebounding and rebounding margin. By contrast, Wheaton's 2007 CCIW Champion team was second in points allowed (58.1 ppg), first in field goal % defense, fifth in 3 pt % defense, fifth in defensive rebounding, and third in rebounding margin. Those are significant differences, especially points allowed.

There are two things Wheaton is missing defensively: consistent defensive energy and a Jill Trenz-like rebounder/post defender. Wheaton's post players are good scorers, but not as strong defensively and on the boards. Keep in mind though that Annie Bowen was not completely healthy this year. Overall, Wheaton was pretty banged up this year.

I would project Wheaton in the 8-9 win range next year, though with good recruits and overall team health 10 or 11 could be within reach.

[Pat Coleman]

The Kenosha News sports page has an article mentioning that the NCAA has in fact apologized for screwing up and letting Wash U host, when Carthage should have been the host.
http://www.kenoshanews.com/sports/index.php

Interesting that this story doesn't actually quote the NCAA.

[RogK]

The article doesn't say if the reporter tried to reach the NCAA directly.
Should he have suspected that the Carthage AD fabricated the content of the NCAA phone call?
Ideally, the NCAA would have issued a press release to explain the error.

[RogK]

Moser, if Millikin jumped from this year's 9-5 to 11-3, they would have to sweep Augie, North Park, North Central, Elmhurst and Wheaton and gain a win over IWU or Carthage. I'm assuming IWU and Carthage will still be topnotch teams next year.
Quite a bit of how next year turns out may depend on how Elmhurst does. Their loss of seniors (Long, Joiner, McTeague) is quite significant, so they may not be a 10-4 team. But, they should certainly be in the vicinity of 8-6. Maybe 9-5 or better if recruiting is fruitful.
Another question is whether Augie, North Park or North Central can show progress to the point of getting a win vs any of the other five teams. It would be nice if they could, for the sake of competitiveness (and of course for the sake of their players and coaches).

[RogK]

Moser, Wheaton's points allowed was 69.6 overall, 71.9 in CCIW play. North Central had the 73.8.
Regardless, even 73.8 is not necessarily a problem, if your offense can produce 79 or 85 or 92 points per game. (Oops, I think I just revealed by bias toward running, running and more running!)

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The article doesn't say if the reporter tried to reach the NCAA directly.
Should he have suspected that the Carthage AD fabricated the content of the NCAA phone call?
Ideally, the NCAA would have issued a press release to explain the error.

As someone that works in the media... I wouldn't say there was a fabrication of a conversation, but there could be changes in the context of a call either by the AD or by how the reporter interrupted or heard information from the AD. Also, it's one-sided. If the AD is angry or disappointed, he could alter his words slightly changing the meaning of the story completely.

I talked to the NCAA and what they told me was that the mileage mistake was made... but it wasn't a factor in the decision on who hosted. Wash U was the higher regionally ranked team and since Mount Union planned to bus to either location... a decision to fly two teams or one based on mileage wasn't part of the decision. I don't know when Mount Union informed the NCAA about their plans to bus and I did leave the ten minute conversation wondering a few things I couldn't get answered, but the message was clear... the mileage mistake wasn't made and I was told, in a some-what guarded way, the NCAA did make calls to explain the mistake but didn't apologize.

[RogK]

Until this matter came up, I wasn't aware that the NCAA pays the transportation costs for tournament teams. Too bad they can't afford to allow the top seed to host, regardless of distances.
Under the current plan, George Fox has little chance of ever hosting that round of games.

[Moser]

True about Millikin, but all I said was that 11 wins is not out of the question.

My point with Wheaton is that it has been a defensively-oriented program. Their best teams have been in the upper part of the league defensively.

[RogK]

All true, Moser. Sometimes I am an agitator. No offense intended, especially toward you, since you're one of the apparent few who are interested in the entire league.
Do you have any ideas about our three 2-12 teams, Augie, NC and NP?
Which, if any, might make a move upward in the standings in '10-'11?

[Hoosier Titan]

Hey Rog,
Some of us just didn't have the chance to see everyone this season...doesn't mean we're not interested! 

Thanks for keeping us informed. 

[RogK]

HT, can't you use some galaxy-strength (?) telescopes to look into all the CCIW gyms and monitor four games at once?
I accept the point of your post. As an observer not tied to any of the CCIW schools, I am in the unusual position of being able to go to any gym based on whim, to sample the whole league. Plus, I can easily visit half the league without having to travel for several hours after a game.
My lament probably should be that we don't have contributors on this page from all eight schools. It would be fun if we did, especially if they had the enthusiasm of you IWU supporters.