WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwu70]

Warm congrats to Coach Smith and all the Titans on their 4th consecutive CCIW regular season crown.  A twenty win season, now 20-4.  Way to go, Titans.  Keep it rolling.

Nice to see so many Titans get to play vs. NP and also for such a good cause, with a good turnout for the Pink Zone game -- over 700.

All for the good of the cause.

I'm still voting for Stacey Arlis, MOP for the season for the Titans and the league.  Olivia Lett also had another outstanding game tonight.

Keep it rolling, Titans!

[Gregory Sager]

Thanks and best of luck to NPU's only senior, Lyndsey Thompson, who completed her career today.

[Titan Q]

Congratulations to Mia Smith on one heck of a run...

2007-08: 13-1 (26-3)
2008-09: 14-0 (30-1)
2009-10: 13-1 (28-2)
2010-11: 12-1 (20-4)


When I was in school in the early '90s, IWU was anything but a CCIW powerhouse.  What Mia has built is just really impressive.

Also congrats to IWU's senior class of Holly Harvey, Nikki Preston, Sarah Cotner, Jessica Hinterlong, Hope Schulte, and Stacey Arlis.  This group has been part of 104 wins so far.  To put that in perspective, consider that the average Division III team plays just 100 games in 4 years.

Best of luck to the Titans in the CCIW and NCAA tournaments.

[BleedBlue4Life]

Quite an entertaining game in Kenosha yesterday.  After a closely contested first half with neither team getting more than a five-point lead at any point, the second half was quite the roller coaster.  Carthage built an 11-point lead early in the half, then the Big Blue fought back to take a 60-52 lead with a little over five minutes to play.  Carthage then rattled off six straight points to cut it to two with just over three to play.  However, Millikin hit their free throws down the stretch, including six straight by Beth Wellbaum in the last thirty seconds, to take the game 73-70.  Congrats to Millikin on securing the third seed in the CCIW tournament.

[Hoosier Titan]

As Q has noted, this year's IWU seniors have had an amazing run.   Mia Smith's recruiting and coaching have built the program steadily over the past ten years. 

Coach Smith is a bit of a perfectionist; she almost always notes something to be improved on.  In today's Pantagraph story, she mentions absolutely nothing in yesterday's win over North Park that she was displeased with.  I thought the first twelve minutes were as pretty a stretch of basketball as I've seen at any level.  (And let it be noted that North Park are not a bad team.  There is a lot of talent there and I understand more good players are injured).  The IWU ball movement was exceptional; Olivia Lett and Stacey Arlis are working the high-low very well indeed. 

I don't usually get too involved in all-conference and MOP discussions.  I have been thinking about the MOP, though, having seen Laura Karsten's fine game against the Titans last week.  I definitely think it's between Karsten and Stacey Arlis, and either would be a deserving winner.  Comparing a point guard and a power forward/center is obviously comparing apples to oranges.  Although my glasses are obviously tinted green, for me it's Arlis.  She's leading all of Division III in 2-point FG percentage.  As of 2/13 (NCAA website) her FGP was 64.9%; that number has only gone up with the subsequent games.  And she's not just standing under the hoop; she's constantly covered (sometimes doubled), and moves incredibly well both with and without the ball.  Christina Solari was a huge part of the Titans' success throughout her career and we all wondered how they would do without her.  She is still missed, but Stacey Arlis has stepped up big time.  For that and for her senior leadership, she deserves the MOP.

[RogK]

I attended the 72-59 Wheaton win last evening. The 1st half was largely rancid, dominated more by the refs than either team. Many turnovers due to traveling calls, but also some passes that were off-target. The star of the first half was Brooke Olson, whose sharp shooting gave the Thunder their advantage. For the game, she made 6 of 10 FGs, including 3 threes.
Elmhurst wanted to get the ball in to Megan Ney, but was often stymied by Wheaton's defense. When she did get the ball, Ney was quite productive : 5/8, 4/4 and she added 8 rebounds.
A bunch of recent Thunder players were on hand to loudly cheer Annie Bowen and Kelly Brooks for their Senior Day celebrations. And both players turned in fine on-court performances. Bowen provided her customary tough low post defense and tallied 10 pts. Brooks also played good D and poured in 18 pts (7/9, 4/7) in 18:00.
L Karsten was well-covered by Elmhurst, but she did get 4 steals and played a good all-around game, as did E Potts and L Brenneman.
Meghan Merklein hit some late threes and maybe should have shot more of 'em earlier. And freshman Meghan Fitts shot very well from distance, giving us a peek at what we may see more of, next season. She will need to improve other phases of her game. Elmhurst has one game remaining, which will wrap up the careers of some very good seniors, and also might be an opportunity to experiment with next year in mind.

[Out_Of_My_Kitchen]

This class has to be one of the top 5 in NCAA in terms of wins.  I would imagine Wash U's 4 peat would be number 1, but already 104 wins with a possible 8 more would be incredible. 

Congratulations to Mia Smith on one heck of a run...

2007-08: 13-1 (26-3)
2008-09: 14-0 (30-1)
2009-10: 13-1 (28-2)
2010-11: 12-1 (20-4)


When I was in school in the early '90s, IWU was anything but a CCIW powerhouse.  What Mia has built is just really impressive.

Also congrats to IWU's senior class of Holly Harvey, Nikki Preston, Sarah Cotner, Jessica Hinterlong, Hope Schulte, and Stacey Arlis.  This group has been part of 104 wins so far.  To put that in perspective, consider that the average Division III team plays just 100 games in 4 years.

Best of luck to the Titans in the CCIW and NCAA tournaments.

[bblover]

I caught the video of the Millikin-Carthage game and attended the Elmhurst-Wheaton game. The second half of the earlier game was definitely a kick (it even included a fire alarm, a false one, at half-time). For Elmhurst fans, it surely was a roller coaster for those final 20 minutes, with a horrific conclusion.

The score was tied at half-time in Wisconsin,  However, five minutes into the second half, Carthage raced to an 11-point lead, 47-36. Millikin, which seemed to have lost its mojo in recent games, finally found that special ingredient (called teamwork). Outscoring Carthage 15-2 over the next five minutes, they found themselves with a 2 point lead, 51-49, at the 10-minute mark. Five minutes later, Millikin increased their lead to 8, 60-52. From one extreme to the other. Wow. Carthage, which had scored just 5 points in 10 minutes rallied. Three times, at 2:17, at 1:26 and finally at 0:40 seconds left, Carthage took a one-point lead. Millikin had the answer each time. In the end, Millikin hit their final 8 free throws and played smart, earning a well-deserved and important 3-point victory.

For the game, Carthage hit an impressive 15 of 17 free throws, but it was paltry compared to Millikin's 25 out of 27. Amazing

No doubt, the final result took the starch out of Elmhurst that, up until that result, still saw a way, albeit a long route to the CCIW playoffs. As Roger aptly described, with both teams playing for nothing but pride, it was a pretty ugly game. It was fairly close from time to time, but Wheaton always seemed to be in control.

Congratulation to IWU, which I agree, put together another special group despite losing some key players from last year's team. They have had an incredible season (so far). Overall, it was an off-year for the CCIW. Millikin, Carthage, and especially Elmhurst have to be disappointed with their inconsistent play. To Wheaton's credit, they took advantage of the relatively weak CCIW play, doing well in conference. Other than being handled by IWU, they lost one game. I, for one, will be very surprised if IWU does not easily move ahead to the D3 tournament and does well there.

As far the MOP, I agree with John Wooden; such awards should not be given out. Basketball is a team sport. I would say the same about Coach of the Year. About 90+% of the time, this award goes to the coach with the best record. Often, another coach has done a lot more with a lot less. However, this year, if you must give out this award too, Mia Smith is clearly deserving.

[thunder38]

I would say the same about Coach of the Year. About 90+% of the time, this award goes to the coach with the best record. Often, another coach has done a lot more with a lot less. However, this year, if you must give out this award too, Mia Smith is clearly deserving.

Via the record Mia Smith is clearly deserving but if you're looking for the coach who's actually coached their team into the position they're at right now then it's Wheaton's Kent Madsen.  He wasn't even supposed to be the head coach and he took a team picked preseason fifth in the conference and had them a couple plays away from knocking off IWU and hosting the conference tournament is definitely COY worthy.

[RogK]

Congratulations to Augie's Kristen Fox, CCIW Player of the Week.
Kristen has fought back from injury several times in her career in order to get back on the court. She obviously loves basketball and her teammates.
It is nice that she will end her career having won at least two of her last three games. She is among the top scorers and rebounders of the conference.
She deserves, and will get, all-CCIW honors.

[iwu70]

Congrats to Coach Smith and all the Titans on a superb regular season and CCIW championship, now 21-4, CCIW 13-1.  Keep it rolling Titans!!!

[7express]

Congrats to Coach Smith and all the Titans on a superb regular season and CCIW championship, now 21-4, CCIW 13-1.  Keep it rolling Titans!!!

Saw them play and beat Kean in New Jersey on New Year's eve day.  Beating Kean especially at Harwood arena the last couple of years is very difficult, not even Amherst could do that.  With the final 4 being at their school I wouldn't be surprized if  they ended up winning the title this year; their certainly playing like it.

[thunder38]

Defaulting to someone who knows the national picture better than I...but is it possible for Wheaton to snag a Pool C look if they lose to IWU on Saturday?  At that point they would finish 19-7.  I know it depends a little bit on the Regional Rankings (With the UWL loss last week I would think the Thunder would slide into RR somewhere there) when they're re-released as well as how the WIAC plays out (with UWSP or UWW needing to win their tournament).

[iwumichigander]

Defaulting to someone who knows the national picture better than I...but is it possible for Wheaton to snag a Pool C look if they lose to IWU on Saturday?  At that point they would finish 19-7.  I know it depends a little bit on the Regional Rankings (With the UWL loss last week I would think the Thunder would slide into RR somewhere there) when they're re-released as well as how the WIAC plays out (with UWSP or UWW needing to win their tournament).

I think we CCIW fans have to hope the WIAC and UAA destroy each other to have any chance of getting Wheaton in.  Right now I just do not see CCIW getting more than one team in.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Defaulting to someone who knows the national picture better than I...but is it possible for Wheaton to snag a Pool C look if they lose to IWU on Saturday?  At that point they would finish 19-7.  I know it depends a little bit on the Regional Rankings (With the UWL loss last week I would think the Thunder would slide into RR somewhere there) when they're re-released as well as how the WIAC plays out (with UWSP or UWW needing to win their tournament).

I think we CCIW fans have to hope the WIAC and UAA destroy each other to have any chance of getting Wheaton in.  Right now I just do not see CCIW getting more than one team in.

Unless (God forbid!) someone other than IWU wins the tourney.  The Titans would be a lock for a C.