WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Roundball999]

With a fair degree of confidence, I'll predict the winner of the DePauw/IWU title game will be the new #1 when the poll comes out (with UWSP likely to be #2 if they beat St. Thomas tomorrow).

If IWU beats DePauw, wouldn't Mount Union have a better chance than IWU to be #1?

In any case, I'd be surprised if they put a team that already has a loss at #1 this early, when their are still plenty of top notch teams that are undefeated.  I'd guess UWSP,  or DePauw if it wins today.

[Mr. Ypsi]

D'oh!   My brain has not yet moved from football to basketball - I completely forgot IWU's opening game loss to Mt. Union!  I agree that with so many excellent teams still undefeated, no way would a team with a loss be ranked #1 this early in the season.

[Mr. Ypsi]

OUCH - DePauw thumps IWU by 23!

As the only still undefeated teams among the preseason top 9, I'll predict DePauw #1 and Mount Union as #2.  Lebanon Valley is still undefeated as the preseason #10, but they haven't played anybody, so I'll go with the triangle of Calvin, UWSP, and St. Thomas as the next three (in whatever order) - Calvin beat St. Thomas, UWSP beat Calvin, and St. Thomas beat UWSP.

[iwu70]

Yes, the Titans basically got it handed to them today by an excellent DP team.  DP was up 34 at one point in the second half.  The story here is DP able to handle the IWU press/pressure, shoot a very high percentage, win the TO battle,  . . . need I say more.  DP shot almost 50%, the Titans, never getting into a good offensive flow, shot 35%.  Nuff said.  DP had excellent ball movement and beat the "run and jump" more times than not.  This DP team will go far this year.  IWU will bounce back and surely play and shoot better in future, surely better than they did today.  Titans shot about 20% in the first half.  Overall, the Titans played rather poorly today.  This game should tell Mia and the Titans that at times run and jump will not suffice and that some better half court play, sets, and offensive plays are needed.  Perhaps some of the high post sets used by Olivia Lett last year, with McMahon and Seibring on the high block.  A thought.  We'll see.  The Titans just looked a bit tired today, out of sorts offensively, after all the effort used in beating Coe yesterday, and also looked like they just hadn't had to play a game in the half court all that often.  Hence, the unease with playing against a very tough, an excellent defensive team playing in the half court. 

In the first game, for third place, Wash U blew out Coe, even more than I expected.  And, an alert to the rest of DIII, almost all of the Wash U players are underclassmen.  They have many excellent players playing major minutes who are freshmen and sophomores.  They are going to be very very good for a long long time to come -- yes, you say, when weren't Wash U teams good.  I agree, but it is striking how young, AND how good, the Wash U squad is.  They came within a point of beating DP on Saturday, really should have won the game.  When they learn how to win more close games, look out.  We all know how well coached they are, what a tradition Wash U has in women's hoops.  FYI.

Lots of lessons to be learned from the Titans poor game today vs. DP.  I'm sure they will be learned and the Titans will adjust and play better in future weeks.

IWU70 

[RogK]

Carthage picked up an impressive 68-46 win over Chicago yesterday.
Michelle Wenzel scored a very efficient 18 pts (5/7 2FG, 8/9 FT).
Carthage limited the visitors to 8/30 2FG shooting. Carthage committed only 7 turnovers.
p.s. I added a comment to the end of post 3367.

[RogK]

Also over the weekend: Augie was edged by Webster 73-63. Amy Hicks did well for Augie with 13 pts, 6 rebs.
North Central got past Benedictine 96-91. Jenny Swanson scored 17 efficiently (5/9 3FG, 2/4 FT). Maryssa Cladis had 14 pts and 8 rebs.
As for speculation on who should be ranked number 1 etc, let's all remember that the preseason rankings were based on 0 games. The preseason rankings should be shredded and forgotten and have no impact on subsequent, result-based rankings.

[RogK]

Congratulations to the new conference player of the week, Sarah Peterson.

[D-3 watcher]

IWU lady titans game has been moved, they will play Tuesday, at 5:15 in front of the boys. Probable to try and save money, 1 bus trip instead of 2. Should be a good double header

[iwu70]

Yes, pre-season polls, even early season polls mean rather little, as we pretty much know which programs are strong, have strong returning classes, strong coaching and traditions of late season tournament success.  Lots of these strong programs playing each other early to really test where they are, then make adjustments, get back all their injured players for their conference runs. 

I would be rather surprised if DePauw is not ranked #1 this week.  And, Wash U is going to be a very very good team this year.  Very young, but very good.  Titans have some work to do, but are still going to be very good down the road.  IMHO.

Another challenge with WI-WW, now moved to Tuesday night at 5:15 p.m. @Shirk, as mentioned.  Men's game to follow at 7:30 p.m.

National championship banner to come down for the women before the U Chicago game on Saturday, December 1st, @Shirk, @ 1:55 p.m. 

IWU70

[Gregory Sager]

Congratulations to the new conference player of the week, Sarah Peterson.

It sure was great to see that. It's NPU's first POW award since LaRae Kostreva won one back in 2008-09.

Sarah's the key to the season for NPU. As Sarah goes, the Vikings go.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Ah, nailed it on the poll - #1 DePauw, #2 Mt. Union, then UWSP, Calvin, and St. Thomas.

RogK, I agree about the preseason poll - by January!  But so far there are very few results (and for many teams, NO meaningful results).  Expectations based on program history, returning rosters, etc., will inevitably (and IMO should) have an impact for several more weeks while this year's results slowly come in.

But your concern about preseason polling is precisely why I don't even start the (men's) Posters' Poll until January!  I'd love to see someone start a women's PP (I'd be a voter, but haven't the ambition to run both).

[badgerwarhawk]

IWU lady titans game has been moved, they will play Tuesday, at 5:15 in front of the boys. Probable to try and save money, 1 bus trip instead of 2. Should be a good double header

Not quite as the two teams will travel separately.  The men don't want to leave as early as they would need to for the women and the women don't want to wait as late as they would have to for the men.   So each will take their own bus. 

[D-3 watcher]

Wow, pretty free with the states taxpayers money. Bus trip that far will run you about a grand.

[iwu70]

Yes, DePauw at #1 sounds right to me.  They are good.  IWU down to a more realistic #17 in the poll.  Strange to see Carthage drop out.  Everyone can work their way back into the top ten now.  I think DePauw and Wash U will figure in the post season, almost for sure.  George Fox dropped way down too.  Hannah Munger not back yet from injury.  Titans have another good test with Whitewater, Tuesday @The Shirk, @ 5:15 p.m.

IWU70

[Mr. Ypsi]

Last year IWU was #17 in the preseason poll, then dropped out completely for several weeks (a couple of them they did not receive a single point), and never did make it back above #16 in the final regular season poll - that season worked out pretty well!  I'm always interested in the poll results, but I've learned not to worry about them too much!

After all, we have a tournament, not a BCS!