WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

Pat Coleman · July 23, 2013, 04:30:20 PM

We look forward to seeing them in Vegas again in the D3hoops.com Classic!

RogK · July 23, 2013, 06:53:38 PM

Elmhurst's new schedule is here :
http://www.elmhurstbluejays.com/schedule.aspx?path=wbball

RogK · August 26, 2013, 01:45:24 PM

Within the 14-game conference schedule last season, Augustana did not end up scoring in the 50s, 70s or 80s. They scored in the 30s twice (0-2), in the 40s four times (0-4), in the 60s seven times (2-5) and in the 90s once (0-1). Their 57.3 avg in CCIW play was well below the composite 75.9 that the top half of the league averaged.
I think I just heard somebody say "That composite 75.9 includes North Central's 86.1 and they finished 6-8." OK, the three best teams (who went 35-7) averaged a composite 72.6, still 15 per game better than Augie.
So, what's the answer? (what the heck was the question?!)

iwu70 · August 28, 2013, 01:45:14 AM

Hey RogK, how 's it going?

Looking forward to the new season and seeing what the Titans can do. Sure do need some new size and rebounding. Good to have several key players back in Baltes, Seibring and McMahon -- for another go 'round. Lots of questions to be answered from there on in the Titans' lineup, roster. Perhaps Scurlock starts, perhaps one of the Reabers? Not sure. Newbies to be determined, tested.

Guess your post on Augie illustrates the basic point -- you gotta be able to put the ball in the basket, even if you have great defense. I expect the Titans to again be very good on defense, but not sure how it all pans out offensively. We'll see come November. A new season, a new go 'round.

Football first.

IWU70

RogK · September 06, 2013, 11:38:17 AM

iwu70, I think the Titans will be right up there near the top of the league (I foresee Carthage at the very top).
Augie's new schedule is here :
http://www.athletics.augustana.edu/schedule.aspx?path=wbball&

Mr. Ypsi · September 06, 2013, 08:29:27 PM

Quote from: RogK on September 06, 2013, 11:38:17 AM
iwu70, I think the Titans will be right up there near the top of the league (I foresee Carthage at the very top).
Augie's new schedule is here :
http://www.athletics.augustana.edu/schedule.aspx?path=wbball&

While there might be the occasional down season, I think it is safe to predict that the Titans will always be contenders as long as Mia Smith is coaching. Three years in a row I predicted doom-and-gloom based on graduation losses; each year they went further in the postseason, culminating in the title! It finally got through my thick skull that Mia Smith did not graduate.

Graduating the national POY was finally a loss that even Mia could not overcome, but I have NO doubts that they will rebound. Carthage might be too big an obstacle to surmount this year, but the Titans will be right in the thick of it, and I wouldn't bet too heavily against Mia Smith!

iwu70 · September 08, 2013, 06:38:57 AM

Yup, I agree Ypsi, that Mia will put something together that will contend. Do worry about size and rebounding, even with the run and jump, perimeter style of play our Titans have utilized in recent years. Too many good teams have some size and rebounding that we often cannot match. Pretty sure IWU will contend this year, though CC surely is the favorite given what they did last year and who they have coming back. Look forward to the season and hope for very strong seasons for Seibring, McMahon, Baltes and the others. We'll have to see if any of the newbies can start, or contribute significantly. Reabers and Scurlock, perhaps Beoletto likely in the mix for the rotation this year. Gardner and Bilek will surely be missed -- both with great careers, different kinds of major contributions to the 18-8 season last year and the better seasons previously. Seems Olivia Lett is tearing it up in Spain, having a major impact. Not surprising, but great to see.

IWU70

iwu70 · September 14, 2013, 03:19:21 AM

IWU team doing great work for Race for the Cure. Way to go Titans! Keep going . . .

IWU70

RogK · October 02, 2013, 11:44:35 AM

Carthage's web site shows a new roster, including 14 returning Lady Reds and 7 freshmen :
http://athletics.carthage.edu/roster.aspx?path=wbball
Less than two weeks until practices begin!

iwu70 · October 02, 2013, 04:03:21 PM

Carthage roster looks formidable -- lots of experience there. Pretty sure they will be voted the favorites to win the conference and ranked well nationally in pre-season polls.

I think the IWU roster will be up soon with some very pleasant surprises. Should be another great year of CCIW competition -- Carthage vs. "the school that shall not be named" --

WC will be strong again too, I would bet.

Any views by CCIW chatsters on the CCIW pre-season poll by coaches??? I'd say: CC, IWU, WC, EC, NCC, MU, NPU and AC -- but, need a lot more info, a lot more help on how it all may pan out for the new season.

IWU70

RogK · October 02, 2013, 06:15:24 PM

iwu70, under the heading of wild and irrelevant speculation, how would the Titans do if coached by Tim Bernero and how would the Lady Reds do if coached by Mia Smith? Ha ha. I think I just heard loud screams of NO!! from Kenosha and Bloomington.
Just checked and found IWU's new roster (22 players including 9 freshmen) :
http://www.iwusports.com/roster.aspx?roster=115&path=wbball
Shelby Jackson is back, but I don't see Whitney Scurlock.

iwu70 · October 02, 2013, 07:22:14 PM

RogK, yes, seems both IWU and CC are happy with the coaches they have. Sure will be a great season, with both teams returning strong contingents, contending for the CCIW crown again.

You are very observant -- good news/bad news for the Titans -- with Shelby Jackson returning, looking very strong, and Whitney Scurlock deciding not to play this year. Having Jackson back is HUGE for the Titans, giving good inside present, interior scoring, strong D and shot-blocking/rebounding and allowing Seibring to move to the 3 and 4, roam the perimeter a bit more. She's surely not a traditional 5 in DIII. I think the key is finding another perimeter player who can shot the three well, to replace Gardner's skills, scoring and quickness. Very hard to replace a player of Melissa's experience and skill, but that will be needed. Surely four of five spots pretty well set I would think now -- Baltes, McMahon, Seibring and Jackson. Other spots, rolls, TBD. We'll have to see who steps up, who has recovered from injuries, which of the newbies might make an impact. I would think Beoletto will be in the rotation, one or more Reaber, others? We'll have to wait and see what Mia cooks up with all the talent that's there -- nice to have basically four starters with much experience returning. Should be able to give CC a good run for their money in the CCIW race.

I'm on campus now for some weeks, so should get to see some scrimmages and some games -- get a better reading of where the Titans are, where they are heading this season before the CCIW race begins in earnest in January. I'm quite optimistic and, like Ypsi, have great faith in the coaching skills of Mia Smith.

GO TITANS!!!

IWU70

Mr. Ypsi · October 02, 2013, 08:56:41 PM

I used to think the same way about Lori Kerans as I do about Mia Smith - that as long as she was coaching, Millikin would always be a contender. Was her stint as AD too much of a distraction, and now she just can't get it back on track? Anyone know what has happened down in Decatur?

iwu70 · October 03, 2013, 11:59:41 AM

Ypsi, must be a talent level and recruitment problem down in Decatur. Decatur is hardly an attractive college town these days. As Dennie always said, "best to get off the bus with the best players."

Delighted Shelby Jackson is back for our Titans. I think she's going to make a huge difference in the type of squad IWU will be this year and also make several of the other players much more effective, allowing them to roam and slash in ways they couldn't without an anchor paint player like Shelby. This will make Seibring, MacMahon and Baltes much better. Key will be finding a few other strong perimeter players, with some range on the trey. Reaber, Beoletto, Considine, Ransom? . . . or one of the newbies? Too bad we lost Mullarkey, now departed to play softball at Iowa?, and that Scurlock has decided not to play this year. Both could have made good contributions, IMHO. Also, we need a strong, good back-up 5, to rebound, and to give Shelby Jackson 3-4 rest minutes on the bench each half. Again, IMHO.

In six weeks, we'll see the new starting line-up and new rotation and have a better idea of what Mia is putting together for this year's campaign. GO TITANS!!!

Looking forward to the new season -- both men and women IWU teams should be really good.

IWU70

Mr. Ypsi · October 03, 2013, 01:37:06 PM

Quote from: iwu70 on October 03, 2013, 11:59:41 AM
Ypsi, must be a talent level and recruitment problem down in Decatur. Decatur is hardly an attractive college town these days. As Dennie always said, "best to get off the bus with the best players."

True, but surely Decatur hasn't deteriorated that much in just the past 5-6 years. Now that I think about it, it is not just a women's basketball decline; back in the "Big 4, Little 4" football days, Millikin was one of the Big 4. And while the deterioration in men's bball came much earlier, they once were consistent threats, and had arguably the greatest CCIW player ever in Jesse Price. (Haven't checked other sports, but seems like they are rarely relevant in most, if not all, sports.)

Have they suffered a serious drop off in administrative support, or what is the story?