WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[RogK]

iwu70, ya beat me to it! I'll add this anyway : a nice win for IWU in game 1. The Titans' 31-18 1st quarter proved to be decisive.
IWU was generally quicker to get rebounds,especially early. Both teams admirably worked hard to the end.
I did not see IWU in person this year, but based on viewing this game, I'd say they are developing depth among a number of really good athletes.

[iwu70]

Yes, the IWU women's program has a bright future in the next few years.  Only Ellsworth graduating, so everyone else back.  They now have some size in the middle too with Merritt, a strong bench, and all the other pieces on the perimeter.  We all knew that Ehresman and McGraw were going to be All-CCIW players at some point, and now they are, as sophomores.  Mia clearly has a plan with the talent she has in place.  Hopefully, some good recruits coming in next fall too.  A good win tonight, a strong start out of the gate, as you indicated, RogK.

Let's see if they can finally give WC a run for their money -- not much luck in previous games this season.

IWU'70

[RogK]

Game 2 - Wheaton rolls past Elmhurst 82-51. Wheaton's defense dominated the 37-18 1st half. Katie McSomething (who was that #10 on Wheaton?), oh yeah, McDaniels, did rather well along with many Thunder 'mates.
In the 45-33 2nd half, several of Wheaton's secondary players showed their scoring talents.
Elmhurst did well here and there, but couldn't establish consistency.
correction : box score is up now, showing 2nd half was 45-32 and an 82-50 final.

[GoPerry]

Yes.  Incredible performance from Wheaton tonight.  59% shooting, 8/10 from the arc, hounding defense.  McDaniels was doing her thing tonight. 

Celebrate a good win for the next hour or so and then focus on tomorrow.  Can't let down now.  IWU had a similarly good game and also playing desperate to extend their season.

[iwu70]

Should be a good, worthy championship game tomorrow -- IWU vs. WC.  I expect this one to be a bit closer than than the previous two encounters.  The prevailing league power vs. the up-and-coming TITANS.

Go TITANS -- go get that AQ!

'70

[GoPerry]

I'll be very interested to see how much IWU employs the backcourt pressure.  Wheaton has better than average ball handling guards and small forwards and they decimated the Titans breaking the press at Shirk last month.  Considine had 25 or 30 points but most of those were barely contested layups from her getting behind the full court D.

The Thunder have been prone at times to buckle under aggressive D, but they should be well prepared for it tonight.  Expecting another sizeable student crowd tonight(way to go Football team for showing up!) to counter the well-travelling Green faithful.

Basically a play-in game to the tourney although Wheaton will have a bubble chance at a Pool C if they lose.  Winning the AQ will give them a chance at hosting.

[RogK]

Some irony : unless Wheaton or Illinois Wesleyan win the national championship, the CCIW's worst team this season - Millikin - will be the only one to end its season with a win.

[GoPerry]

Some irony : unless Wheaton or Illinois Wesleyan win the national championship, the CCIW's worst team this season - Millikin - will be the only one to end its season with a win.

Not that ironic RogK.  63 out of the 64 teams that make the tournament will end their season with a loss.  In fact, in any playoff in any sport, only one team wins their last game, the team that wins the championship.

[RogK]

Congratulations to the Thunder for an impressive win. They won every quarter, incidentally : by 6, 5, 6, 5.

[GoPerry]

Wheaton 92, IWU 70

Wow.  What a game by the Thunder tonight winning in decisive fashion.  They came out hot for the 2nd straight game and really didn't cool off.  Turned the ball over only 13 times against the Titan pressure.  Katie McDaniels pretty much put an exclamation point on her MOP credentials by scoring a career high 32 points, 9/11 from the field, 13/15 FT, 4 rebs, 3 asst, stl).  Chantal Meacham (13 pts, 6 asst, stl)  had a great game as well and Hannah Considine (16 pts , 7rebs, 4 blks) was great on the boards and keeping Merritt in check.

Congratulations to Coach Madsen and the crew.

I would be pleasantly surprised if Wheaton gets to host the first weekend but I think it's doubtful( and I'm not sure I can take the student announcers for another game- bless their hearts).  The problem is so many strong teams in the Central.  They are likely headed to Wash U or Oshkosh, maybe even Point or to Hope.

[Captain_Joe08]

Wheaton 92, IWU 70

Wow.  What a game by the Thunder tonight winning in decisive fashion.  They came out hot for the 2nd straight game and really didn't cool off.  Turned the ball over only 13 times against the Titan pressure.  Katie McDaniels pretty much put an exclamation point on her MOP credentials by scoring a career high 32 points, 9/11 from the field, 13/15 FT, 4 rebs, 3 asst, stl).  Chantal Meacham (13 pts, 6 asst, stl)  had a great game as well and Hannah Considine (16 pts , 7rebs, 4 blks) was great on the boards and keeping Merritt in check.

Congratulations to Coach Madsen and the crew.

I would be pleasantly surprised if Wheaton gets to host the first weekend but I think it's doubtful( and I'm not sure I can take the student announcers for another game- bless their hearts).  The problem is so many strong teams in the Central.  They are likely headed to Wash U or Oshkosh, maybe even Point or to Hope.

Concur on that. One or two deserving teams out the Central will be stuck traveling. Thinking UWO, Wash U, Hope will probably host. Won't be surprised if the NACC auto-qualifier (Wisconsin Lutheran) get's put into a pod with Wheaton and one of the teams listed.

[GoPerry]

Wheaton 92, IWU 70

Wow.  What a game by the Thunder tonight winning in decisive fashion.  They came out hot for the 2nd straight game and really didn't cool off.  Turned the ball over only 13 times against the Titan pressure.  Katie McDaniels pretty much put an exclamation point on her MOP credentials by scoring a career high 32 points, 9/11 from the field, 13/15 FT, 4 rebs, 3 asst, stl).  Chantal Meacham (13 pts, 6 asst, stl)  had a great game as well and Hannah Considine (16 pts , 7rebs, 4 blks) was great on the boards and keeping Merritt in check.

Congratulations to Coach Madsen and the crew.

I would be pleasantly surprised if Wheaton gets to host the first weekend but I think it's doubtful( and I'm not sure I can take the student announcers for another game- bless their hearts).  The problem is so many strong teams in the Central.  They are likely headed to Wash U or Oshkosh, maybe even Point or to Hope.

Concur on that. One or two deserving teams out the Central will be stuck traveling. Thinking UWO, Wash U, Hope will probably host. Won't be surprised if the NACC auto-qualifier (Wisconsin Lutheran) get's put into a pod with Wheaton and one of the teams listed.

Yeah, I'm beginning to think Wheaton might have to go to Wash U with Greenville(SLIAC AQ) and maybe DePauw?  That would be brutal.  Who else is close to St Louis distance-wise? They're probably going to make all the Wisc teams slug it out there next weekend to advance.  I don't think Whitewater will get a Pool C, but if they do, they'll probably put 2 WIAC teams in the same pod and 3 in the same quadrant.

St Thomas, Oshkosh, River Falls all hosting probably.  So all the Wisc schools heading that way.

[shepherd]

Wheaton 92, IWU 70

Wow.  What a game by the Thunder tonight winning in decisive fashion.  They came out hot for the 2nd straight game and really didn't cool off.  Turned the ball over only 13 times against the Titan pressure.  Katie McDaniels pretty much put an exclamation point on her MOP credentials by scoring a career high 32 points, 9/11 from the field, 13/15 FT, 4 rebs, 3 asst, stl).  Chantal Meacham (13 pts, 6 asst, stl)  had a great game as well and Hannah Considine (16 pts , 7rebs, 4 blks) was great on the boards and keeping Merritt in check.

Congratulations to Coach Madsen and the crew.

I would be pleasantly surprised if Wheaton gets to host the first weekend but I think it's doubtful( and I'm not sure I can take the student announcers for another game- bless their hearts).  The problem is so many strong teams in the Central.  They are likely headed to Wash U or Oshkosh, maybe even Point or to Hope.

Concur on that. One or two deserving teams out the Central will be stuck traveling. Thinking UWO, Wash U, Hope will probably host. Won't be surprised if the NACC auto-qualifier (Wisconsin Lutheran) get's put into a pod with Wheaton and one of the teams listed.

Yeah, I'm beginning to think Wheaton might have to go to Wash U with Greenville(SLIAC AQ) and maybe DePauw?  That would be brutal.  Who else is close to St Louis distance-wise? They're probably going to make all the Wisc teams slug it out there next weekend to advance.  I don't think Whitewater will get a Pool C, but if they do, they'll probably put 2 WIAC teams in the same pod and 3 in the same quadrant.

St Thomas, Oshkosh, River Falls all hosting probably.  So all the Wisc schools heading that way.

Wash U lost today vs Chicago and also has 5 losses. That could change things depending on the opponents rankings.  Not sure what they are right now.

[Captain_Joe08]

Wheaton 92, IWU 70

Wow.  What a game by the Thunder tonight winning in decisive fashion.  They came out hot for the 2nd straight game and really didn’t cool off.  Turned the ball over only 13 times against the Titan pressure.  Katie McDaniels pretty much put an exclamation point on her MOP credentials by scoring a career high 32 points, 9/11 from the field, 13/15 FT, 4 rebs, 3 asst, stl).  Chantal Meacham (13 pts, 6 asst, stl)  had a great game as well and Hannah Considine (16 pts , 7rebs, 4 blks) was great on the boards and keeping Merritt in check.

Congratulations to Coach Madsen and the crew.

I would be pleasantly surprised if Wheaton gets to host the first weekend but I think it’s doubtful( and I'm not sure I can take the student announcers for another game- bless their hearts).  The problem is so many strong teams in the Central.  They are likely headed to Wash U or Oshkosh, maybe even Point or to Hope.

Concur on that. One or two deserving teams out the Central will be stuck traveling. Thinking UWO, Wash U, Hope will probably host. Won't be surprised if the NACC auto-qualifier (Wisconsin Lutheran) get's put into a pod with Wheaton and one of the teams listed.

Yeah, I'm beginning to think Wheaton might have to go to Wash U with Greenville(SLIAC AQ) and maybe DePauw?  That would be brutal.  Who else is close to St Louis distance-wise? They're probably going to make all the Wisc teams slug it out there next weekend to advance.  I don't think Whitewater will get a Pool C, but if they do, they'll probably put 2 WIAC teams in the same pod and 3 in the same quadrant.

St Thomas, Oshkosh, River Falls all hosting probably.  So all the Wisc schools heading that way.

Depends on what happens in the Tournament games on Sunday. They could pull a team or two from the south (again depends on if they host). Doubt they get far down to UWW at the at-large consideration (would love it so Concordia Wisconsin could get to the table but that is a pipe dream).

EDIT: Then again I would chuckle if WLC and Wheaton face off again (though I fear another matchup with Hope) but as you said they may group the Wisconsin schools together and pull the MIAC champ into a pod (host possibly).

[iwu70]

Congrats to WC on the big win for the CCIW tournament crown and AQ.  Hope you make some noise in the Dance. 

Good year for IWU's young team, well-exceeding all expectations.  IWU will be back next year with about everyone back.  Should be a good future for Coach Smith and her team in the next two-three years.

Good season overall -- just wished for one more win, but WC too big, strong, fast -- and Titans had no answer for McDaniels.  Congrats to Coach Smith, all the coaches and all the Titans.  Good wishes to Samantha Ellsworth, the only departing Titan, graduating in May.  Good luck in all future endeavors after graduation, Samantha!  You have had an excellent and long Titan career -- thanks for all your dedication and contributions to the IWU program.

Good luck to Wheaton in the upcoming draw, the tournament games ahead.  Make CCIW proud.

IWU'70