WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[RogK]

What to make of Augustana?
They started the season 10-0, followed by 7-9. Ending on a sour note, getting thumped by 30 by Wheaton, yet it was their best season in a long time.
The four seniors (Kallenberger, Fallon, VanWatermeulen, Mayer) were very important contributors, accounting for 45% of points scored, 44% of rebounds, 45% of made threes, 41% of made FTs. So, a substantial uptick in production will be needed from the returning group and any newcomers.
The returning players whose scoring average exceeded 7 are Izzy Anderson (11.7) and Corrie Reiley (11.3); those two can likely raise those numbers next season, given additional opportunity.
The others who played a lot (over 100 minutes) - Clare Kramer, Victoria Allen, Sadie Roberts, Carly McCameron and Meghan Stovall - all helped out competently, doing a variety of things well. They can't replicate Kallenberger's defensive presence, but there is a good mix of tall energetic players.
Not sure how much full-court pressing they'll do, without Kaycee back there guarding the hoop.
McCameron is highly active (rebs, blocks, steals, decent scoring) in her time on the court, but does pick up fouls every 4 or 5 minutes. Given her production, I'd let her play till she fouls out. Why not? Unused fouls cannot be saved for future games.
Stovall incidentally led the team with a .543 eFG%, so she might be among those who can carry more of the scoring load.
5'7" freshman Alexis Jones had 33 rebounds in just 96 minutes, which might indicate promise for her future.
When Augie has it going in high gear, they are a fun team to watch. When their enthusiasm wanes (as I observed in that 30 pt loss), they're a so-so team.
They should be at minimum a middle-of-the pack team next season, but it's a question whether a 10-6 CCIW record can be achieved without Kallenberger etc.
What do the rest of you think of Augie for next year?

[lmitzel]

I think I'd have to agree on Augie. Losing Kallenberger is the biggest blow just because of what all it allows them to do defensively (and offensively too, since a 6'5" post player will require attention at all times) and they lost a bunch of good guards obviously. It all depends on recruiting too, and who knows what Mark Beinborn has up his sleeve. I don't think they're a CCIW Tournament team as constructed next year, but 8-8 or 9-7 should be doable.

Now, if they get some sort of super prospect this spring...

[iwu70]

IWU in a good position for next year with the big three back:  Ehresman, McGraw and Merritt, all three All-Conference quality.  Losing some key seniors,esp. Kelly, but many good players coming behind, esp. Schneider and Shanks.  I'm sure Mia Smith will again have a good recruiting year, so I'm very optimistic about the TITANS next season.  They will be a contender for the CCIW championship.

Time for baseball and softball.

IWU'70

[RogK]

The CCIW got 40% of the 15 positions among the D3Hoops All-Region team honorees.
3rd team : Rebekah Ehresman and Kaycee Kallenberger
2nd team : Molly McGraw and Liz Rehberger
1st team : Katie McDaniels and Mikaela Eppard.
The Katie also got Central Region Player of the Year. Nicely done, all.

[Gregory Sager]

Congrats to Liz Rehberger on a fine capstone to her tremendous career as a Viking!

[shepherd]

Congratulations to Katie McDaniels on repeating as Central region player of the year.
Not only a very good athlete also an all American academic whose demeanor while playing portrayed the grace she professed.
You didn't see her in the refs ear after fouls just an athlete who wore a smile on her face while playing the game she loved to play!

Well done Katie McDaniels.

[iwu70]

Congrats to all the CCIW honorees for All-region awards.  CCIW with a very good showing.  More coming next year. 

IWU'70

[GoPerry]

The CCIW got 40% of the 15 positions among the D3Hoops All-Region team honorees.
3rd team : Rebekah Ehresman and Kaycee Kallenberger
2nd team : Molly McGraw and Liz Rehberger
1st team : Katie McDaniels and Mikaela Eppard.
The Katie also got Central Region Player of the Year. Nicely done, all.

I add my congratulations to all honorees and to Katie McDaniels in her repeat selection as Central Region Player of the Year.  I think Katie will get strong consideration for D3Hoops Player of the Year although I suspect it will go to Lisa Murphy of Carnegie Mellon(despite CM not making the NCAA field post season).

[GoPerry]

What to make of Augustana?
They started the season 10-0, followed by 7-9. Ending on a sour note, getting thumped by 30 by Wheaton, yet it was their best season in a long time.
The four seniors (Kallenberger, Fallon, VanWatermeulen, Mayer) were very important contributors, accounting for 45% of points scored, 44% of rebounds, 45% of made threes, 41% of made FTs. So, a substantial uptick in production will be needed from the returning group and any newcomers.
The returning players whose scoring average exceeded 7 are Izzy Anderson (11.7) and Corrie Reiley (11.3); those two can likely raise those numbers next season, given additional opportunity.
The others who played a lot (over 100 minutes) - Clare Kramer, Victoria Allen, Sadie Roberts, Carly McCameron and Meghan Stovall - all helped out competently, doing a variety of things well. They can't replicate Kallenberger's defensive presence, but there is a good mix of tall energetic players.
Not sure how much full-court pressing they'll do, without Kaycee back there guarding the hoop.
McCameron is highly active (rebs, blocks, steals, decent scoring) in her time on the court, but does pick up fouls every 4 or 5 minutes. Given her production, I'd let her play till she fouls out. Why not? Unused fouls cannot be saved for future games.
Stovall incidentally led the team with a .543 eFG%, so she might be among those who can carry more of the scoring load.
5'7" freshman Alexis Jones had 33 rebounds in just 96 minutes, which might indicate promise for her future.
When Augie has it going in high gear, they are a fun team to watch. When their enthusiasm wanes (as I observed in that 30 pt loss), they're a so-so team.
They should be at minimum a middle-of-the pack team next season, but it's a question whether a 10-6 CCIW record can be achieved without Kallenberger etc.
What do the rest of you think of Augie for next year?

RogK, I actually expect Augustana to be about right where they ended up this year - slightly above the middle of the pack in the CCIW.  The lose Kallenberger, but Corrie Reiley and Izzy Anderson are very good players and form a very solid backcourt from which to build.  Every team wants size in the middle to accompany solid guard play.  But if you don't have the latter, the former matters very little, especially in the women's game.

Also, while KK was no doubt a defensive and rebounding force to be reckoned with, she slowed the team down a little when she was in and it might benefit the Vikes to have a 4 or 5 with more mobility and more offensive variety.  Kaycee got alot of her points off of put backs gathered from her sheer size advantage.

[RogK]

So what does 2017-18 look like for Carroll? I think their 1-23 season in 2016-17 could be summarized as arduous, with a few hints of better things to come.
They allowed 85 pts per game, which would be tolerable if they scored 85, but they averaged 55. Their team eFG% was .388 while opponents registered .544.
They committed 22 TOs per game and got outrebounded by 12.
Brittney Wald made all-conference, averaging 15.9 pts and 6.6 rebs. She shot 44% on 2FGs and 39% on 3FGs, had 3.8 FT att/g and 2 steals/g.
Morgan Lund averaged 14 pts in Jan-Feb and was a good rebounder (21 per 100 min for the season); she got to the foul line often -- 5.5 att/g. Her FG% was .360 (no 3FG involved). Surprisingly few blocks and steals for an athletic 5'9" player - I'd expect more next season.
Other players who played a lot and made valuable contributions : Meredith Polzin, Sara Hartl, Caylee Koker (10 pts, 5 rebs), Hannah Kloehn, Katie Antony.
I think it would be fair to say that the Pioneers were out-sized by nearly all opponents, but that they worked very hard in discouraging circumstances.
Coach Lindsay Schultz needs to bring in a crop of taller players. Wald and Lund will be seniors next season, Polzin and Hartl juniors. Some time back in Nov or Dec, I heard that Carroll was getting a good recruit, but I never learned anything further.
We probably don't yet know what sort of team Carroll will be when they have a full-sized roster. My guess is that an overriding issue this year was just avoiding foul trouble, with only 7 players available most games. With some good additions, Carroll could move up a few spots in the CCIW standings, but it won't be easy.

[iwu70]

Tufts vs. Amherst for the Walnut and Bronze.  The strength of NE women's basketball, rising to the top. 

IWU'70

[RogK]

Congratulations to D3Hoops 1st team all-American Katie McDaniels and 3rd team all-American Mikaela Eppard. A lot of diligent hard work over many years brought them to this distinguished status. Well done!

[iwu70]

My congrats too for the CCIW All-Americans.  Way to go.  I hope Ehresman and McGraw will join you next year. 

Congrats to Amherst on their National Title, their demolition of Tufts.  Must have been a pretty boring title game.

Season over, . . . over and out.

IWU'70

[RogK]

Any other speculation or info regarding Carroll's immediate future?
Any lament regarding the CCIW not appearing in the final top 25?

[iwu70]

Congrats to Coach Fahey on her big jump from Wash U and her amazing record there to DI -- and the big challenges at the University of Illinois.  Let's hope she and the new men's head coach can bring the Illini back to prominence. 

IWU'70