WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwu70]

Time will tell.  Nobody else is 10-2 with two close losses to top 25 teams. 

Why not?

Shillosaurus Rex   

[lmitzel]

Why not?

I dunno. History? Hasn't happened since 2009... though that was also with a green-clad Mia Smith team back when Christina Solari was averaging a double-double en route to POY honors while blowing the doors off of second place Wheaton twice. And even then, it's only happened two other times (Millikin in '98 and Augie in '91).

Not to say it can't happen or won't happen again, but this requires no letdowns with two more to go against a resurgent North Park team, two with a good Elmhurst team, one at Wheaton, one at Carthage, one at home against a North Central team that's won three of the last four down at the Shirk (which means absolutely nothing for this year, I just want to milk that trend for all it's worth )... I have a healthy respect for that team in green from Bloomington, but I'm not seeing 16-0. Get it to 10 or so, then we'll talk.

[RogK]

Millikin was in action yesterday, on the short end of 61-53 vs Monmouth (IL).
Yanni Saddler led the Big Blue with 18 pts and Jordan Hildebrand added 12. No one else exceeded 6.

[iwu70]

Imitzel, I agree, very tough to get to 16-0.  History against it, for sure. You know me, the consistent IWU shill.  As I said earlier, I'd be very happy with 14-2 and the tournament at The Shirk.  WC is bound to be stronger later in the season, and NPU has certainly played well at times.  EC with their top All-Conference player, will always be a challenge.  But, I have a pretty good feeling about this Titan team.  Senior leadership, Ehresman handling the ball, few TOs, "run and jump", lots of consistent weapons from role players and freshmen playing like veterans.  We always like our Coach.  Merritt and Brovelli can pretty much match WC's size.   We'll see. 

Anyway, plenty of good basketball upcoming.

'70

[lmitzel]

Mikaela Eppard won Player of the Holiday Break Week honors after averaging 21.5 and 11.5 in two games for the Blue Jays. Well deserved.

[iwu70]

Congrats to her -- playing at a very high level.

'70

[iwu70]

IWU moves up to #23 in the new D3 poll.

'70

[GoPerry]

The Thunder ladies will face a big challenge tonight against Carthage at Tarble.  The Lady Reds sport a guard-oriented but very balanced attack led by Madie Kaelber which will test Wheaton's larger lineup.  In Wheaton's 4 losses they've been outrebounded by -7 on average while they're +2 on the boards in their wins.  So they need some more fight on the glass.  Morgan Harris especially is an extraordinary rebounder for a guard.  And whoever is on Bailey Gilbert can't leave her open for uncontested treys when she's shooting 47% from there.  They did this against Jasmin Bailey at Elmhurst and it really hurt them.

IWU will also be tested in Rock Island vs what I'm suspecting is an under-rated Augie team.  To win the league you need significant road wins.  Neither the Titans or Thunder has one yet so tonight is a big opportunity.  NPU and EC also need to take care of business in winnable road games.

According to Massey:

NPU 65 (82%) @ Carroll 53 (18%)
Wheaton 65 ( 45%)  @ Carthage 67 ( 55% )
Elmhurst  76 ( 80% ) @ Millikin 66 ( 20% )
Ill Wesleyan 81 ( 71%) @ Augustana 74 ( 29% )

[RogK]

Yep, GoPerry, we definitely have important matchups tonight.
Perhaps Augie's most consequential game of the season, an opportunity to position themselves in the top half of the league and secondarily give themselves some chance at reaching 1st place down the road. From IWU's perspective, a win today and a win Saturday vs Elmhurst would make the Titans 5-0 and almost guarantee that they'd host the conference tournament. IWU completes the 1st half of CCIW play vs North Park, Millikin and Carroll.
Wheaton or Carthage will be 1-3 later tonight. This fact alone should be sufficient incentive for a very hard-fought game.
At 0-3, Millikin needs a season-saving win tonight. An oh-and-four hole would be very difficult to climb out of. For Elmhurst, 3-1 would be a lot more comfortable than 2-2.
I see North Park at Carroll as 50-50, could go either way and probably will. (what?) Both of these teams have looked pretty good in some games, but a bit substandard in others.
GoPerry, I like your thoughts about assigning one defender to blanket Gilbert (and Jasmin Bailey) and not having any other defensive responsibility; "do not stray away from her."
With Carthage, though, Kaelber and Kalis are also easily capable of sinking 4-of-7 or 5-of-8 threes in any game. While Gilbert, Kalis and Kaelber may not all be on the floor at once, two of them likely are, warranting tight coverage at the arc. How that is accomplished is a question for all opposing coaches. Wheaton at least has the luxury of Frazier and/or Jill Berg swatting away layup attempts if some defenders are not helping in the lane. Kyler, of course, can play very good D near the basket or out on the perimeter.

[GoPerry]

Yep, GoPerry, we definitely have important matchups tonight.
Perhaps Augie's most consequential game of the season, an opportunity to position themselves in the top half of the league and secondarily give themselves some chance at reaching 1st place down the road. From IWU's perspective, a win today and a win Saturday vs Elmhurst would make the Titans 5-0 and almost guarantee that they'd host the conference tournament. IWU completes the 1st half of CCIW play vs North Park, Millikin and Carroll.
Wheaton or Carthage will be 1-3 later tonight. This fact alone should be sufficient incentive for a very hard-fought game.
At 0-3, Millikin needs a season-saving win tonight. An oh-and-four hole would be very difficult to climb out of. For Elmhurst, 3-1 would be a lot more comfortable than 2-2.
I see North Park at Carroll as 50-50, could go either way and probably will. (what?) Both of these teams have looked pretty good in some games, but a bit substandard in others.
GoPerry, I like your thoughts about assigning one defender to blanket Gilbert (and Jasmin Bailey) and not having any other defensive responsibility; "do not stray away from her."
With Carthage, though, Kaelber and Kalis are also easily capable of sinking 4-of-7 or 5-of-8 threes in any game. While Gilbert, Kalis and Kaelber may not all be on the floor at once, two of them likely are, warranting tight coverage at the arc. How that is accomplished is a question for all opposing coaches. Wheaton at least has the luxury of Frazier and/or Jill Berg swatting away layup attempts if some defenders are not helping in the lane. Kyler, of course, can play very good D near the basket or out on the perimeter.

Agree on the Augie/IWU matchup tonight.  Both teams are +1 with road wins, but the Vikings win @ EC is surely more significant than the Titans @ NCC.  So  'holding serve' tonight might give them a slight leg up.

Wheaton and Carthage have won at home, lost on the road.  A Carthage loss would hurt them more I think.  While a Thunder win would get them to 2-2 having already played IWU, EC and CC on the road. 

[GoPerry]

Widespread power outage in Kenosha.  Wheaton/Carthage game re-scheduled for tomorrow at 5pm.  Not ideal for the Thunder ladies; 90 mins up and back for nothing. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

At the half, Titans putting a major beat-down on the Vikings in Rock Island, 45-18.

[iwu70]

Ypsi, looks like a good day to be a Titan.  AC 0-11 from 3.  10 Titans have scored.  On cruise control from here.  McGraw can rest her ankle.

'70

[Mr. Ypsi]

Final: Titans 102, Vikings 57.  Stat of the night: Titans starters scored 38; Titans bench scored 64.

[iwu70]

In Rock Island, as Ypsi has reported, IWU 102 AC 57.  After taking the first Q 23-6, this one never in doubt.  It was 45-18 at the half. 

IWU 52%, 41% from 3, 80% FTs.  AC 29%, 10% from 3, 51% FTs.  Pretty clear what went on here.

Kendall Sosa a breakout game off the bench, 20 and 6, 11-11 FTs. (you're going to hear a lot about her in future).
Anderson 16 and 4
Merritt 14 and 8, 6-6 FTs
McGraw 12 (able to rest the ankle)
Brovelli 10 and 7

12 Titans scoring

Not a single AC player in double figures.
AC led by Sadie Roberts 9 points

IWU now 11-2, 4-0.  On a roll.  Indeed, "a great day to be a Titan." 

IWU'70