WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwu70]

Ypsi, let's not get too too carried away just yet.  I feel this team will win the conference -- perhaps with only 0 or 1 losses.  CCIW Tournament at The Shirk.  Hopefully, finishing 22 or 23 wins, we'll see, likely a 20+ win season.  Going into the tournment with 24 or 25 wins, leading to a high seed.   D3 dance depends a lot on seeding, playing more games at home, getting through the first weekend, then be on a good roll.  Of course, the TITANS will then run into much tougher competition -- Chicago, Trine, Hope, one of the WIAC schools etc.  I'd love to see them have a great long run, esp. for Ehresman and McGraw, but I think FF may be a dream too far, even as much as I love this team and their great play, style of play to date.  They have been totally awesome, dominant the last several weeks.  Key starters are, relatively, well-rested, headed for the post-season.

Big game at WC on the 7th -- a much better test.

'70

[iwumichigander]

Whoa Ypsi!  It is fair to state the Titans have, thus far, exceeded the expectations of more than a few folks. But FF, not ready to make that prediction as yet!

You got to win the CCIW tourney to get an AQ.  And 70 right, there are very, very good teams that will in the NCAA tourney this year - again.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Ypsi, let's not get too too carried away just yet.  I feel this team will win the conference -- perhaps with only 0 or 1 losses.  CCIW Tournament at The Shirk.  Hopefully, finishing 22 or 23 wins, we'll see, likely a 20+ win season.  Going into the tournment with 24 or 25 wins, leading to a high seed.   D3 dance depends a lot on seeding, playing more games at home, getting through the first weekend, then be on a good roll.  Of course, the TITANS will then run into much tougher competition -- Chicago, Trine, Hope, one of the WIAC schools etc.  I'd love to see them have a great long run, esp. for Ehresman and McGraw, but I think FF may be a dream too far, even as much as I love this team and their great play, style of play to date.  They have been totally awesome, dominant the last several weeks.  Key starters are, relatively, well-rested, headed for the post-season.

Big game at WC on the 7th -- a much better test.

'70

Whoa Ypsi!  It is fair to state the Titans have, thus far, exceeded the expectations of more than a few folks. But FF, not ready to make that prediction as yet!

You got to win the CCIW tourney to get an AQ.  And 70 right, there are very, very good teams that will in the NCAA tourney this year - again.

Note that I did emphasize COULD be special.  I really like the way the team is trending (recognizing that recent opponents have not been cream of the crop).  I'm just not ready to place a cap on where this team COULD go this season (and this just might be the start of another magic carpet ride - I LOVE the freshmen class!)

Yeah, I may be getting carried away - but please don't rain on my parade!

I gotta do something to survive January in Michigan!   Though the last three days have been glorious.

[iwu70]

Ypsi, keep up your optimism and your enthusiasm.  Lots to be happy about in the development of the TITANS this year, and the very good prospects for the next 2-3 years, too, given the freshmen and other very good players returning next year.  Ehresman and McGraw are huge losses to graduation, but the Titans will re-load, not re-build.  If I were predicting for the post-season, assuming we get there, I'd say Sweet 16 level this year.  Really greatly depends on the seeding and the draw.  Tons of good teams out there -- making the tournament.

'70

[iwu70]

Ypsi, assuming the Titans make the dance, here are a few of the really good teams likely in their path -- possibly in their path in the opening few rounds of the tournament:  Wartburg, Hope, Thomas Moore, DePauw, Trine (we lost to them last year in round one), WI-Oshkosh, WI-Whitewater (we lost to them by two earlier this year), Chicago (we beat handily this year), Ohio Northern, possibly Wisconsin Lutheran.  Depends on conference championships/AQs etc. and how the pods are structured, as you well know.  I'm hoping the TITANS mostly win out, get to host the first weekend @The Shirk.  A big advantage.   If we do mostly win out, we'll have a good resume going in . . .

'70

[RogK]

We'll need one or more of you fellow correspondents to do brief write-ups of the next two Millikin games as well as AUG-CRL. I will likely be without internet for a week Tuesday-Tuesday as I'll be suffering in 74 degree weather in Miami and Ft Lauderdale. My hotels will not have computers for guest use (Extended Stay America -- usually decent, but no-frills), my phone is dumb, plus I don't feel like lugging a laptop on the flights. Hotels (convenient for planespotting at MIA and FLL) that I've used before have gotten too expensive.
Anyway, those three games are ones that I'd normally summarize; so, help is needed!

[RogK]

Congrats to Mikaela Eppard, honored again as CCIW Player of the Week!

[Mr. Ypsi]

New poll is out - IWU remains 17th (though they picked up 30 more points).  They slipped past Muhlenberg, but Chicago jumped from 21 to 16.  I've got a mild bone to pick with that, since IWU beat Chicago (AT Chicago) by 19 points.  True, that was over 2 months ago (that's why my bone-picking is only mild), but still!  Chicago IS playing really well and probably deserves their ranking, but IWU is also playing really well and should probably be ahead of UC.

[iwu70]

Agree with you, Ypsi.  Voters not paying attention -- as IWU handled Chicago easily in the head-to-head.  May face them again later on . . . down the road in March.

Just key to keep winning, win out if possible, esp. win vs. WC on the 7th.  Win the AQ too, get a high seed. 

Keep going TITANS -- great season in the making.

'70

[iwu70]

Congrats to Ms. Eppard, on Player of the Week.  I hope EC beats WC again! 


'70

[GoPerry]

Agree with you, Ypsi.  Voters not paying attention -- as IWU handled Chicago easily in the head-to-head.  May face them again later on . . . down the road in March.

'70

Sorry folks - On the contrary, the voters ARE actually paying attention.  The CCIW is not strong this year and I'm trying to be nice with the terminology.  Beating teams by 50 isn't telling anyone a thing about how good they are except that they are the best team in a pretty mediocre league this year and, I suppose, playing with lots of confidence.  But from any objective point of view - that's it. 

I'm already on record with my respect for IWU this year.  They are a good team. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Agree with you, Ypsi.  Voters not paying attention -- as IWU handled Chicago easily in the head-to-head.  May face them again later on . . . down the road in March.

'70

Sorry folks - On the contrary, the voters ARE actually paying attention.  The CCIW is not strong this year and I'm trying to be nice with the terminology.  Beating teams by 50 isn't telling anyone a thing about how good they are except that they are the best team in a pretty mediocre league this year and, I suppose, playing with lots of confidence.  But from any objective point of view - that's it. 

I'm already on record with my respect for IWU this year.  They are a good team.

Aside from UC ranked ahead of IWU, I think the voters are not paying attention for a different reason.  The conference overall may well be down, but I think Wheaton is a VERY decent/good team.  Them STILL receiving ZERO votes bugs me.

[GoPerry]

Agree with you, Ypsi.  Voters not paying attention -- as IWU handled Chicago easily in the head-to-head.  May face them again later on . . . down the road in March.

'70

Sorry folks - On the contrary, the voters ARE actually paying attention.  The CCIW is not strong this year and I'm trying to be nice with the terminology.  Beating teams by 50 isn't telling anyone a thing about how good they are except that they are the best team in a pretty mediocre league this year and, I suppose, playing with lots of confidence.  But from any objective point of view - that's it. 

I'm already on record with my respect for IWU this year.  They are a good team.

Aside from UC ranked ahead of IWU, I think the voters are not paying attention for a different reason.  The conference overall may well be down, but I think Wheaton is a VERY decent/good team.  Them STILL receiving ZERO votes bugs me.

I think 4 losses is just too many to get consideration seeing how many 1 and 2 loss teams there are.  I think the polls are fun, great conversation starters and I've been following the abundant posts on the men's board.  I'm grateful for Dave, Pat, Ryan and the rest of the voters.  But the only polls I really care about are the regional rankings.  And I think we all take for granted that the RR criteria won't be influenced by the D3Hoops polls or any other polls that might exist at any time.  At least that's what I believe which could be naive . . .

[iwu70]

GP, agree regional rankings far more important.  D3 poll will take care of itself, and have little relevance at the end of the day.  IWU just needs to keep winning and go into Selection Sunday with the best possible record and resume.  That will more likely determine their seeding and prospects to win one or more games in the D3 dance.  Of course, we are hoping for a CCIW championship and the AQ -- but I think the TITANS will be there, ready to go, come tournament time, no matter.  The lower part of the CCIW does seem rather down this year, but the top four teams are likely as good as or near as good as usual -- IWU, WC, EC and Augie.  Anything can happen in the AQ, CCIW tournament.  Lots of basketball to be played.

'70

[lmitzel]

The lower part of the CCIW does seem rather down this year, but the top four teams are likely as good as or near as good as usual -- IWU, WC, EC and Augie.  Anything can happen in the AQ, CCIW tournament.  Lots of basketball to be played.

'70

Well, considering Augie is two games out of a tournament spot with Carthage currently tied with Elmhurst for third...

Yeah, the bottom of the conference is definitely down. I didn't expect Millikin to be winless in conference, I didn't expect NCC to be as bad as they've been, North Park has slowed down after a strong start, Carroll is probably about where I expected them, and so is Augie... but I definitely feel like the top of the conference is down as well. You've got a great IWU team this year (more on that in a moment), but I feel like Wheaton isn't as good as they were in years past. Prior Wheaton iterations would have blown the doors off this year's Cardinals team... and this year's Thunder didn't. They're obviously still a good team, but not quite the same caliber as prior years. Elmhurst/Carthage are good, but not great, and NCC's win over Carthage back in December just continues to look more bizarre as time goes on.

I think when the regional rankings come out, Wesleyan is going to end up no better than third in the Central. Their two losses are to teams whose records aren't as gaudy, but both have higher SOS (WashU is 5th nationally with an absurd .635, UW-Whitewater is 13th at .601). Yeah, they've got that aforementioned win over Chicago and a better SOS, which is why I'd probably put them third in the region. They've also got a good win over Rose-Hulman, plus beating Wheaton by seven at home in December... but that's really it. Beating up on a down CCIW by 30-plus every night doesn't really prepare you for postseason play all that well, and it could pose a problem when the Titans go to Wheaton soon. They haven't played a close game since that affair.

At the end of the day, talent wins; I would expect the Titans to win the AQ. And even if they don't, they should be at the table early enough that a Pool C bid would be extremely likely barring some sort of collapse. But I don't know how much farther they'll advance beyond that.

Illinois Wesleyan can clinch a CCIW Tournament berth with a win over Augie tomorrow night. Might be one of the earliest clinchers in the history of the conference tournament. Meanwhile, Millikin would be mathematically eliminated with a loss to Elmhurst.