WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwu70]

Ypsi, yes, Coach Smith will put another very competitive team on the floor next season, no doubt.  They have 8 battle-tested players coming back, hopefully another stellar freshmen class coming in.  We'll see.  My own view is that they may want to make Sosa into a PG, and have Munroe and Sosa there, with plenty of good wings in Schneider and Anderson and Shanks.  Then, Hughes, Merritt and Brovelli in the paint, perhaps a Merritt-Brovelli combination on the floor at the same time, giving the Titans a much different look with size and strength in the post area, more than in past years.  Shanks and Hughes will recover, return. Perhaps less "run and jump" and more standard tough half court D and effective screen/role offense.  We'll see.  I'm sure Mia will get the most out of her talent, keep her system and program in good competitive shape.  As you say, very hard to replace two of the best players, athletes in IWU history, but surely the Titans will again contend for CCIW honors next season.  IMHO.

Time for baseball and softball . . . and getting outdoors soon.

'70

[titanalum94]

Personally I think Shanks will be the Titans ball-handler for the next two years. She was the secondary distributor until she went down with the broken hand, finished second on the team in assists despite missing eight games, and was No. 2 in the CCIW in assist/turnover.

[iwu70]

TitanAlum94, Yes, I take your point about Shanks.  That could happen as well.  IWU and Coach Smith will have to find the most reliable set of hands to replace Ehresman at the PG.  Perhaps it's Shanks, perhaps Munroe, or Sosa.  We'll see.  Sosa has good length, great FT shooting, so could also be another superb wing, along with Anderson and Schneider.  Look forward to seeing the next freshmen group, too, as I'm sure this year's success, the IWU facilities and tradition, will bring in some additional talent, some of whom might contribute right away.  Look at this year!  Four freshmen really playing like veterans. 

Bright future for the Titan women's program.

'70

[iwu70]

Ypsi, another Shanks coming up -- junior at Central Catholic.  A very good player.  Perhaps a future TITAN?   

'70

[Mr. Ypsi]

Ypsi, another Shanks coming up -- junior at Central Catholic.  A very good player.  Perhaps a future TITAN?   

'70

Sounds good to me!

But you never can tell about siblings.  Some are happy to re-unite; some want to make their own path.

In A Dunk Only Counts Two Points, Dennie Bridges says he was totally unsure whether having Jack Sikma's older sister already a student at IWU was a plus or a minus.  Thank God, it was a plus!

[iwu70]

Yup, Ypsi, could be Lauren Shanks wishes to go her own way.  She made unanimous all-conference in her league as a HS junior.  Let's hope she's more like the Seibring family, the Zimmer family, or the Rose family! 

Sorry our Titans didn't get further this year -- thought we really had a shot at Sweet 16 or beyond.  But, Trine just too too tough.  When their top player fouled out with 4+ minutes to go, I thought we'd get over the top and pull it out.  But, their supposed role players played like total top-flight players, down the stretch, and we had some key defensive breakdowns.  Really too bad.  Great season, some great play all year by the 25-4 Titans.  Great to see the program have another 20+ win season and take home the CCIW hardware. 

Time for softball and baseball . . . and the new edition of the Yankees and the Cubbies.  Should be an interesting baseball season -- after the NBA playoffs and finals.   Looks to me like the Cavs may not make the finals this time.  Warriors -- well, they will be there at the end, yet again.

Think Spring!

IWU'70

[iwu70]

Women's Final Four:  Bowdoin, Amherst, Thomas More, and Wartburg.  Familiar programs to be sure.  Two undefeated teams going for the perfect season. 

'70

[RogK]

Congrats to North Park Associate Head Women's coach Lauren Rosengarden!
https://www.cucougars.com/news/2018/3/7/lauren-rosengarden-named-as-head-coach-for-cuc-womens-basketball.aspx
Good luck to her and her team.
This career advancement will involve re-locating a few miles southwest of her current post.
I may be misinterpreting her quotes, but the gist seems to be that she wants to work closer to San Diego, but not too close.

[Gregory Sager]

I wish Lauren nothing but good fortune and success. She's a wonderful person and a driven but caring coach who knows her stuff. We'll miss having her around, but she's a Viking and she'll always be one.

[RogK]

Millikin has a new head coach :
http://athletics.millikin.edu/news/2018/3/12/lett-named-head-womens-basketball-coach-at-millikin.aspx
I'm trying to remember where we've seen her before. Hmmm.
Good luck Olivia and welcome back to the CCIW!

[Gregory Sager]

Millikin has a new head coach :
http://athletics.millikin.edu/news/2018/3/12/lett-named-head-womens-basketball-coach-at-millikin.aspx
I'm trying to remember where we've seen her before. Hmmm.

Your gift for understatement remains golden, Rog.

My reaction?

1) Congratulations and good luck to Coach Lett.

2) More board-related, my reaction is, "Oh, good grief." After an endless parade of Illinois Wesleyan Conquers The World Forever posts over the past few weeks, now we'll have to deal with a fresh wave of them regarding the one IWU player that Mark and Chuck just could never shut up about, even long after she had hung up her uniform.

Could we at least confine the discussion of Olivia Lett to her coaching résumé or to her new affiliation with Millikin? In other words, topics regarding the hire that are, you know, relevant? Is that too much to ask, guys?

[lmitzel]

Millikin has a new head coach :
http://athletics.millikin.edu/news/2018/3/12/lett-named-head-womens-basketball-coach-at-millikin.aspx
I'm trying to remember where we've seen her before. Hmmm.
Good luck Olivia and welcome back to the CCIW!

I vaguely remember announcing that name a fair number of times my first year behind the mic at the hangar, plus a couple times after that. That's a good hire.

[D-3 watcher]

Ypsi, you keep saying "in MIA we trust". What do you trust? Her teams have won 1 NCAA game in 6 years. That's coming off 2 Final Four appearances. With all the talent you keep harping about, what's the problem. This year 4 all conference players. I agree, lot of talent, but not enough NCAA tourney wins. This year big letdown, and winning in the CCIW isn't that hard lately. Only 1 or 2 good teams each year lately.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Ypsi, you keep saying "in MIA we trust". What do you trust? Her teams have won 1 NCAA game in 6 years. That's coming off 2 Final Four appearances. With all the talent you keep harping about, what's the problem. This year 4 all conference players. I agree, lot of talent, but not enough NCAA tourney wins. This year big letdown, and winning in the CCIW isn't that hard lately. Only 1 or 2 good teams each year lately.

I came to that slogan after bemoaning each year for several years during their incredible 5 year run (66-4 in the conference) about the graduation losses, then having the following year be even better - it finally occurred to me that there was ONE person who wasn't graduating: the coach!  By the standards of that amazing run, they have been in a slump lately: only the second-best 6-year run in IWU WBB history!

I DO wish they could be more successful nationally on a consistent basis.  For over a dozen years now they have been nationally competitive, but can't seem to make that final step to being consistently elite.  I'm not seeing any signs that it is a hangover from the coach's cancer (she seems as lively and driven as ever), so I'll assume it is just cyclical and evidence of how difficult is really is to break into the truly elite ranks.

[iwu70]

I'm stick'n with Coach Smith.  A pretty good record, earlier and later.  I'll take 25-4 almost any year.  Yes, of course, we all wish for further, to Sweet 16, Elite 8 and beyond. That is always tough for everyone.  Haven't seen any other CCIW schools doing that lately either. 

Congrats to Olivia Lett.  I hope she does well, has a great career and tenure at MU.  She is replacing a legend, so very big shoes to fill.  She's originally from Pana, so she knows the territory . . . had a run with Mia and then at UC as an Assistant.  I think she's a great choice to return to the CCIW.

Perhaps Shelby Jackson will be the next one looking for a head coaching gig.

Stay tuned.

IWU'70