WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

Well, yeah, that also falls under the rubric of "fifth-year senior", if you're referring to a senior in terms of athletic eligibility rather than undergraduate class status. I actually thought of Raymond and Panner, because I can't think of any other examples of Wheaton grad student-athletes off of the top of my head; Wheaton's graduate programs, which are more or less confined to the fields of psychology and religious studies, don't seem to draw lots of athletes (at least as far as I know). North Park, which has graduate programs in the fields of business and education as well as religious studies, seems to be much more conducive to the sorts of things that more student-athletes often want to pursue as careers. NPU's had so many grad students wear Vikings uniforms over the past couple of decades that I don't even bother trying to keep track of them all anymore.

Of course, NPU's graduate curricula wasn't planned with that in mind; it's just a happy coincidence as far as NPU athletics is concerned.

The other aspect, which relates to people who are actually contemplating a fifth year as an undergraduate, is that, as one Wheaton coach candidly told me, the school is so "flippin' expensive" (his words) that it's hard to entice a student to spread out her or his undergrad work over five years of schooling.

Not related to basketball, but Johnny Peltz and Nick Johnson we're both 5th year seniors on the baseball team last year.

Were they grad students or fifth-year undergraduates?

I'm guessing that they took grad classes since most undergrads do graduate in 4 years.  But that begs your question Greg of the expense associated with returning for a 5th year of athletic eligibility.  Especially true of basketball which covers 2 semesters.

I would guess that there's a minimum required course load to participate in a sport (NCAA requirement I would presume).  Do you need to be a full time student or can you take a single graduate class and play?

I'm not clear on that. There was an infamous case a few years ago of a star athlete in D1 who only took one class after graduating mid-year and was able to retain his eligibility, but that's D1. D3 rules in a lot of aspects of eligibility are different.

[Pat Coleman]

The Leinart rule is available to anyone, actually. If you only need one or two classes to graduate, that's all you need to take your final semester and still be eligible.

In the case described, your student-athlete would not be finishing up a graduate-level degree, so I don't think that this would work.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I know this confuses some, but this "eligibility" question is also why student-athletes are usually (I do mean "usually") listed on rosters based on their eligibility year, not their academic year.

I was introduced to that during college when, as a junior in school, I was listed as a sophomore on the roster - I had missed the season in between. While it can confused people, ultimately it is very helpful. There are times when SAs are listed correctly as seniors and then an injury year is given back to them and they return (had that happen when trying to work on preseason All-America teams), but ultimately that listing of eligibility is very helpful.

Though, there are times it produces a quirk. One of Amherst WBB's best players, Hannah Fox, was listed as a sophomore last season. She has graduated from the school after four years of college (at two schools). That one makes me chuckle.

[iwu70]

IWU at EIU at Charleston tonight -- an exhibition.  6 p.m.   Next week another exhibition@ SIU Edwardsville, alma mater of Coach Smith.  That one is on Nov. 7th, at 7 p.m.

Some stern tests to prepare for the regular season, opening vs. #7 University of Chicago on the 11th @The Shirk.

'70

[Mr. Ypsi]

IWU at EIU at Charleston tonight -- an exhibition.  6 p.m.   Next week another exhibition@ SIU Edwardsville, alma mater of Coach Smith.  That one is on Nov. 7th, at 7 p.m.

Some stern tests to prepare for the regular season, opening vs. #7 University of Chicago on the 11th @The Shirk.

'70

I'm drawing a blank (and the Millikin coaches' bio didn't include the info) - was it SIU-Edwardsville that Olivia Lett transferred in from?  If so, that connection could help explain the transfer.

[iwu70]

Ypsi, SIU-E is where Coach Smith played and starred.  I think Lett transferred from SIU Carbondale, but I could be wrong.

IWU @D1 EIU tonight -- exhibition:  EIU 86 IWU 82

Starting:  Munroe, Shanks, Schneider, Merritt and Anderson.

Sosa 18
Hughes 15
Anderson 15
Schneider 12
Shanks 11

For EIU:

Grace Lenox 22

Seems IWU playing lots of folks, and, as would be expected not shooting a good % from 3 to start out.  But FG % at 46%.  FTs 18-22. 

EIU basically played only five, with only one other player playing more than 10 minutes.  Heavy minutes on the starters.

Seems IWU gave them a real good game.

Up next SIU-E on the 5th.  A good full test of exhibitions. 

I think Coach Smith is going to have trouble keeping Hughes and/or Sosa out of the starting line-up.   Riches of talent in the rotation.   IMHO.

IWU'70

[RogK]

iwu70, you were right about Raven Hughes recovering quickly. Her presence is a big positive for the Titans.

[iwu70]

RogK, yes, Raven Hughes has tremendous upside for the Titans -- and only a sophomore.  Glad to see her back from injury.  Same with Shanks.  Also, great game by Kendall Sosa, also year two.  Both sophomores are going to push the more established, experienced seniors, and may push them out of the starting line-up.  We'll see.  IWU programs have always had a kind of "wait your turn" ethos, but this may change with the talent and scoring abilities of these two.  I'm sure Coach Smith is now experimenting with and exploring various options and mixes -- depending on the opponent, the defensive set, and who happens to be "hot", playing well at the time.  Several other TITANS had good games last night vs. a DI opponent.  We'll need more down the road from Merritt and Brovelli to anchor the paint area.  But, the wings are going to be really good, and Raven Hughes will play well close to, with her back to the basket.  Very quick, very accurate, shooting a very  high percentage in her career, so far, at IWU.  The three point shooting will come.  Not great last night.  Anyway, a good start and things to be improved on, sorted out, as Coach Smith commented in the Pgraph today. 

SIU-E a homecoming for Coach Smith -- another fun, good lesson-filled exhibition on the 5th.  Opening day vs. #7 U of Chicago, coming up very soon now.

I'm looking forward to the season and another great CCIW race -- esp. with WC and CC.

IWU'70

[lmitzel]

Final from Gentile Arena today: Loyola 73, NCC 49. I haven't had a chance to look over the box score yet.

[RogK]

Saw the NCC preseason game at Loyola. NCC held a small early lead thanks to hitting several 1st Q threes. After that, things were what could be expected when D3 faces D1. Loyola weirdly put almost zero effort into offensive rebounding, so I wouldn't get too excited about NCC's defensive rebounding numbers (28 out of 36 possible).
Not many conclusions should be drawn from a D3 v D1 game, when you suspect the D1 team is not out to destroy the D3 team (not to mention one coached by an alumnus of that D1 school).
I did learn that Diamond Calicott stopped playing for the reason of concussion avoidance, a wise choice. She was there, assisting the coaching staff and yelling at players who screwed up. Just kidding about that last part!
NCC has some promising newcomers, but we need to see several games vs D3 opponents before making any guesses about how good the team may be.

[iwu70]

The women's coaches basketball association pre-season poll has U of Chicago 8th and IWU 10th.  Should be a great match-up for an opening game of the season, at The Shirk on November 11th.

D3hoops poll had the Titans at #12.

'70

[duckfan41]

It's officially game week!

Wheaton hosts #5 Thomas More (30-2 and lost to Amherst in the Final Four last season) in King Arena at 7 on Friday. It is Family Weekend for Wheaton College this weekend, so hopefully that'll help draw fans to both this game (which is a huge game to start off the season with) and the men's game against Ripon on Saturday.

Best of luck to all CCIW squads!

[lmitzel]

Saw the NCC preseason game at Loyola. NCC held a small early lead thanks to hitting several 1st Q threes. After that, things were what could be expected when D3 faces D1. Loyola weirdly put almost zero effort into offensive rebounding, so I wouldn't get too excited about NCC's defensive rebounding numbers (28 out of 36 possible).
Not many conclusions should be drawn from a D3 v D1 game, when you suspect the D1 team is not out to destroy the D3 team (not to mention one coached by an alumnus of that D1 school).
I did learn that Diamond Calicott stopped playing for the reason of concussion avoidance, a wise choice. She was there, assisting the coaching staff and yelling at players who screwed up. Just kidding about that last part!
NCC has some promising newcomers, but we need to see several games vs D3 opponents before making any guesses about how good the team may be.

Between this and finally looking at the box score, I think I'm okay with the result. I wasn't expecting a heroic upset, but to have a lead late in the first quarter and to make the final look reasonable, I'll take it. Even given the context, to be within four on the boards overall and to keep your turnovers under 20 (I feel like that's my arbitrary cutoff number for turnovers) is good. They shot all right even keeping in mind they were ice cold in the second and third quarters, and did well at the free throw line, an Achilles heel all last year.

I'm hoping solid games from some of the freshmen (Howard and Pearson in particular) are good omens of things to come. I was a little alarmed to see that Lyndsay Brennan only played 14 minutes and took just one shot, but I'm hoping that was a coach's decision and not an injury thing.

All in all, I'm pretty optimistic going into the year.

[iwu70]

Wow, that's a great opening game for WC -- against #5 Thomas More.  Hope WC shows their mettle, knocks them off.  Playing a very tough non-conference schedule always good when the long-CCIW row of games starts later. 

IWU playing their second exhibition game tonight -- vs. SIU-E, the alma mater of Coach Smith.  Hoping for a good outing, an instructive and useful exhibition against another DI program. 

Good luck to all the CCIW programs, players and coaches this season.  Let's hope for a good season for all, few injuries and little off-court or unsporting drama.

Here we go!   Let the games begin.   

IWU'70

[iwu70]

In the final exhibition game before the regular season starts, SIU-E 81 IWU 71.

IWU gave them a great game, trailing by 3 with about 4 minutes to go.  Didn't handle the last stretch so well, with a number of key TOs.  But, overall, a very good match-up, very competitive D1 vs. D3 game.

Titans shooting 40% and 45% from 3.  Lots of substitutions, all the pine-sitters getting their minutes too.  A deeper rotation for this game.

Sosa 16
Merritt 16 9-9 FTs
Shanks 10
Schneider 10
Eck 10

For SIU-E

Too much Alston 26
Bauman 15

I'm sure some good lessons in preparation for the D3 opener next Sunday vs. #7/8 U of Chicago.

Here we go, the regular season is upon us.  Let the games that count begin!

IWU'70