WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Pat Coleman]

Over in football world, we had advocated for Wilmington returning to the HCAC and Thomas More taking Wilmington's place in the OAC, but that is a little more complicated.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Heck, I advocated behind the scenes they join the CAC - granted a long distance - and make something work for all parties. That didn't get very far as many could probably imagine.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Congrats to Hannah Frazier, the only non-senior 1st team All-American D3Hoops :
https://www.d3hoops.com/awards/all-americans/women/2019
Nice for Wheaton to have her (presumably) returning for another season.

National POY is based on the current season's performance, as opposed to career achievement, but I can't help thinking that being the only non-senior on first team is at least a psychological boost to her chances for next year's POY.

[gordonmann]

If nothing else, I like her chances to be Preseason All-American. 

[Enginerd]

I guess that I must've missed it when you've discussed Thomas More's status on Hoopsville. Why did TMU leave the PAC, and why wasn't it able to join the HCAC, OAC, or SLIAC, or any other D3 league for that matter?

You can probably read between the lines as to why they left the PAC. Ignore what the local paper has written and consider: they were "allowed" to leave within a year of the decision and under "mutual agreement."

And too many of the other conferences (HCAC, MIAA, OAC, etc.) had members who were not interested in having Thomas More as part of the conference. Reasons why run the gamut - some similar to why those don't want to be in the same conference at Christopher Newport, or misconstrue what York (Pa.) is as a program, etc., etc., etc.

We have discussed TMU's status a few times in the last 18 months on the show.

This is a catastrophe for Thomas More - Their motivating desire was to raise their institutional profile by having success in athletics a la Butler. The relative prestige of Division III, with it's huge number of elite liberal arts colleges, allowed Thomas More to shine a little bit - sharing the stage, so to speak, with the Tufts, Williams, and Amhersts of the world (not to mention regularly thrashing Wash U in the regionals). There are others presently attempting this as well.

Going from sharing a stage with Amherst and Bowdoin to sharing a stage with Taylor (IN) and Corcordia (Nebraska), is a far worse punishment long-term than having to give up a single national title.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Sadly, some administrators took that idea of being held in prestige too far. I'll leave it at that, but TMU didn't do anything to help themselves ... and I am NOT talking about the student-athletes and what they did in competition. They weren't part of decisions behind the scenes that I personally feel put TMU in this situation.

And no, I will not discuss specifics.

[iwu70]

Anyone have any interesting news about recruits for the next cycle?   Is there another Shanks in our future?

Haven't heard much.

IWU'70

[Enginerd]

Anyone have any interesting news about recruits for the next cycle?   Is there another Shanks in our future?

Haven't heard much.

IWU'70

I am not ordinarily in a position to hear much in the way of recruiting info - but did hear, from an unimpeachable source, that a REALLY good post player from Chicago, that was, at least early on, one of IWU's top 2019 targets, and would have softened the blow of losing Merrit considerably-and was VERY similar in terms of size/build, ultimately chose a high(er)-academic school out East. She would have been a very good CCIW player pretty quickly - and certainly will be a great player where she is headed. Otherwise I am not aware of any other recruiting info at IWU.
Seems like a talented post player and perhaps an above-average perimeter shooter or two, are what would have been on Coach Smith's wish list for 2019. Other than that, not sure how much they really need.

[Gregory Sager]

Really? From Chicago? I can't remember the last time that Illinois Wesleyan recruited a Chicago-based women's basketball player. Heck, while Bob will correct me if I'm wrong, the only men's basketball player from Chicago that I can recall playing for the Titans in this decade was the Coleman kid from St. Pat's who stopped playing after his sophomore season -- and a lot more men's basketball players come out of the city than women's basketball players.

[ronk]

Anyone have any interesting news about recruits for the next cycle?   Is there another Shanks in our future?

Haven't heard much.

IWU'70

I am not ordinarily in a position to hear much in the way of recruiting info - but did hear, from an unimpeachable source, that a REALLY good post player from Chicago, that was, at least early on, one of IWU's top 2019 targets, and would have softened the blow of losing Merrit considerably-and was VERY similar in terms of size/build, ultimately chose a high(er)-academic school out East. She would have been a very good CCIW player pretty quickly - and certainly will be a great player where she is headed. Otherwise I am not aware of any other recruiting info at IWU.
Seems like a talented post player and perhaps an above-average perimeter shooter or two, are what would have been on Coach Smith's wish list for 2019. Other than that, not sure how much they really need.

D3?  If so, which?

[iwu70]

Sure is quiet on the recruitment front . . . any news to be shared in here? 

Congrats to all the CCIW seniors -- all best for future endeavors, after graduation.

IWU'70

[Titan Q]

Sure is quiet on the recruitment front . . . any news to be shared in here? 


IWU'70

A few names I have seen come across Twitter...

* Kelly Carlson, 5-9 PF (Lyons Township HS)

* Emily Collins, 5-7 PG (Hersey HS) - https://basketball.dailyherald.com/sports/20190228/the-northwest-all-area-girls-basketball-team

* Katelyn Heller, 5-8 PG/SG (Glenbard West HS) - https://basketball.dailyherald.com/sports/20190228/the-dupage-county-all-area-girls-basketball-team

* Hannah Smith, 6-2 C (Lincoln-Way East HS) - https://www.hudl.com/profile/10523031/Hannah-Smith

Lauren Shanks, a 5-6 G from Bloomington Central Catholic (16.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.7 apg, 5.4 spg, 55 3-pointers; 3A 2nd team all-state IBCA) committed to IWU for soccer.  I have only seen her mentioned as a soccer recruit.

[iwu70]

Thanks, Q. 

'70

[Titan Q]

Here are the Millikin recruit names I have seen on Twitter...

* Katie Abell, 6-2 C (Jacksonville Routt HS)

* Bailey Coffman, 6-0 F (Bloomington Central Catholic HS)

* Miranda Fox, 5-5 G (Effingham HS)

* Chelsea McCullum, 5-8 G (Oswego HS)

* Sarah Ness, 5-9 G (Sandwich HS)

* Abby Ratsch, 6-0 F (Springfield HS)

* Taylor Sagle, 5-10 F (Taylorville HS)

* Natalie Snyder, 5-9 G (Taylorville HS)


I highlighted the two I've heard the most about - seems like the two headliners maybe.  Unfortunately for my Titans, Olivia Lett won a big recruiting battle with IWU for Bailey Coffman - I have heard she has potential to be a CCIW star in time.

[Gregory Sager]

Esther Miller, a 5'8 forward from downstate Sullivan, has inked a celebratory signing form to play for North Park.

https://jg-tc.com/sports/eight-seniors-highlight-jg-tc-s-th-all-area-girls/article_4fc169c3-8dbb-5d5b-8579-92f5513123f9.html