WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[GoPerry]

Annie Tate was plagued by injuries her entire career at Wheaton over 5 years. I had no inside info on the extent but those questions are all answered in this video.  She was one of three finalists for the 2024 Honda Inspiration Award alongside two D1 athletes.  All three were highlighted on a CBS show last week.

For those interested, it is a nice story of perseverance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz3ryWHhniY

https://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2024/5/29/womens-basketball-annie-tate-of-wheaton-womens-basketball-is-named-a-finalist-for-2024-honda-inspiration-award.aspx

[RogK]

Annie and her parents deserve a massive amount of admiration for being so strong during the challenges recounted in that youtube video.
Thanks for providing that link, GoPerry. And thanks to the medical pros who assisted her along the way.

[lmitzel]

NCC schedule is out. Season opener November 8th at St. Mary's. Looks like mostly conclusion of home-and-home's for non-con, except for a tourney at Colorado College in mid November.

Not sure how to feel about two of the four home Saturday doubleheaders being in December.

[RogK]

new head coach selected at Elmhurst : Cameron Tucker
https://elmhurstbluejays.com/news/2024/7/24/tucker-tabbed-head-womens-basketball-coach.aspx
- -

[iwu70]

Haven't posted here in a long time -- but now that the campus has come back alive, we can start to think about the new season in 10-12 weeks or so.  Mia Smith has one of the toughest schedules planned ever . . . and one of her strongest returning teams ever, too.  One has to be very hopeful and optimistic. 

Likely:

PG: Kate Palmer and Sawyer White
2:  Bardic and Balli
3:  Mallory Powers
4:  Lauren Huber and Laura Mahlum
5:  Caite Knutson

Lots of experience, many seniors.  Don't know much about who else might step up into the rotation from the previous rising pine-sitters.

Newbies are:  Alyssa Epps, Sami Oller and Luigi Lam (from Hong Kong!    ). 

Looking forward to a great season ahead.

IWU'70

[Green Beer]

Lam is a wild card. There's a ton of film on her, but it's hard to put it in perspective. In Hong Kong girls' league, she appears dominant as a 5'6" PG. But how do you rate Hong Kong girls' league? There's also film of her playing in pick-up games against men including against European or American men. She appears to be just as dominant, but it's the same question: How good are these men she's pouncing on? Sure, she's fast, she penetrates, and she can shoot the 3. But IWU has had short guards with great high school stats before, and they've rarely translated to the same success in the CCIW.

[iwu70]

Green Beer, we'll just have to wait and see if any of the newbies get playing time this year.  I kinda doubt it.  Luigi Lam is a good player and we'll have to see how her game and experience translate to CCIW level play.   I doubt she'll get much floor time this year with all the experience coming back -- esp. with Palmer and Sawyer White in front of her.  She might get some time on defense, run and jump.

She was coached and trained by a club team in HK -- the coach there, William Lo, who runs Strive Fitness in HK, is my Godson, so I know his work and his coaching pretty well.  He played with my son through middle and high school and then had a D3 career playing at Manhattanville, near NYC.  He's a good trainer and coach.  The reports on Luigi by the experienced IWU players are pretty positive.  They think she's a real addition to the Titan squad. 

I'd actually be more interested in the potential of the 6'1" fresh person -- as IWU always needs a good rebounding, post and paint area player, as they are often undersized, especially against the likes of Whitewater and other teams with greater size.  Perhaps that newbie will make a contribution too -- as a back up for Caite Knutson?   Time will tell.

IWU'70

[RogK]

Ten newcomers at Augie :
https://athletics.augustana.edu/news/2024/8/21/womens-basketball-womens-basketball-announces-2024-recruiting-class.aspx
I'm glad I only needed to count to 10; otherwise would have had to remove a shoe and sock.
Speaking of socks, the White Sox have 31 wins already in early September. It may take the NFL Bears three years to match that.

[lmitzel]

NCC's roster is up now as well.

I count five freshmen and one new transfer (I'm kinda enjoying the Morton College to NCC pipeline honestly).

Biggest news from this is that we get a fifth year of Megan McClure. Elle Sutter is not on the basketball roster, but she is on the soccer roster for their upcoming season. I know it was up in the air whether or not Sutter would be back, and knowing that rosters may change between now and the season opener (and Sutter would only join after the soccer season is over) we may see reinforcements at some point.

[Green Beer]

the coach there, William Lo, who runs Strive Fitness in HK, is my Godson, so I know his work and his coaching pretty well.  He played with my son through middle and high school and then had a D3 career playing at Manhattanville, near NYC.  He's a good trainer and coach.  The reports on Luigi by the experienced IWU players are pretty positive.  They think she's a real addition to the Titan squad. 

IWU'70

Hmmm. My spidey senses say you had something to do with recruiting her.

[iwu70]

Green Beer, I had very little to do with recruiting Lam to IWU.  Glad she came though. My Godson in HK is about a club team where women players from Hong Kong and south China get a chance to be recruited to D1-D3 schools to play in the US.  He's sent several over earlier -- and one is playing now in D1 Iona.  Luigi was recruited by the Big Blue, Hope and IWU -- maybe others.  Not sure.  Will LO on the HK side and the IWU coaches, especially Brian Ehresman, really worked hard to get Luigi this chance at IWU.  Of course,always money and visa issues. I hope it works out and she is successful academically and athletically at IWU.  I will surely follow her closely and support her during her tenure at IWU.  She's a great young woman with lots of energy and potential. 

IWU'70

[Green Beer]

Freshman Sami Oller 6'1" has disappeared from the Titan's roster.

[iwu70]

Yes, Oller has departed the team.  A loss . . . so only two fresh people this year. 

I'm looking forward to the season with this experienced and battle-tested team.  Exhibitions at ISU and Eastern begin this weekend now.  Some good tests before the big weekend at Hope.  IWU has one of the strongest, toughest schedules in recent decades, and that is saying something given Mia Smith's always tough pre-CCIW season scheduling. 

(We'll see Elyce Knudsen again during the exhibition game with ISU this Sunday -- farewell to her for CCIW play ). 

This team could be really good.

IWU'70

[lmitzel]

Preseason coaches' poll dropped today!

Illinois Wesleyan is your pick to win the league, earning 7 of the 9 first place votes (and one 2nd place, based on their score). Carroll was picked by Mia Smith and one other coach to finish first; the Pios are picked to finish 2nd. Millikin and NCC are tied for 3rd, with Augie and Carthage tied for 5th.

[Green Beer]

Titan women put up 86 points against a solid DI program,  Illinois State University. Redbirds won 101 to 86. They went up against Elyce Knudsen again since she's a Redbird now.