SLIAC

[y_jack_lok]

Very interesting info, indeed. Guess I was wrong about the age of the SLIAC. Maybe 23 years ago was when Webster added intercollegiate athletics.

[jdoug2]

That is tons of good info on the conference and it's schools. It's great to get all this info. Since we're talking D3 it's not like SI or ESPN is covering this stuff. I know all about D1 stuff, just trying to familiarize myself with SLIAC and D3 in general.  Am I getting this right, several teams moved to the SLIAC to be more competitive? Does that imply the SLIAC is a shade lower in it's sports emphasis and level of achievement?

[y_jack_lok]

I think it implies that the SLIAC is lower in achievment at this point, but I 'm pretty sure the conference and the member schools are doing what they can to become more competitive. It's slow going, however, given that institutions in other conferences have longer histories and records of success. Basketball isn't the only sport to think about. Mens and women's soccer, women's volleyball, women's softball, men's baseball, etc. are part of the picture as well. I think in some of those sports a few conference teams compete better against non-conference competition. Greenville, for example, has a long history of success in track and field.

[Just Bill]

jdoug2,

I thought I could share some thoughts on the Central Region as a whole.  The Central is always one of the top regions in the country.  From 1994-2002 a Central Region team played in the National Championship game, winning it six times.  Since 1996, the Central has 7 national titles (Wash U with four, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Point and Millikin 1 each).  Compare that to 2 for the Great Lakes and 1 each for the South and East over the same time frame.

The WIAC is historically the strongest conference in the Region, primarily because of the depth.  Since 1994, three different WIAC teams have played in the Final Four (Stevens Point (twice), Eau Claire (three times) and Oshkosh (twice)).  It might have been more had not Eau Claire and Oshkosh taken turns eliminating each other during that period. That doesn't even account for current WIAC leader Stout who has made strong tournament runs in the last two years and liekly will do so again.

The two UAA members of the Central Region are also very strong.  Washington U of course spent a good chunk of this time frame destroying everyone.  They won four straight national titles and won 70 straight home games at one point.  Wash U may be down a bit this year, but don't count on that lasting too long.  And now Chicago sits undefeated.  Generally, you can assume the top team in the WIAC and the top team in the UAA are in or very near the national top 10.

The CCIW is a confernece that has made big strides recently.  Always a top men's conference their women never quite measured up until Millikin broke through with a national title in 2005.   Now Illinois Wesleyan is holding down the fort, but Wheaton and Millikin are still powerful teams.  Carthage and North Park also make some noise occasionally.

The MWC is a very deep league, but usually lacks an elite level team.  Ripon, Carroll, Lake Forest, St. Norbert and Lawrence are usually very strong programs, but usually come up short in tournament times when they inevitably run up against the WIAC or the CCIW.

That leaves the SLIAC and the brand new NathCon.  The NathCon was a merger of the Lake Michigan Conference and the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference.  (Eureka and Clarke, old NIIC members choose to go another route. Personally, I think Eureka's choice to join the SLIAC had as more to do with geography than competitive balance. I don't think Eureka thought travelling to Sheboygan and Fond du Lac for league games was a great idea.)  Generally, the teams in the NathCon don't last long against the Central top teams.

The SLIAC certainly went through a peak a few years ago.  Webster was battling eventual national champ UW-Stevens Point in a sectional and Fontbonne was knocking off Wash U from time to time.  Maryville of course has emerged recently.  You folks know the league better than I do, but it does seem to be down a bit. Hopefully it's a temporary condition that will right itself soon.

[jdoug2]

First, I am really not trying to downgrade the SLIAC. Just want to make that clear. Second, I really would like to thank Bill and Jack for their info and perspectives. I had no idea the central region had this level of success in D3. Great to hear. And great to have people sharing on this posting site.

Here's hoping the SLIAC is on the rise.

[y_jack_lok]

Great info from Just Bill. Thanks. By the way, Millikin defeated my alma mater, Randolph-Macon (South Region), in that 2005 national championship game. And it was 2002 when Webster went to the sweet 16 before that loss to eventual champ UW-Stevens Point.

Jdoug, it never occurrerd to me that you were trying to downgrade the SLIAC. I'm sure you wish it were a better conference, given that Lauren is playing for Fontbonne.

[fcnews]

jdoug - FC had a four yr. string of SLIAC titles from 97-01 then again in 02-03. FC has had a tradition of dominate post players. Starting with their first All-American Monica Jackson in '98. Amy Hauschild in '00 and '01. Liz Klotz in '03 and '04.

The '01 team stopped the second longest winning streak in NCAA history (Wooden's UCLA) beating Wash U. at home by 13 that year. They hosted the 1st rd. of the NCAA National Tournament, beating Rockford 83-47. Then traveled to Millikin to play in front of about 2500 against, I beleive, the #4 team in the country. FC won that game 69-56. They traveled to Minneapolis to play in the regional finals. FC played Wartburg and was defeated 82-78. The ladies, I still believe, might have been looking ahead to a rematch with Wash U for a chance to go to the Final Four. Wash U. won the National Championship. This team was lead by All-American (D3hoops All-American) Amy Hauschild, NCAA All-Regional Tourney selection Mellisa Stewart at point and a freshmen future All-American Liz Klotz. You can probably get Pat Coleman to give you a link to the D3hoops.com vault for some nice articles. This site did a great job covering the run.

On a side note: Amy Hauschild also is the only SLIAC player to be named POY in two sports in the same year (volleyball).

It has been the big three (FC, WU,MU) that has made the biggest splash.

Lauren's asst coach Maureen Roberts was the sixth man and a vital scorer on that team also. She holds the FU record for career three point shooting.

[jdoug2]

Thanks for the info fcnews. I knew from Fontbonne's website and from the banners they've had success. You've given some real insight on a couple of their better years. I still think this years team can compete with Maryville. I know coaching is important, but the players still have to execute and make the plays. Especially the better players have to step up big in the more meaningful games. It's easy to pick out the better players on any team. I'd rather lose having my better players shooting and missing than someone else taking the shots. And I'm not just saying that because Lauren was 1-6 from the arc the other night.  My friend's son is a freshman on a lower level D1 team, but he can shoot lights out. His coach has told him all season, if you're open shoot.

[fcnews]

As for as the SLIAC as whole. We have been very competitive regionally in both men and womens soccer, volleyball, softball, and the afore mentioned GC track program. We have lagged in the area of basketball mainly I beleive because of the age of our progams and the unproven factor. We traditionally never come out to favorably on our 1st rd. draws.

[pantherpride06]

I guess since I wear the hat of Administrative Assistant of Track & Field at Greenville, I'll throw in a little tag about GC Track.

Our head coach, Brian Patton, took over the program 13 years ago and has breeded many great athletes for Greenville.  We, as many of you know, are also associated with the NCCAA (National Christian Collegiate Athletic Associaion.)  Most school that are associated with that are obviously christian schools.  Some are also big NAIA schools as well (Bethel IN, Olivet Nazerene...)

We have won six NCCAA Outdoor National Championships and six NCCAA Indoor National Championships on the men's side.  We have had numerous athletes go on to the NCAA's and compete and place well.  As for the team going, the meet is usually way after school has been released for the summer and it is expensive keeping 80 athletes on campus for two extra weeks.  However, some go and compete individually. 

Last season, the women send 10 to the NCAA National Championships.  They also finished 3rd in the NCCAA indoor and 2nd in the NCCAA outdoor last season.

Cross Country, a conference sport, is one that has been dominated by Greenville as well.  Women has won 11 of the last 12 conference titles and men have won 10 consecutive.  We had one runner 2 years ago qualify for the NCAA XC Championships.  It's got more difficult to get in with the new way they take entries. 

[jdoug2]

Good to know Panther. I have a cousin who ran cross country for Fontbonne.  That's one of the reasons my niece ended up there. And I know what a challenging sport track and field can be.

Looking forward to the games tomorrow. And I'll be up there next weekend.

[y_jack_lok]

jdoug, tonight's Wash U box score shows DeDe (that's they way they spelled it, but I thought it was DeeDee) with 6 minutes, 0-2 from the field, 1-4 from the line, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 assist. I'm going over for the NYU game on Sunday.

[jdoug2]

Thanks Jack. I'm glad she's getting some time. She does need to hit those freebies though.

[fcnews]

Yea doug - Your cousin was a pretty fair runner. She held the school record in the 5K for quite a few years. She was the best 800 meter runner I ever coached. Now she's all grown up, educated and making a nice living. That's what being a student - athlete is all about.

[jdoug2]

And I think she and her husband just bought their first house. Makes me feel old. And you're right in placing student before athlete. Hopefully I'll get to see her parents on one of these trips to watch Fontbonne.