Let's get the ball rolling on the 2016 CCIW. The preseason poll is out.
School Points 1st Place votes
1.Illinois Wesleyan 61 5
2. Wheaton 59 3
3. Augustana 48 1
4. Carthage 38
5. Elmhurst 35
6. Carroll 35
7. North Central 25
8. Millikin 15
9. North Park 11
With only 4 teams making it to the conference tournament it looks like it could be a tight race.
I am very interested to see how Carroll Coach Susie Foster does on her return to the CCIW.
Non-Conference looks to start with a full slate this weekend.
September 1st:
Edgewood at North Central, Franklin at Millikin, Bethel at Augustana, Beloit at Carroll, Dominican at Elmhurst, Benedictine at Illinois Wesleyan, and Carthage at Claremont-Mudd Scripps
September 2nd:
WashU at Wheaton, Albion at North Park, Lawrence at Carthage
September 3rd:
Olivet at Elmhurst, Illinois Wesleyan at Trinity, Benedictine at Carroll, Greenville at Millikin, Hope at Wheaton
September 4th:
Bethel at North Central, Olivet at North Park, UWSP at Augustana
September 5th:
Hardin-Simmons at Illinois Wesleyan
September 6th:
Wheaton at Loras
Looks like Wheaton and Illinois Wesleyan will be put to the test early. Wheaton with regional powers WashU and Hope and Illinois Wesleyan with national powerhouses Trinity and Hardin-Simmons
Illinois Wesleyan also has to get by Thomas More. TMC is 7-3 over the past 3 years in the tourney, rated #9 in the NSCAA poll, and return 9 starters. It should be a good barometer for both teams.
Illinois Wesleyan has a few games before they play Thomas More. That starts today with Trinity in San Antonio and Hardin-Simmons on Monday.