The coaches have made the biggest difference. Lance at UW-Whitewater. Coach Fred at UMHB. Thorne family at North Central.

I agree though that facilities get recruits to campus.

I also really worry about the spending on facilities at the D3 level. Enrollments have dropped and fewer kids entering the pipeline for colleges in the near future.

Not a month goes by without hearing about a D3 college or the financial brink.

WIAC stadiums and facilities are ridiculously good.

I'm not sure facilities at the D3 level are as big of a deal in recruiting as other levels.

I do think Wesleyan will be much improved based on health alone.  Wesleyan/Augie will be a real key early game in the CCIW.

Stout will be a tough non-conference game for Augie while Wesleyan non-con schedule is easier after getting rid of Central of Iowa.

Augie QB is back.

Is North Central expected to continue its domination? 

Who moves into the three spot in CCIW now that WashU moves on? 

Anyone have insight to the basketball struggles at Augustana?  Surprised to see the players transfer out that did.

CCIW always seems better when Augustana is relevant.

Cleveland grew up in Normal and was receiving D1 offers as a sophomore in high school. He didn't play his junior year in high school (not sure why). 

Was an all stater his senior year but decided not to play college basketball right away. IWU staff was at almost every game his senior year.

Went to IWU as a freshman and did not play basketball. Decided late in his freshman year to give it a try.

Funny story that Noah signed up for a tennis class his first semester at IWU and his teacher was...Ron Rose.

Not sure about the gaps in his playing and how they fit into the big picture. I think there is still a chance he returns to Wesleyan next year.

I am curious how long it will take to get Cleveland back.  After seeing the injury live, you had to believe he broke something.  And the way he landed it could have been a lot worse.

That being said I think that IWU can win the CCIW tournament without him, especially at home.

Quote from: iwu70 on January 12, 2026, 02:12:24 PMIWU has definitely come into better form with better three-point shooting and better perimeter defense.  Noah Cleveland is a load in the paint.  I haven't seen anyone really handle him yet this season.  He's an almost automatic double double. If they all stay healthy, I think IWU has a great chance to win the regular season.  And, IWU has a deep bench now with Boldt healthy, and David Williams and Brady Ruggles both playing well, especially Williams.  Niego is the stick that stirs the drink, with very few TOs.  Both Funk and Colak are playing better, with only fouls a concern for Funk.  He is a very under-rated defensive player.  Lawrence has improved on the defensive end in recent games and is hitting a better % from three now.  IWU in a good position for the stretch run in the CCIW.  IMHO.

Love them or hate them but IWU is starting to really play well.  CCIW teams will need to get them off their home court to beat them. 

IWU'70

Quote from: Gregory Sager on January 12, 2026, 12:20:28 PM

Quote from: Jbothe on January 12, 2026, 10:06:33 AMIt is the time of the year that teams are starting to separate themselves during the conference season. 

Everyone is chipper when they enter the new year with a winning record.  But the real tests occur every Wednesday and Saturday now.

Wesleyan is going to be hard to beat from here on out.  Carthage looks to be playing better.  Who steps up behind those two will be the question. 

There has been no separation yet. Carthage is 4-1 and remains the only team in the league with one loss, but there are three teams -- IWU at 4-2, NPU and Wheaton at 3-2 -- with two losses apiece that are within a game of the lead. Heck, the entire league except for 1-5 North Central is within two games of first place.

Oh the separation is starting on the courts.  The standings will catch up over the next few weeks, it always does.

Quote from: markerickson on January 09, 2026, 10:20:47 PMI watched only the second half of the Stagg Bowl. Going into the game, NCC had to know they faced the top D3 football player.  NCC just didn't seem to have an answer for Blaha - same defensive scheme.  NCC did not respond well to altering formations in the second half.  And then the INT!  So happy I got to see it live!  NCC looked confused on O, and River Falls' D and coaches deservedly won the game by pitching a shutout against a team that averaged 52-5ppg during the regular season.

I will admit is was pretty shocking to see how the second half of the Stagg Bowl played out.  But credit to UWRF as they were the better team.

Their offense puts a ton of stress on the defense and they play so fast you cannot do a whole lot scheme wise from down to down.

The real story was the UWRF defense and the job they did.

And...if you want to win a Stagg Bowl it helps to have a Gagliardi winner at QB.  There seems to be a pattern there.

It is the time of the year that teams are starting to separate themselves during the conference season. 

Everyone is chipper when they enter the new year with a winning record.  But the real tests occur every Wednesday and Saturday now.

Wesleyan is going to be hard to beat from here on out.  Carthage looks to be playing better.  Who steps up behind those two will be the question. 

IWU-Carthage was a blast to watch last night.  Both teams going at it.  Refs called the game real loose both ways.

Wesleyan physical strength took its toll eventually last night.  They were the tougher team.

Carthage is off to a rough start.  All their losses are to good teams but they are still losses. 

Whitewater is a real tough team.

Quote from: Gregory Sager on November 17, 2025, 05:24:49 PM

Quote from: Jbothe on November 17, 2025, 03:07:50 PMWhen IWU was healthy they were a real good team.  They took WashU to the wire and were dominant some weeks against bottom half CCIW teams.  Big wins over Millikin and Carthage.

[snip]

When they were banged up it was rough.  Big losses to Augie and Carroll.

This is a contradiction. In the final assessment, Illinois Wesleyan wasn't a "real good" team. The Titans were a house of cards.

Football is the ultimate game of attrition; because it is the most violent major sport it is also the most injury-inducing. Therefore, you measure how good a college football team is by its' two-deep -- if not its' three-deep -- and not simply by the quality of the starters. Thus, the phrase "when they were banged up it was rough" is not an excuse when you're trying to make the case that a particular team is "real good." What seemed like a high level of competence earlier in the season for IWU was an illusion, because the Titans lacked the necessary depth to sustain it when injuries inevitably began to take their toll.

Interesting perspective.

I still don't see a candidate to take over that third spot other than Augie or Wesleyan.

Obviously hope it's Augie.

Bottom half of CCIW has a ways to go.