WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[lmitzel]

Millikin 64
NCC 62

This one hurt. NCC was without Biz Daly again (dealing with a knee injury, timeline uncertain). Even so the Cardinals were more or less in control for a good chunk of this one, up seven after one quarter, four at halftime, and led by eight late in the third quarter. But the Big Blue closed the period on a 9-0 run and took a one point lead into the fourth thanks in large part to a monster game for Nikkel Johnson (again, no Biz Daly to counter her in the paint). Millikin would go up by nine in the final frame, and despite that the Cardinals fought back and got within that 64-62 margin in the final minute, then forced a turnover with 35 seconds left and a chance to tie or take the lead.

NCC got a 12 footer from Dolly Smith, who missed it short, but the ball went out off of Millikin (call stood on appeal). With 5 ticks left, Ameli Sanchez got fouled, but she missed both of her free throws and Millikin got a chance to ice the game, but Johnson missed both of hers. Unfortunately, the Cardinals I think lost track of the clock, and didn't get a great shot off at the buzzer, allowing the Big Blue to escape with the win.

Jocelyn Trotter: 23 pts, 8 reb, 4 stl
Grace Keiffer: 14 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast
Alaya Redditt: 12 pts, 7 reb

Nikkel Johnson: 32 pts, 10 reb
Bella Dudley: 12 pts, 7 reb
Tatum Young: 6 pts, 7 reb, 4 stl

[iwu70]

Just a few thoughts on IWU:

Two games to go, hopefully winning out and tying with Carroll for the regular season title.  I hope IWU gets to host the CCIW tournament, with IWU and Carroll likely in the rubber match for the AQ.  Could happen..

Going forward next season, extremely hard to replace Bardic and White -- two First Team All-Conference players.  I have them returning to that again this year with Bardic a good candidate for MOP, along with 2-3 others from other teams.  Certainly Gricius and Bukata. Titans also graduate Balli.  Titans for next year are more a rebuild than a reload this time, seems to me.

IWU has this exceptional freshmen group to build on, especially Leyden and Kobylarcyck.  Palmer has been a good addition since the new year. 

Key will be finding a point guard and turning someone around now into one.  Many of us didn't think Kate Palmer could do that, but she turned out to be a very good point guard last year.  The logical immediate candidates are Rena Robinson or Luigi Lam, but I personally don't think either will fit the bill. Too many TOs, fouls and defensive shortcomings.  I could be wrong and these two players may develop further next year. So, maybe Caitlyn King or others.  Coach Mia and Coach Brian might have to take on someone and convert them into a PG. 

IWU will need help with scoring, with defense in "run and jump" and with rebounding in the paint.  The new group so far will not have the speed or athleticism of the current team. Maybe Sears gets healthy and can do some of the paint defense and rebounding.  Epps returns.  There are high hopes for several of the other freshmen in that big class:  Mahlum and Heinze. 

It will be very interesting to see how Mia Smith and staff mix and match and find a new edition of the Titans without the seniors:  Bardic, White, Balli and Lipic.  IWU's bench has not been particularly strong this year. 

If we are lucky, another strong freshmen recruiting group and some new, outstanding point guard appear. 

IWU'70

[scottiedawg]

Lots of change coming to the CCIW next year (and probably similar across the nation).

Team	Current NPI	Non SR/GR Scoring %
Illinois Wesleyan	20	47%
Carroll	15	47%
Carthage	137	45%
Elmhurst	139	82%
North Central (IL)	149	87%
Augustana	186	71%
Wheaton (IL)	176	77%
Millikin	216	64%
North Park	335	76%

[iwu70]

Scottie, very interesting stats. 

I'm actually quite optimistic about IWU going forward with this good, large freshmen group getting much experience this year.  But next year may be a transition year and the two following will be better.  IMHO.  Finding a PG replacement for Sawyer White on both the offensive and defensive ends will be very difficult, likely initially impossible.  She's a unicorn.  On offense, Bardic a bit of a unicorn too.  She's underrated as a defensive player.  Maybe the coaching staff thinks outside the box and converts someone unusual into the PG for next year:  Leyden, Palmer, or King??  Not sure.  Robinson or Lam could surprise us with their development.  Lots of new options and combinations possible.  They may have to change their overall style of play.  Less full court pressure and more half court execution.  I'm sure Mia Smith will never give up entirely on "run and jump."   It's just been too important a weapon for years . . .

In Mia Smith we trust. 

'70

[Green Beer]

But next year may be a transition year and the two following will be better.  IMHO. 

In Mia Smith we trust. 

'70

Two exceptional recruits I know of next year, but yeah, a rebuilding year.

[iwu70]

Beer, glad to hear of good recruits.  Any outstanding PG there?   Much next year depends on how quickly this freshman group settles in and develops further.  Much speed, defense and scoring is going out the door to graduation.  Much talent, some of it still raw and inexperienced, coming back. 

Hoping for a Carroll-IWU rematch at Shirk for the AQ.

'70

[lmitzel]

NCC 68
Elmhurst 67

First half was all Cardinals as a 13-0 NCC run put the hosts up big early, and Taylor Marquardt banked home a three at the halftime buzzer to put the Cards up 16 going to the break. But after a 24 point first half for the Jays, they scored 27 in the third and cut an NCC lead that got as high as 18 down to just 10. They briefly tied it at 63 before a Kennedy Hartwig three put NCC back up by three. Anna Kleszynski scored back to back buckets, including one off a steal to give Elmhurst its first lead since the opening minutes.

But Jocelyn Trotter was the hero as she rattled home the game winner with 14.1 seconds to go. Kristin Bukata and Kleszynski both missed from in close, Natalie Robinson got the second offensive rebound and Elmhurst called timeout to set up one last look, but Bukata turned it over and the Cardinals win a thriller in the hangar.

Ameli Sanchez: 15 pts, 5 reb
Cate Uhren: 12 pts
Grace Keiffer: 7 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast

Anna Kleszynski: 22 pts, 15 reb, 4 stl
Kristin Bukata: 15 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast
Natalie Robinson: 10 pts, 9 reb

NCC is in the CCIW Tournament. With a win in Kenosha on Wednesday, we get one more at the hangar.