WBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Green Beer]

Notable departure for the Titans, Maddy Sears 6' 2" sophomore no longer on the roster.  Out with an injury much of her freshman year. I don't know any details

[Green Beer]

Another recent change on the Titan roster, Liv Meyers, 5'11", is no longer listed as a player but as a student manager. She saw limited playing time in the last 3 years.

[lmitzel]

Preseason coaches poll came out late last week.

Not a surprise that IWU was heavily favored to win. But you can imagine how giddy I am to see NCC picked to finish 2nd.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Preseason coaches poll came out late last week.

Not a surprise that IWU was heavily favored to win. But you can imagine how giddy I am to see NCC picked to finish 2nd.

Now there can be great speculation about which coach decided not to vote IWU No. 1.

[scottiedawg]

I've still got Carroll 2nd, but I fully understand why NCC was voted #2.

My reasoning is NCC won 0.538 against a not great Strength of Schedule last year 0.505.

They do return a lot, 86.2%, but in my experience mediocre teams that return a lot don't usually take a large step forward. Most often they remain mediocre. 

But definitely not all do!

[Gregory Sager]

I've still got Carroll 2nd, but I fully understand why NCC was voted #2.

My reasoning is NCC won 0.538 against a not great Strength of Schedule last year 0.505.

They do return a lot, 86.2%, but in my experience mediocre teams that return a lot don't usually take a large step forward. Most often they remain mediocre.

You're not taking into account the overall mediocrity of the conference. Perhaps the most disheartening thing about North Park being bad the past few seasons is that the Park's been bad at a time when the league as a whole has not been good.

[Jbothe]

WBB in the CCIW is pretty rough right now.  Even in a rebuilding year I think IWU is way out in front.  Just from my observing over the years they general level of athleticism seems to have gone down. 

[Gregory Sager]

WBB in the CCIW is pretty rough right now.  Even in a rebuilding year I think IWU is way out in front.  Just from my observing over the years they general level of athleticism seems to have gone down. 

My thoughts exactly.

[scottiedawg]

I don't disagree, and also, on a relative basis, the CCIW was the 12th best WBB conference last year out of 43!

[iwu70]

IWU got things started with an exhibition at D1 Eastern Illinois, giving Eastern a good game, but finally losing by 7. 

Looks like Palmer and Epps will play a major part.  Also, looks like Olivia Corson, Currey, Robinson, Kadyn King and other newbies, freshmen, will play a part in the rotation.  Surely Asia Kobylarczyk too.  A new set of options and players, a work in progress early to find out what the Titans really have with all these new players. 

Mia Smith has lots of options, lots to learn with and about this group. 

I expect them to contend for the conference title after some initial rough patches, given their normal, very tough early schedule.  They open at DeVos vs. Ohio Wesleyan on November 6th, tomorrow.   

IWU'70

[iwu70]

In a ragged, defensively-minded season opener, IWU comes away with a win over Ohio Wesleyan, 50-49.  Both teams shooting it poorly.

For OWU:

Morris 13
Miller 10 and 13
DeMissimo 10

OWU shooting 22%, 17% from three, and 72% FTs.

For IWU, the Leah Palmer show:

Leah Palmer 26 and 15
Harmes 7 and 8
Corson 7

IWU shooting not much better, at 26%, 13% from three, 78% FTs.  IWU had 24 TOs, so that must be sorted out. 

Starters tonight in this new, young edition:
Leah Palmer
Asia Kobylarczyk
Olivia Corson
Bri Harms at PG
Averie Wolfe

Off the bench for significant minutes in the rotation:  Rena Robinson, Alyssa Epps, Emily Currey and Lane Nordstrom.  Four freshmen in all.  They are being thrown into the fire right off.

A win is a win. (over 24th ranked Ohio Wesleyan U)  Likely Hope tomorrow, another, more difficult level. 

IWU'70


 

[lmitzel]

NCC dropped its opener at St. Mary's tonight 85-76. NCC led for a good chunk of the game, including 73-69 with about three and half minutes left, but the Belles scored 9 of the next 10 and iced the game in the final minute. Shooting just 6-24 from deep didn't help, neither did Biz Daly playing just 14 minutes before fouling out.

Ameli Sanchez: 20 pts, 4 rebounds, 5 stl
Jocelyn Trotter: 15 pts, 6 reb
Dolly Smith: 12 pts, 5 ast