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| Wheaton (Ill.) center Hannah Considine was a second-team All-Region pick last season as a junior. Wheaton athletics photo |
By Josh Smith
Welcome back to basketball season.
I am looking forward to spending another winter sharing stories with you from the CCIW, MWC, NACC, SLIAC and WIAC conferences as well as a portion of the UAA.
As always, I encourage readers to reach out to me with ideas for human interest pieces, approaching milestones or broken records. Email me at josh.smith@d3sports.com or follow me on Twitter @By_Josh_Smith. All feedback regarding the column is welcome.
With six men’s teams from the region ranked in the Preseason Top 25 and another five receiving votes, plus three ranked women’s teams to go with four more receiving votes, there is sure to be a lot of excitement between now and March – April for the women. As usual we should expect excellent conference races and intriguing non-conference matchups.
Here’s a look at a few of the best games in store for D-III fans during the 2015-16 season.
Men’s games
St. Norbert vs Ripon, Dec. 2
This will be an important conference game for both teams early in the season. St. Norbert hasn’t lost a Midwest Conference game in two seasons. The Green Knights are receiving votes in the preseason poll and return five of its top-nine scorers from the 2014-15 season. Ripon returns Ty Sabin, who averaged 27.9 points per game last season – a mark that led the conference and was second in Division III.
Augustana vs UW-Stevens Point, Dec. 5
A rematch of last season’s national championship game is sure to grab the interest of basketball fans. With all five starters back this year, Augustana enters the season ranked No. 1 – receiving 23 of 25 first place votes. While Hunter Hill and Ben Ryan lead a group of experienced Vikings, the ninth-ranked Pointers will have a new look following the graduation of four seniors. Reigning national coach of the year Bob Semling will turn to holdovers like Stephen Pelkofer and Sean McGann to lead this year’s team.
Concordia (Wis.) vs Aurora, Dec. 12
Last season, Aurora shared the NACC title with Benedictine while Concordia finished a game back. However, the Falcons topped Aurora in the conference tournament title game to reach the NCAAs. Senior guard Tyler Hall, who scored 13.7 points per game a year ago, will lead the Spartans as they look to stay atop the league standings. However, Eric Kittel and Concordia (Wis.) have been picked to win the NACC by the league’s coaches and SIDs.
Elmhurst vs. Illinois Wesleyan, Jan. 2
The CCIW will be an ultra-competitive conference once again this season as three teams begin the season ranked in the Top 25 and another is receiving votes. This game between No. 8 Elmhurst and No. 24 Illinois Wesleyan is sure to be one of many entertaining games this season. This contest will be the first of two challenging games for the Blue Jays as they play No. 1 Augustana four days later. Elmhurst welcomes back all five starters from its team that reached the second round of the NCAA tournament in March. A win for Illinois Wesleyan would likely keep the Titans in the thick of the CCIW race.
Washington U. vs. Chicago, Jan. 9
The winner of this game will get a leg up in the UAA race, where Emory will like figure into the mix as well. The No. 17 Maroons have all five starters back this year, including senior guard Jordan Smith, and they are looking to improve on last year’s third place finish in the conference. Last year’s UAA runner-up, Wash U is looking to return to the NCAA tournament. However, Luke Silverman-Lloyd is the only returning starter from last year’s team. The first meeting between these teams should be telling, but when they close out the regular season against one another in the Windy City, even more could be on the line.
Webster vs. Spalding, Feb. 17
The two teams tied for the SLIAC regular season title. Webster beat Spalding the last time to the two teams played, but Spalding won the league title and played in the NCAA tournament. When these teams meet in the penultimate conference game, the SLIAC title could be on the line once again. Brandon Goeing and James Turner will try to help the Golden Eagles earn a fourth-straight regular season title and a third NCAA tourney appearance in four years. Webster has to replace Ahmad Smith – the program’s second all-time leading scorer – but was selected by SLIAC coaches and SIDs to win the conference because of returners like Hunter Ward and C.J. Moore.
Women’s teams
Washington U. vs. MSOE at Chicago, Nov. 21
Wash U begins the season ranked No. 9 nationally after winning 25 games last season. The Bears, who shared the UAA championship before reaching the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament, return Jordan Thompson, Katybeth Biewen and Alexandra Keane from last year’s starting lineup. They will face an MSOE team that won 20 games last year. The non-conference game will be a big test for the Raiders, but MSOE welcomes back four starters.
Spalding vs. Westminster (Mo.), Dec. 2
The defending SLIAC champion, Spalding has just one starter returning in Dee Dee Sliter. Sliter averaged 6.0 points per game while Maya Hardin and Brandy Hunter played significant minutes off the bench. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays return all five starters from its team that finished runner-up a year ago. Senior Kasey Gatson will try to lead Westminster to the top of the league standings. When Spalding and Westminster open SLIAC play against one another, it will be an opportunity to grab early momentum in the conference race.
UW-Oshkosh vs. St. Norbert, Dec. 12
Oshkosh finished runner-up in the WIAC to UW-Superior in the 2014-15 regular season standings before winning the conference tournament. With the Yellowjackets now in the UMAC and four starters returning to the court, the No. 6 Titans are the front-runner to claim the WIAC title. Their matchup with reigning Midwest Conference champ St. Norbert, which returns eight of its top-nine scorers and is receiving votes in the Preseason Top 25, will be a good test before launching into conference competition.
Wheaton (Ill.) vs. St. Thomas (at Waverly, Iowa), Dec. 29
Coming off their first CCIW championship since 2007, Wheaton (Ill.) enters the season as the No. 8 team in the Preseason Top 25. The Thunder will take on the No. 18 Tommies in their final tune-up before CCIW play gets underway four days later. Wheaton returns four starters, including 2014-15 leading scorer Ellie Zeller, but St. Thomas should pose a challenge that rivals the opponents on Wheaton’s conference schedule.
Around the Central Region was written by Josh Smith during the 2015-16 season. Josh covers high school and Division III athletics for the Daily Jefferson County Union in Fort Atkinson, Wis. He has won multiple awards for reporting and photography and contributes to multiple publications in addition to his duties at the Daily Union, including D3sports.com beginning in 2012. He graduated from UW-Whitewater with a degree in print journalism.
