Looking Ahead to Senior Day

Tomorrow marks the end of the regular season for CCIW basketball... well, mostly. There is a makeup game on the women's side (and I'm honestly not sure how it happened. North Central is having both of its Senior Days tomorrow. I will be at the mic for the women's, and likely in attendance for the men's (at least the first half of the game anyway).

Here's how the standings are shaping up going into tomorrow:

WOMEN

1. Illinois Wesleyan (19-5, 12-1)
2. Wheaton (16-7, 9-3)
3. Carthage (18-6, 9-4)
4. Elmhurst (16-8, 7-6)
5. Millikin (15-9, 7-6)
6. North Park (10-14, 4-9)
7. Augustana (11-12, 3-9)
8. North Central (6-18, 0-13)

NCC is home against Millikin tomorrow. The Cardinals are really not playing for anything more than pride and sending Helen Muleya and Emily Collins out as winners. I really hope they can pull out just one victory, if only for them. Though they can also play spoiler, as a win likely knocks Millikin out of the tournament.

The conference picture itself is pretty clear so far. Illinois Wesleyan has once again claimed the regular season crown after being picked to finish behind Carthage. As such, the Shirk Center will once again be home to the women's tournament. Wheaton and Carthage have already punched their tickets to Bloomington, and will end up playing each other in the semifinals. Augustana will likely end up determining who gets to wear the white jerseys in that game, as they have both teams on the schedule still. Meanwhile, the Titans can also play spoiler at home and try to knock Elmhurst out of the race.

MEN

1. North Central (17-7, 11-2)
2. Wheaton (18-5, 9-3)
3. Illinois Wesleyan (18-6, 9-4)
4. Augustana (18-5, 8-4)
5. Carthage (12-12, 6-7)
6. Elmhurst (12-12, 6-7)
7. North Park (6-18, 2-11)
8. Millikin (1-23, 0-13)

Weird how the tables turn for the men as Millikin is the bad team in this one. NCC has already locked up at least a share of the conference title, and a win guarantees a second straight year of the tournament at Gregory Arena. The competing teams are actually already set in stone, though that makeup Wheaton-Augie matchup may decide some seeding. Obviously if you're the Cardinals, you want Wheaton to win at least one game in hopes of avoiding them in the first round game. The Cardinals just haven't been able to best them this year, though it is hard to beat a team 3 straight times in one season. That being said, you don't really want to face any of these teams. The Titans have a solid team once again, and Augie plays great defense.

I will bring updates from NCC tomorrow night or Sunday after the regular season finale. I hope to also make at least part of the CCIW Tournament in Naperville as well. Go Cards!